DV-related assaults increase across the Territory, up 62% in Palmerston

Domestic violence-related assaults grew by up to 62 per cent in parts of the Territory over the past year.

DOMESTIC violence-related assaults across the Territory grew by up to 62 per cent in parts of the Territory over the year, ending July 31, 2021.

New monthly crime statistics show that, across the Territory, domestic violence-related assaults grew by 35 per cent on average. But it was in Palmerston that that number almost doubled.

There was a 62 per cent increase in DV assaults in Palmerston, a 52 per cent increase in Darwin, while Tennant Creek saw an increase of 40 per cent.

NT Police Commander Matthew Hollamby said alcohol was the leading causal for domestic violence in the Territory. “Domestic violence has gone up over the Covid-19 period,” Cmdr Hollamby said.

“Assalting a family member is a crime and it’s also a disgraceful act.”

NT government yearly assault statistics data for 12 months ending in July 2021 showed a total of 1,907 reported cases of domestic violence across the Territory.

Cmdr Hollamby said operation units worked alongside Territory Families and the Education Department.

Domestic violence-related assaults increased by 62 per cent in Palmerston over the past year, ending July 2021.

“We will take legal action against the defendant, and also look after the longer term interests of the victim and their children,” he said.

“There are service providers that can help victims and they can also help offenders.”

“Domestic violence households tend to produce problem youth, it’s a cyclic thing and we need to attack it form all angles,” he said.

Cmdr Hollamby said police had found youth crime tended to increase as domestic violence rose, which is one of the reasons a new youth operation had begun in Darwin targetting children who were wandering the streets at night.

“That operation has been running for a few weeks now and has had some fairly good successes,” he said.

“The youth that we take home we make an assessment of the family environment.

Poor school attendance has also been linked to kids involvement with youth crime.

“The youth that we enage with we find that their attendance levels aren’t great,” he said. “So we’re keen to work with out partners on those issues.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley said violent crime had “skyrocketed”.

“Territory-wide, violent crime has again risen drastically. In the 12 months to July this year, close to nine thousand Territorians were the victim of assault. Domestic violence-related assault is up 35 percent and alcohol-related attacks have risen to just under 4,450 incidents," he said.

He said if the CLP was in charge it would ensure the Chief Minister held the police portfolio and launch a parliamentary inquiry into police attrition.