NT Police’s Caragh Hen shares first-hand experience of violent crimes

A Northern Territory cop on a domestic violence taskforce has shared her first-hand perspective on the spate of violent crimes.

Detective Sergeant Caragh Hen attends the aftermath of violent crimes in Darwin, both in public and behind closed doors, every day.

As the head of Strikeforce Lyra — a taskforce set up following rising rates of domestic violence and violent crime offences — Ms Hen is no stranger to traumatic events.

But she said she “tries not to let them” stay with her on the job.

“To survive with your mental health intact in this job you have to learn that at the time you acknowledge it’s a really traumatic thing that you’ve been to, but they can’t have space in there forever — because you wouldn’t be able to do (the job),” she said.

Detective Sergeant Caragh Hen, head of Strikeforce Lyra. Picture: Supplied

“As police my perception of something that’s very bad is probably very different to what your perception of something that’s very bad is.

“It’s important to acknowledge that because I am wholly desensitised to the trauma.”

The latest data showed domestic violence and alcohol-related assaults increased by 18 per cent in the past 12 months.

Ms Hen said the nature of the Territory meant violent crimes, like the alleged murder of bottleshop worker Declan Laverty last month, were more pronounced.

“Does there seem to be more of it happening in public? Perhaps that might be that perception,” she said.

“Is there violent crime happening? Yes. It would be remiss of us to deny that was happening.

“But we’ve got a small population so one serious offence here in a public place actually affects a big majority.”

Ms Hen said while alcohol often played a role in the incidents she witnessed, it couldn’t be chalked up to it solely.

“It would be uncontroversial to suggest alcohol is a contributing factor,” she said.

“It would probably be uncontroversial to suggest overcrowding and other social issues also play a part.”

Ms Hen said the bail reform changes that passed through parliament last week were a welcome step in the right direction for police.

“It is an effective tool in the toolkit for police to put forward reasons why people should be refused bail,” she said.

But more changes would be needed to enforce real lasting change, including education from an early age on what violence in a relationship looked like.

“This is not a quick fix — holistically it is a whole of community, whole of government, whole of non-government intervention (needed),” she said.

“It’s everyone’s problem, but it’s everyone’s opportunity to be part of the solution.”

Ms Hen said it was the small actions the whole community could take that could make a real difference.

“Not letting it go by the wayside, acknowledging that it’s here and keep talking about it as much as we can,” she said.

“Don’t drive past the bad behaviour — if you can call it out and call it in.”

Although she acknowledged it was difficult to look past the negative when her work places it in front of her each day, she said there were moments of light that reminded her why she was in the job.

“Every now and again you get one person who says ‘those things that you did for me changed my life’ and that all makes it worthwhile,” she said.

“It might be one in 10 years but it’s still one.”