New NT crime statistics reveal alarming spike in domestic violence, alcohol-related assaults

Domestic violence related assaults and alcohol related assaults have surged by more than 33 per cent across the NT over the last two years, according to the latest NT Police statistics.

Domestic violence related assaults have surged across the NT over the last two years, according to the latest NT Police statistics. Picture: iStock

DOMESTIC violence related assaults and alcohol related assaults have surged by more than 33 per cent across the NT over the last two years, according to the latest NT Police statistics.

Domestic violence related assaults across the NT rose from 4041 assaults in the year to May 31, 2020 to 5483 reports in the year to May 31, 2021, an increase of 35.68 per cent.

DV has been on the rise over the past 12 months as police work to address the issues.

In Palmerston alone incidents of DV have jumped 74.18 per cent from 306 to 533 year on year to May 31.

NT Police Commander Matt Hollamby said it was disappointing people thought it was acceptable to assault family members.

“Alcohol and domestic violence are the leading causes of assaults in the Northern Territory, so we will target you if you’ve committed an offence, and we make no apologies for taking legal action against you,” Cdr Hollamby said.

He said police would take all necessary action to protect victims of domestic violence.

“The lockdown and an increase in money through JobKeeper, JobSeeker, probably had an impact but there’s no excuse for domestic violence,” he said.

“They are the ones that committed the offences and, and we’ll take the necessary action to protect the victims and families of the offender.”

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He said recidivists were being targeted, with police taking legal action where possible.

Alcohol related assaults jumped from 3241 reports in the year from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 to 4456 in the year to May 31, this year, an increase of 37.49 per cent.

Property crime across the board was down 5.86 per cent, while crime against the person rose 26.51 per cent.

Cdr Hollamby put the drop in property crime down to Covid-19 forcing people to stay home. “In terms of property crime, people being at home, people being vigilant around their homes, people locking up their houses at night-time and not leaving car keys on kitchen benches; I think that has made a contribution into the very significant reduction in property crime, over the last 12 months,” he said.

In Nhulunbuy commercial break-ins over the same time period almost tripled from 12 incidents to 45 year on year to May 31.

House break-ins spiked from 20 to 38, while vehicle theft rose from nine to 25 over the same time period.

In Alice Springs there was an increase in all areas of crime over the same time period except for vehicle thefts, which dropped 7.25 per cent.

Sexual assaults jumped 30.3 per cent from 66 reports to 86 year on year.

In Katherine house break-ins dropped 13.49 per cent from 126 incidents to 109 over the same time period, while DV and alcohol related assaults both increased by 28.41 per cent and 27.24 per cent respectively.