Darwin’s Monthly domestic violence rates break decade-long record

NT Police have revealed the growing horror in Darwin homes, as abuse rates break a decade-long record.

On Monday, Commander Daniel Bacon said this “scourge” of violence was rife across the Territory, with a 23 per cent increase in the number of domestic violence assaults over 12-months.

An “epidemic” of violence has hit Darwin, with the city recording the worst monthly rate of domestic abuse in at least a decade.

NT Police monthly statistics have shown an average of five domestic violence assaults were investigated every night in Darwin in October, with a total of 143 incidents that month.

This was the highest number of incidents in available police records, which date back to 2013.

On Monday, Commander Daniel Bacon said this “scourge” of violence was rife across the Territory, with a 23 per cent increase in the number of domestic violence assaults over 12 months.

In the 12 months to October there were 7787 reported assaults — an average of 21 mainly women and children hurt each day.

“It is our predominant crime type that’s driving our workforce and driving our business,” he said.

“It’s an insidious crime within our community.

“But the biggest toll is actually on the victims.”

Mr Bacon said over a week his officers could attend up to 270 domestic violence incidents — compared to 15 property crimes over the same period.

Even a relatively quiet night could see his officers attend “just over one an hour across the greater Darwin area”.

And Mr Bacon said due to under reporting rates, he knew there were many other victims who were suffering in silence.

NT Police Commander Daniel Bacon said the Territory was facing a 'scourge' of domestic violence, with assaults rate increasing by 23 per cent over the 12 months to October 2023.

And he warned that the upcoming Christmas season was often a pressure cooker for abusers, with “financial stress, personal stress, and work stress” manifesting in violence over the festive season.

The most horrific spike in violence was in Katherine with 224 more domestic violence assaults reported compared to the previous 12 months, a 40 per cent increase.

Remote areas experienced a 36 per cent increase in domestic violence with 2708 reported assaults in 12 months.

Tennant Creek experienced a 29 per cent increase, while rates of violence jumped by 26 per cent in Darwin and 14 per cent in Alice Springs.

Violence rates remained the same in Nhulunbuy, and dropped by 6 per cent in Palmerston.

Despite the ongoing trend of violence, Mr Bacon said there had not been the equivalent funding for support services and rehabilitation and prevention programs.

Documents tended at Australia’s largest coronial inquest showed that there was a $160m shortfall in neccesary domestic violence projects in the Territory.

Mr Bacon hoped new responses, like the co-response trial down in Alice Springs, would turn the tide of the “epidemic” of violence.

However domestic violence experts have recently told the Territory coroner that this pilot program was being “set up to fail” due to a inadequate funding.

“We need to try something … It’s better than doing nothing,” Mr Bacon said.

Property crime rates also increased by 5 per cent across the Territory, with homes and motor vehicles a particular target for thieves.

There were 3530 house break ins over the 12-months to October — an average of nine a day — while 2145 motor vehicles were nicked over the same period.

Originally published as Darwin’s Monthly domestic violence rates break decade-long record