NT Police crime statistics reveal shocking domestic violence rates as new advisory board appointed

Police say domestic violence continues to be their ‘primary’ work, with incidents in Alice Springs rising by 65 per cent. Read the statistics here.

NT Police commander Danny Bacon said domestic violence continues to be police’s “primary” work. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Police were called to 29 domestic violence incidents in the Darwin region alone overnight on Thursday.

Commander Danny Bacon said family violence continued to be the top issue officers dealt with day-to-day as he revealed new crime statistics.

The latest data also showed domestic violence-related assaults in Alice Springs rose 65 per cent in the twelve months to the end of December.

Alcohol-related assaults in Alice Springs were up 68 per cent in the same period, while property damage and commercial break-ins were up about 50 per cent.

“(Domestic violence) is the primary crime type that’s in our community today,” Commander Bacon said.

“Overnight we had 29 domestic violence incidents that our officers had to respond to in the greater Darwin area.

“In comparison we only had two unlawful entries.

“I’m not degrading the unlawful entries in themselves, I’m just saying that is where the body of our work is as an organisation and where we need to work better with our stakeholders to reduce those numbers.”

Commander Bacon said Strike Force Lyra, dedicated to domestic violence, was dealing with incidents quicker to prevent “repeat victimisation” and working closely with support organisations.

“It’s all about that increased co-ordination … and talking about domestic violence as well, so the information is out there,” he said.

The tragic statistics come as the Territory government appoints its first Aboriginal Advisory Board on domestic, family and sexual violence.

NT government data shows Aboriginal women are 40 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of sexual and family violence, while 91 per cent of the Territory’s sexual assault victims are Aboriginal women and girls.

The new board will be chaired by Lauren Peric and report to Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Minister Kate Worden.

The eight other members hail from Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Ngukkur and Galiwinku and include Linda Turner, Rhoda Dhurrkay, Daphne Daniels, Connie Shaw, Anthony Castro, Michael Torres, Byron May and Kim Mulholland.

The new Aboriginal Advisory Board on Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence will report exert advice to Minister Kate Worden.

Ms Peric is also the current chairwoman of the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter and a Darwin Combined Aboriginal Organisations group member.

“It’s an incredibly significant remit that this new body has been given,” Ms Peric said.

“Building strong families and the generational change needed to address this issue requires the inclusion of Aboriginal voices, especially from remote regions.”

Ms Worden said the government was convinced the best solutions to such serious issues must come from community expertise.

“This board will give me confidence that policy and programs can be delivered to work in the best interests of Aboriginal people and communities,” he said.

The Territory government has committed to the national agreement on Closing the Gap which aims to halve the rate of family violence against Indigenous women and children by 2031.

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Originally published as NT Police crime statistics reveal shocking domestic violence rates as new advisory board appointed