Karen Webb’s new three month domestic violence job criticised, new stats show ‘coward attacks’ getting worse
The Minns government has been criticised over its decision to appoint Karen Webb to a three-month role dealing with domestic violence, as new data shows offences continue to rise.
NSW
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The number of coward attacks reported to police skyrocketed on Karen Webb’s watch, prompting concerns over whether the benched commissioner’s record warrants her appointment as the state government’s “special adviser” on domestic violence.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ms Webb has been parachuted into the role, advising Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison for just three months before officially resigning as police commissioner, in a move the Opposition has described as the Labor government trying to “mop up her exit from the cops”.
Her new advisory role comes despite incidents of domestic and family violence increasing under her tenure, while at the same time there was a reduction in the number of apprehended violence order (AVO) compliance checks - something Upper House MP Rod Roberts said left him with “concerns”.
“If she’s got all these strategies to reduce domestic violence, why hasn’t she introduced any of those whilst she’s been the commissioner of police?” Mr Roberts said.
Ms Webb does not officially resign from the police until September 30, but ceased her duties on Friday.
The Telegraph was told the early exit was made to support an “orderly transition” to a new commissioner.
Opposition spokeswoman Natasha MacLaren-Jones accused the Labor government of trying to “mop up” by creating a job for a commissioner who had been “pushed out” of her role.
“Karen Webb has been pushed out of her job for political purposes, now what we see is Labor trying to mop up their mess by creating a job for her to do before leaves,” she said.
Ms MacLaren-Jones said appointing Ms Webb for just three months showed Labor was not taking the prevention of domestic violence seriously.
“We know that domestic and family violence has increased under Labor and requires serious attention, and yet what we see from the government is a three-month temporary appointment,” she said.
“If they were taking this important issue seriously, they would make this a permanent position.”
Ms Harrison said Ms Webb has been a “vocal advocate” for tackling family violence.
“Commissioner Webb will play an essential role in consulting with other jurisdictions to ensure we are taking informed action that works,” she said.
During her time as the state’s first female top cop, Ms Webb called for domestic violence offenders to be treated like terrorists and organised crime members.
But the latest data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), released today, shows that she will have her work cut out for her, with domestic violence assaults rising from 34,618 in her first year as commissioner to 38,108 in her last.
While NSW Police often claim an increase in statistics is a direct result of increased reporting and a positive sign that victims feel more comfortable to come forward about a once covered up crime, a senior police source said they “don’t buy that”.
“I only see the numbers, and they’re not going down,” they said.
The BOCSAR stats also show police have dropped off in their checks on domestic violence offenders who are subject to an AVO in the past two years.
After setting a record for compliance checks with 113,500 between April 2022 and March 2023, they carried out 96,500 between April 2024 and March 2025 – a drop of 17,000 in two years.
That is despite the number of new AVOs across the state jumping over the same period from 45,400 to 50,700.
Originally published as Karen Webb’s new three month domestic violence job criticised, new stats show ‘coward attacks’ getting worse
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