New figures released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show an increase in the incidents of domestic violence for both female and male victims.
Acting Executive Director of BOCSAR, Jackie Fitzgerald said the NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update December 2019 report showed that in the 24 months to December 2019 domestic violence related assault had climbed five per cent.
Ms Fitzgerald said it was unclear whether the significant was due to an increase in reporting or an increase in offending.
“Since 2017 we have seen more pro-active policing of domestic violence which could have encouraged victims to report,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“Reports of domestic-violence related assault have increased among female and male victims, adult and juvenile victims and intimate partner and family violence victims.”
She said significant increases in domestic related assaults were found in three areas: Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, up 10.4 per cent; Riverina, up 19.1 per cent; and Greater Sydney, up five per cent.
Mr Fitzgerald said that in the five years to December 2019 recorded incidents of both sexual assault (up 5.9 per cent per year) and indecent assault and other sexual offences (up 4.7 per cent per year) had increased significantly.
She said that the report also showed that Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) breaches increased 12.4 per cent in the past two years to December 2019.
The 60-page report can be accessed via this PS News link.
