New research confirms that reported domestic violence assaults largely remained stable in NSW in 2020, according to a report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
BOCSAR said its report, Domestic violence in NSW in the wake of COVID-19: Update to December 2020, built on previous work which had considered data up to April 2020; applied a more rigorous methodology; and expanded the data considered to include trends in non-criminal domestic episodes recorded by the NSW Police Force.
“BOCSAR found no compelling evidence of an increase in domestic violence assaults reported to NSW Police coinciding with the introduction of strict social isolation requirements, or as restrictions eased up to December 2020”.
“Once pre-existing trends and seasonally were accounted for, the number of monthly incidents of domestic assaults was largely within expectations,” it said.
“There is also no evidence of a delay in the reporting of domestic assault incidents to police during the period that stay-at-home orders were in place.”
BOCSAR said evidence did support an increase in non-criminal domestic arguments and disturbances attended by police from the time restrictions were introduced in late March 2020 through to mid-July.
It said most of the incidents were classified as ‘verbal argument’ and numbers returned to usual once restrictions eased from mid-July onwards.
Executive Director of BOCSAR, Jackie Fitzgerald said despite no clear evidence of an overall increase in domestic violence related assaults associated with the COVID-19 restrictions, the prevalence of domestic violence within the community remained high.
“The increase in police attendance to domestic arguments and disturbances following the introduction social isolation restrictions reflects the additional pressures placed on families during this period,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“This is a concern given the strong association between emotional abuse and physical violence,” she said.
BOCSAR’s 17-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
