There is no doubt increased reporting of domestic violence incidents has contributed to higher rates of the crime in the Orana region, Dubbo MP Troy Grant said.
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But the rate continues to be “unacceptably high” across the region, he said, and the community had a role to play in stamping out the “insidious crime”.
“I am encouraged that more people are having the confidence to report these incidents to police, and that the police are taking new innovative steps to address the perpetrators of domestic violence,” Mr Grant said.
“But I think we have a role as a community to continue the education, support our police wherever we can.”
Addressing crime types, which “have been plaguing our communities … for too long”, would be a key focus of the NSW Police Force’s newly appointed Deputy Commissioner, regional field operations, Gary Worboys, Mr Grant said.
His comments follow the release of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) quarterly report for the year to March 2017, which revealed the Orana region was home to seven of the state’s worst hot spots for the crime.
The Walgett local government area (LGA) was ranked second worst in the state for domestic-related assaults in the year to March 2017, despite a 20 per cent fall in incidents when compared to the year to March 2016.
In Dubbo LGA there were 305 recorded incidents, a 3 per cent improvement.
Dubbo was ranked 14th worst in the state, with incidents of domestic violence occurring at 1.9 times the state rate.
In the Coonamble LGA, domestic violence occurred at three times the state rate, and it ranked third worst.
Wellington ranked fifth, Cobar came in at sixth spot and Bogan was eighth.
Gilgandra was ranked at 12th worst.
Narromine showed improvement, with the number of reported incidents falling from 57 to 45 in the 12 months, or 21 per cent.
But across NSW, the BOCSAR figures showed no overall increase in reported incidents of domestic violence.
Mr Grant said financial pressures, drug and alcohol-related factors and family breakdown could all contribute to domestic violence, but said it was ultimately up to everyone in the community to stand against the crime.
“Wherever that is happening we need to vigilant in how we respond,” he said.
“What we need to do first and foremost is continue to encourage victims of domestic violence to have the confidence to report it to authorities so that they can do their very best to stamp it out.
“Whilst we are concerned about the amount of domestic violence that is occurring out there and need to do more to lower it, we do have some confidence that people are reporting it more.”
