The number of domestic violence related assaults in the Dubbo Regional Council area increased by 63.4 per cent over a recent 24 month period - more than 10 times the average NSW-wide rise of six per cent.
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According to the latest statistics from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the spike in local domestic violence related assaults is the second highest in the state.
The statistics cover the period to March 2019 and also show break and enters into business or government buildings have increased by 77.2 per cent, which was the highest reported increase in the state.
Motor vehicle theft increased by 18 per cent.
Reports of domestic violence related assaults were 3.2 times higher than the NSW average when compared to incidents per 100,000 people over a 12 month period to March 2019, the statistics show.
Sexual assault (2 times higher than state average), indecent assault (2.1), break and enters into dwellings (3.5), break and enters into non-dwellings (3.8), motor vehicle theft (2.7), steal from motor vehicle (3), steal from retail store (2) and steal from dwelling (2) offences in the Dubbo region were also higher than the NSW average over the 12 months to March 2019.
Police respond
Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Jones said several factors could have contributed to a rise in reported domestic violence related assaults.
He said police are using audio and video recording technology to conduct more thorough investigations.
"It's all about supporting the victim and making it easier for them to give evidence and it has certainly assisted in relation to our legal action and conviction rate at court as well," he said.
"It allows us to prosecute with more success."
Assistant Commissioner Jones said police are also doing more checks to ensure apprehended domestic violence orders are being complied with.
"Police are out there knocking on the doors of the victims and perpetrators making them aware there are orders in place, reminding them of the conditions," he said.
"If there's any breach of those conditions... then we're taking more action in relation to domestic violence assaults for example.
"Domestic and family violence is a scourge on our community and it affects all sections of the state.
"It's not dictated by postcodes or geographical boundaries. It's a systemic problem across society and that's why we're very keen to change community attitudes."
To help tackle the problem the Assistant Commissioner urged community members to look out for one another.
"If you hear something, if you see something or know something report it to your local police or contact CrimeStoppers anonymously," he said.
