THE rate of domestic violence in Dubbo is more than three times the NSW average, new data shows.
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In the past 12 months, there were 672 incidents reported to police, which is an increase of 39.7 per cent on the 481 cases during the previous year.
The recently-released NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) report for the 12 months to September 2019 showed that Dubbo had a much higher rate of domestic violence than Bathurst and Orange.
Dubbo's rate of domestic violence related assaults per head of population was 3.3 times that of the NSW rate.
By comparison, Bathurst was 1.3 times the NSW rate with 227 assaults reported, while Orange was at 1.7 times the rate with 285 assaults during the reporting year.
Orana Mid Western Police District Commander Superintendent Peter McKenna said there are many factors that come into play with domestic violence.
"You've got to look at the demographic that we have in these areas and a lot of people are under stress, whether it be from poverty or whether it be from inter-generational drug and alcohol abuse and unemployment," he said.
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Supt McKenna said officers in the Orana Mid Western Police District were committed to driving down domestic violence rates.
"We've got a full time domestic violence team who supports victims through processes, and detectives become involved in the more serious matters," he said.
"We're now more than ever thoroughly investigating all incidents of domestic violence and we're gaining a lot more community support and confidence in people reporting it.
"We liaise very closely both with government and non-government services all the time."
Supt McKenna said thorough police investigations often leads to more offences being discovered.
"We have one of the highest legal action rates in NSW for taking action in domestic violence cases. That's how serious we take it," he said.
Supt McKenna said he feared regional towns appeared over-represented in data such as BOCSAR reports, but that Orana Mid Western "police are still leading the way".
"We make the most arrests in NSW every month," he said.
"We're charging more offenders than anywhere else in the state every month, our productivity is one of the highest across NSW."
If you need help, call: Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463, Link2home Homelessness 1800 152 152 or Child Protection Helpline 13 21 11.
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