Domestic violence assaults surge up to 15 per cent over two years in NSW

The Advertiser

a day ago

Domestic violence and sexual assaults are surging in regional areas - some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over just two years.
The latest crime data shows in eight of 13 regional areas across NSW there was a rise in domestic violence-related assaults in the two years to March 2025.
The biggest leap was in New England and the north west where the number of assaults leapt 14.8 per cent, followed by the Central West at 13.6 per cent.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, the Murray and Richmond-Tweed all recorded increases in attacks of 12 per cent or more, according to the NSW Recorded Crime Statistics March 2025 Quarterly Update.
The average rise across regional NSW - which generally has much higher rates of domestic violence - over the 24 months was 4.1 per cent to greater Sydney's 3.2 per cent.
"Of the three major offences trending upwards, the increase in domestic violence-related assault is the most geographically widespread," NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said.
"Most of regional NSW and several Sydney locations are showing increases."
She said family violence was increasing more sharply than intimate partner assaults - and there was an overall 9.5 per cent rise in child victims of domestic abuse.
"It's possible that greater community awareness and proactive policing are encouraging more victims to come forward," Ms Fitzgerald said.
Research released in early June found one in three Australian men admitted to violence against their partner, which included physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Across all regional areas of the state, only the Illawarra recorded a significant jump in incidences of sexual assault, which rose 24.3 per cent in two years, though in parts of Sydney they went up nearly 30 per cent.
Ms Fitzgerald said online reporting of sexual assault had grown considerably since it was introduced in January 2023.
Online reports now made up nearly a quarter of recorded incidents.
"These figures highlight the growing willingness of victims to speak out, supported by more accessible and confidential reporting pathways", she said.
The only other major crime to record an increase state wide was stealing from a motor vehicle, but this increased only in pockets of NSW.
Domestic violence and sexual assaults are surging in regional areas - some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over just two years.
The latest crime data shows in eight of 13 regional areas across NSW there was a rise in domestic violence-related assaults in the two years to March 2025.
The biggest leap was in New England and the north west where the number of assaults leapt 14.8 per cent, followed by the Central West at 13.6 per cent.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, the Murray and Richmond-Tweed all recorded increases in attacks of 12 per cent or more, according to the NSW Recorded Crime Statistics March 2025 Quarterly Update.
The average rise across regional NSW - which generally has much higher rates of domestic violence - over the 24 months was 4.1 per cent to greater Sydney's 3.2 per cent.
"Of the three major offences trending upwards, the increase in domestic violence-related assault is the most geographically widespread," NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said.
"Most of regional NSW and several Sydney locations are showing increases."
She said family violence was increasing more sharply than intimate partner assaults - and there was an overall 9.5 per cent rise in child victims of domestic abuse.
"It's possible that greater community awareness and proactive policing are encouraging more victims to come forward," Ms Fitzgerald said.
Research released in early June found one in three Australian men admitted to violence against their partner, which included physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Across all regional areas of the state, only the Illawarra recorded a significant jump in incidences of sexual assault, which rose 24.3 per cent in two years, though in parts of Sydney they went up nearly 30 per cent.
Ms Fitzgerald said online reporting of sexual assault had grown considerably since it was introduced in January 2023.
Online reports now made up nearly a quarter of recorded incidents.
"These figures highlight the growing willingness of victims to speak out, supported by more accessible and confidential reporting pathways", she said.
The only other major crime to record an increase state wide was stealing from a motor vehicle, but this increased only in pockets of NSW.
Domestic violence and sexual assaults are surging in regional areas - some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over just two years.
The latest crime data shows in eight of 13 regional areas across NSW there was a rise in domestic violence-related assaults in the two years to March 2025.
The biggest leap was in New England and the north west where the number of assaults leapt 14.8 per cent, followed by the Central West at 13.6 per cent.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, the Murray and Richmond-Tweed all recorded increases in attacks of 12 per cent or more, according to the NSW Recorded Crime Statistics March 2025 Quarterly Update.
The average rise across regional NSW - which generally has much higher rates of domestic violence - over the 24 months was 4.1 per cent to greater Sydney's 3.2 per cent.
"Of the three major offences trending upwards, the increase in domestic violence-related assault is the most geographically widespread," NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said.
"Most of regional NSW and several Sydney locations are showing increases."
She said family violence was increasing more sharply than intimate partner assaults - and there was an overall 9.5 per cent rise in child victims of domestic abuse.
"It's possible that greater community awareness and proactive policing are encouraging more victims to come forward," Ms Fitzgerald said.
Research released in early June found one in three Australian men admitted to violence against their partner, which included physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Across all regional areas of the state, only the Illawarra recorded a significant jump in incidences of sexual assault, which rose 24.3 per cent in two years, though in parts of Sydney they went up nearly 30 per cent.
Ms Fitzgerald said online reporting of sexual assault had grown considerably since it was introduced in January 2023.
Online reports now made up nearly a quarter of recorded incidents.
"These figures highlight the growing willingness of victims to speak out, supported by more accessible and confidential reporting pathways", she said.
The only other major crime to record an increase state wide was stealing from a motor vehicle, but this increased only in pockets of NSW.
Domestic violence and sexual assaults are surging in regional areas - some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over just two years.
The latest crime data shows in eight of 13 regional areas across NSW there was a rise in domestic violence-related assaults in the two years to March 2025.
The biggest leap was in New England and the north west where the number of assaults leapt 14.8 per cent, followed by the Central West at 13.6 per cent.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, the Murray and Richmond-Tweed all recorded increases in attacks of 12 per cent or more, according to the NSW Recorded Crime Statistics March 2025 Quarterly Update.
The average rise across regional NSW - which generally has much higher rates of domestic violence - over the 24 months was 4.1 per cent to greater Sydney's 3.2 per cent.
"Of the three major offences trending upwards, the increase in domestic violence-related assault is the most geographically widespread," NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said.
"Most of regional NSW and several Sydney locations are showing increases."
She said family violence was increasing more sharply than intimate partner assaults - and there was an overall 9.5 per cent rise in child victims of domestic abuse.
"It's possible that greater community awareness and proactive policing are encouraging more victims to come forward," Ms Fitzgerald said.
Research released in early June found one in three Australian men admitted to violence against their partner, which included physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
Across all regional areas of the state, only the Illawarra recorded a significant jump in incidences of sexual assault, which rose 24.3 per cent in two years, though in parts of Sydney they went up nearly 30 per cent.
Ms Fitzgerald said online reporting of sexual assault had grown considerably since it was introduced in January 2023.
Online reports now made up nearly a quarter of recorded incidents.
"These figures highlight the growing willingness of victims to speak out, supported by more accessible and confidential reporting pathways", she said.
The only other major crime to record an increase state wide was stealing from a motor vehicle, but this increased only in pockets of NSW.