Decline in DV for April, say police

Domestic violence figures for the Port and South Hedland area are finally starting to show a steady decline.

Police have long held concerns about the level of domestic violence in the region and have been concertedly working to reduce incidents.

Although figures in the past 12 months have shown a 148.9 per cent increase, local officers say the past four weeks have bucked the trend.

In the financial year to date, Hedland police had 412 reported domestic violence assaults compared with 166 reported for the previous financial year (July 1 to June 30).

South Hedland Senior Sergeant Dean Snashall said in the past four weeks reported DV assaults had gone from 10-12 to 6-7. “This is a steady decline, which is very pleasing, and hopefully a result of the proactive work we are doing in the domestic violence space,” he said.

As of December 4, 2016 Hedland police received 221 reported assaults compared to just 55 the year before.

It comes as a new study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed domestic violence was the leading cause of hospitalised assault among girls and women in Australia.

Figures revealed almost 65,000 women and girls were hospitalised due to assault in Australia between 2013-14, with the majority of violence perpetrated by a partner or spouse.

In about one-quarter of cases, the perpetrator of the assault was not recorded in the hospital record.

AIHW spokesman James Harrison said the patterns of injuries seen in females were different to that of males.

He said the rate of assault for women and girls varied by age, but 20-24 years was the most common age group.

In the 15 years and above-age group, 8 per cent of victims were pregnant at the time of the assault.