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A DOMESTIC assault is reported in the Hunter every three hours and an abused woman will return to her violent partner an average of seven times before she leaves him.
Incidents of domestic violence in the Hunter have increased nearly 20 per cent over the past three years and up to six out of every 10 calls requiring police assistance are domestic violence related.
Across Australia, one woman will die every week at the hands of a current or former partner.
But if the statistics and facts do not appear damning enough, consider the victims groups detailing what they claim is a form of terrorism which is costing lives as the abuse continues to go unreported.
‘‘It should be called intimate terrorism because that is what it is, a form of terrorism where the level of violence and abuse in so many of these relationships is worse than violence by a stranger,’’ Victims of Crime Assistance League executive director Robyn Cotterell-Jones said.
‘‘We are scared of the creepy man who might break into our house one night and murder our family.
‘‘But it is so much worse when the terrorist lives with you, and you can’t get away.’’
Tuesday is White Ribbon Day, a campaign to stop violence against women which continues to gain traction.
But the number of reported incidents in Newcastle has climbed from 629 in 2011 to 706 in the 12 months to June, 2014, an increase of 12per cent. While Cessnock has seen a 27per cent rise in reported domestic violence incidents since 2011 and Maitland 14per cent.
Some experts argue the increase may be because there is an increased willingness from victims to report the assaults coupled with increased education.
‘‘I know a lot of people who do not report because they are frightened,’’ Ms Cotterell-Jones said.
‘‘They do not believe there are the proper systems in place which they can trust.’’
Lake Macquarie police Local Area Command started a pro-active domestic violence unit in 2012 to chase up offenders to see if they were obeying conditions of their bail or apprehended domestic violence orders.
It would also check on known victims.
The pilot program has now been taken up by several commands across the state, and could be seen as a reason why there was a significant increase in domestic assaults being reported in the Lake Macquarie area in the past two years.
Former Lake Macquarie police chief and Northern Region domestic violence ambassador, Superintendent Craig Rae, said police were still trying to build the confidenceof victims and victims groups.
Police had introduced closer relationships with other agencies such as housing, health and childcare to give victims an avenue to leave their abusive relationships.
‘‘We are still building up those confidences, it is about showing that we can put settings into place where they can see a chance to get themselves and their families out of their abusive relationships,’’ Superintendent Rae said.
Newcastle City local area commander Superintendent John Gralton said the pro-active police work was able to keep offenders in check as well as showing victims they had a voice.
‘‘There is no doubt domestic violence takes up a significant amount of police time,’’ he said.
‘‘But we will do everything in our power to support victims because this type of behaviour is simply not on.’’
NSW domestic violence helpline 1800656463
