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Release date: Thursday 3 July 2025
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released five new metrics to enhance understanding of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) trends in the state. These indicators complement traditional police-recorded crime statistics and together provide a comprehensive picture of DFV in the community.
Although police-recorded DFV incidents have increased over the past decade, this rise may not reflect a true increase in DFV prevalence. Police statistics can also be influenced by higher reporting rates, greater police proactivity, and shifts in police priorities. To gain a clearer view of underlying trends, BOCSAR has reported the following supplementary DFV indicators:
Between 2018 and 2024, four of these five indicators were stable and one - people self-reporting DFV victimisation – declined modestly. Together, the findings suggest that DFV rates in NSW have not increased over this period.
“These new metrics provide a more reliable understanding of domestic and family violence trends in NSW,” said Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of BOCSAR. “They allow us to move beyond police data and assist in building a stronger evidence base to inform policy and improve service responses.”
“While these indicators show no increase in DFV in the community, they also don’t suggest progress towards reducing it. The fact that at least one in four women experience violence by a partner or family member in their lifetime shows that current rates remain unacceptably high.”
The new metrics are available on the domestic and family violence community trend measures page and will be updated annually.
Link to report summary: Attrition of domestic assaults from the New South Wales criminal justice system
A second BOCSAR report released today examined the criminal justice system response to domestic violence assaults reported to police. Findings reveal that just 39% of reported domestic assaults result in an offender being convicted in court.
Of the 33,811 domestic assaults recorded by NSW Police in 2022, police laid charges in 72% of incidents. Of those that proceeded to court, 68% resulted in at least one domestic violence offence being proven.
“These results show that police have a strong inclination to take enforcement action against domestic violence suspects” Ms Fitzgerald said. “However, the court conviction rate remains lower than for many other offence types. A key factor is the high rate at which all domestic violence charges are withdrawn—our analysis shows that in 19% of domestic violence court appearances, all charges are dropped by the prosecution. This is more than double the general withdrawal rate.”
“We also found that intimate partner assaults are more likely to result in a proven court outcome (42%) than family violence assaults (35%), largely because police are more likely to pursue legal action in intimate partner cases”.
For comment please contact:
Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research.
Phone: +61 423 139 687
Email: jackie.fitzgerald@dcj.nsw.gov.au
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