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Domestic violence is a serious problem which impacts many NSW families. In 2021-22 an estimated 1.5 per cent of Australian women aged 18 years and over experienced violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months. It is estimated that 1 in 4 women (27%), and 1 in 8 men (12%) in Australia experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member since the age of 15 years (ABS Personal Safety Survey 2021-22).
Trends in domestic violence
Routinely collected administrative data offer a consistent time series to track and monitor changes in the incidence of domestic and family violence recorded by police. In NSW, incidents are recorded by the NSW Police and are flagged to indicate if the parties involved in the incident include persons in a domestic relationship, including current and ex intimate partners, family members and other domestic relationships such as household members and carers.
Domestic violence related assault
The chart below shows the number and rate of domestic violence related assaults recorded by the NSW Police.
Resources
Read the full report: Trends in domestic & family violence - quarterly March 2024 (PDF, 481.2 KB)
Domestic violence related murder
The chart below shows the number of domestic violence related murders recorded by the NSW Police.
Resources
Read the full report: Domestic violence related murder in NSW (PDF, 233.9 KB)
Regional trends in domestic violence
Rates of domestic violence related assault vary across NSW with higher per capita rates in remote and regional areas.
Data file
Domestic Violence Assault Regional Comparison tool (XLS, 299.5 KB)
This tool provides information on domestic violence assault incidents reported to, or detected by, the NSW Police. It contains regional data for NSW, Greater Sydney, Regional NSW, Statistical Areas and Local Government Areas, for the past five years
Who are the victims and offenders of domestic violence?
Domestic violence assault victims
Data recorded by the NSW Police in 2023 shows that 1 in 10 victims of domestic assault are young people, 3 in 5 are women and Aboriginal women are 8 times more likely to be recorded as a victim.
Domestic violence assault offenders
Data recorded by the NSW Police in 2023 shows that 1 in 10 domestic assault offenders are young people, three quarters of offenders are men and 7 in 10 incidents of domestic assault results in legal action.
Data file
Access the data: Domestic violence statistics (XLSX, 105.3 KB)
This includes information about victims and perpetrators involved in domestic violence incidents, including their gender, age, Aboriginality and victim-offender relationship
Justice responses to domestic violence
The Criminal Justice System can respond to domestic violence in various ways, including prosecuting offenders in court and issusing Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs).
Apprehended Violence Order (AVO)
The chart below shows the number of final Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) issued in NSW.
Data file
Access the data: Apprehended Violence Orders statistics (XLSX, 51.8 KB)
Court outcomes for domestic assault
The chart below shows the number of people who have had a proven domestic assault charge and the percentage of charges that are proven.
Resources
Read the full report: Domestic violence assault - court outcomes (PDF, 277.2 KB)
Coercive control
A new offence of coercive control commenced in NSW on 1 July 2024 (s54D, Crimes Act 1900). The offence of coercive control relates to the use of abusive behaviours directed towards a current or former intimate partner with the intention to coerce or control them. The criminal offence captures repeated patterns of physical or non-physical abuse used to hurt, scare, intimidate, threaten or control someone. The law applies to abusive behaviour from 1 July 2024.
Coercive control incidents can include one or more types of controlling behaviour. The most common behaviours recorded:
Threats or intimidation
Shaming, degrading or humiliating
Harassment, monitoring or tracking
Financial abuse
Social isolation or cultural abuse
Resources
Read the full report: Coercive control - Preliminary report July 2024 (PDF, 108.6 KB)
The chart below shows the types of controlling behaviours recorded by NSW Police in July 2024.
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.