Hard line on strangulation saving lives

GOLD Coast police are stopping men killing their partners, charging more than 130 domestic violence perpetrators with strangulation since hardline laws were introduced.

Data to October this year shows 137 Gold Coasters were charged with domestic strangulation since the laws came into effect in May 2016.

Research shows women who are strangled in a domestic setting are hundreds of times more likely to be murdered at the hands of a partner.

Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said men who strangle their partners were seeking to exert an “extreme form of power”.

“Strangulation is a key indicator for homicide,” he said.

“This is because it’s an extreme demonstration of power, coercion and control.

“We know that within seconds a person is rendered unconscious and the longer it goes on, in terms of seconds, the more potential there is for permanent injury or death.”

Detective Inspector Hogan said men who strangled their partners did not always have a history of violence.

“Holding high-end perpetrators to account is difficult because their potential to commit serious violence is not always prefaced by an act of violence,” he said.

“Sometimes it (strangulation) can stand alone and other times it can be during a prolonged series of acts of violence.”

The DV Taskforce boss said he was confident the laws were saving lives.

“What existed previously as a simple assault matter has been recognised as sitting with the high-risk factors for causing serious harm and death,” Detective Inspector Hogan said.

“In my opinion, it has prevented very significant incidents occurring and protected the lives of women and children.”

University of Queensland domestic and family violence specialist Dr Deborah Walsh said there was no “type” of man predisposed to strangulation.

“It cuts across all socioeconomic levels and there is no one perpetrator who will use it in any more frequency than others,” she said.

“The consistent theme is that it tends to be used by perpetrators who are escalating their physical assault behaviours.

“It’s a risk factor for homicide (and happens) when the male perpetrator is starting to sense he is losing control of the victim and her life.

“Women often will lie to protect the perpetrator and to protect themselves because if she discloses and he finds out it could put her in more danger, so disclosure is very problematic.”