Far North assault numbers on the rise

CAIRNS is becoming a more violent place to live, according to statistics in the Queensland Crime report for 2020-21.

Cairns has the fourth highest crime rate by region in the state.

Of more than 32,000 reported crimes, assault was up by 16.5 per cent, serious assault up by 10.3 per cent, common assault up by 27.9 per cent, sexual offences up by 23.8 per cent, rape and attempted rape up by 8.1 per cent, and other sexual offences 29.9 per cent.

Alarmingly, stalking was up by 92.9 per cent with 72 offences reported.

Arson was up by 27.5 per cent with 63 offences reported.

Offenders facing Cairns Magistrates Court for breaching a domestic violence order has become an even more common occurrence with the offence up by 19.3 per cent with 3088 offences reported.

Frontline support workers say perpetrators need to be held accountable.

Women’s Centre FNQ manager Nicole Dye said she was not surprised at the figures.

“But these are not just numbers on a page, these are victims fearing for their safety at the hands of a perpetrator,” Ms Dye said.

“We aren’t doing enough for victims in Queensland and there is no accountability for the perpetrator if they breach the order – the onus has to be put back on the perpetrator.

“We have to invest more in perpetrator programs, there isn’t nearly enough, and that has to be priority.

“And we need to train police to deal with these situations more thoroughly, and have information sharing across all departments.

“We see it with the numbers coming through our doors – our figures are just going up and up and up,” she said.

“People have to realise a DVO is just a piece of paper, it doesn’t put a protective shield around the woman.

“There needs to be more protection for the victim and more onus on the perpetrator.”

She said the No.1 cause of homelessness for women in the Far North was domestic violence.

The Women’s Centre provides services to assist women and children in Cairns and Atherton.

The services provided include information, resources and support including crisis support, a DV court support program, family support programs and a young parent program.

The Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Report for 2020-21 revealed 655 lives had been lost to domestic and family violence in Queensland since 2006.

Anyone who needs to get out of a domestic or family violence situation urgently can call DV Connect on 1800 811 811 for advice.