Women could be better protected if perpetrators of domestic violence were treated more like violent extremists, according to a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Even when authorities know of particularly vulnerable perpetrators of domestic violence, many of them later commit murder due to a lack of communication between authorities.
Sydney man John Edwards, who shot his two estranged children in 2018 before turning the gun on himself, had been a victim of domestic violence for decades but still had access to firearms.
This pattern continues with the recent murders of women. In April, 29-year-old Daniel Billings is alleged to have murdered his ex-girlfriend Molly Ticehurst while out on bail. He was accused of intimidation and animal cruelty.
“Law enforcement or health authorities, when viewed in isolation, rarely have the information needed to identify these offenders when their propensity to violence increases,” the Institute of Criminology report said.
“Each agency may only know part of the story that describes the true extent of the risk.”
In response, the Institute has proposed the establishment of a Domestic Violence Threat Assessment Unit.
The model is modelled on the Fixated Threat Assessment Centres used around the world and in Australia to assess and manage risks posed by “lone-actor fixated individuals” who are obsessed with public figures, places or causes.
These individuals and perpetrators of domestic violence have similarities: both groups have fixations and are motivated by grievances that can bring about behavioral changes.
For example, perpetrators of domestic violence may perceive it as unfair if their former partner enters into a new relationship. They may then stalk their victims, thereby exacerbating their grievances, which in turn can lead to extreme forms of violence.
A domestic violence threat assessment centre would bridge law enforcement, mental health services, domestic violence response agencies and legal services, enabling them to share information and intervene more quickly in high-risk cases.
Signs such as stalking, a recent separation, custody or financial disputes, and requests for a protection order could be better communicated to better target perpetrators and pave the way for intervention before their actions escalate.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said the report would serve as a basis for the federal government's policy, but did not explicitly commit to the model.
“We are determined to do more to solve this shocking crime, which has had a deeply traumatic impact on families and communities,” he said.
However, the Australian Institute of Criminology points out that the proposal does not address the entire problem of domestic partner killings, nor does it suggest that it replaces existing approaches to combating domestic violence.
The federal government has pledged $3.4 billion to support a national plan to end violence against women and children.
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