Domestic Violence: Should NSW Take a Tougher Stance?
There has been a strong focus in Australia recently on raising awareness of and preventing domestic violence. The Chief Executive of Domestic Violence NSW, Tracy Howe, has stated that domestic violence is the leading cause of death and injury in...
Are Special Domestic Violence Courts a Good Idea?
According to media reports, NSW Labor has promised to set up specialised domestic violence courts if the party is elected to power in the next state election. With much recent publicity surrounding the rates of domestic violence in Australia, police...
Police Body Cameras could be used as Evidence of Domestic Violence in Court
The rollout of police body cameras was announced earlier this year. Although costing millions of dollars, the initiative has been greeted optimistically as a positive step towards reducing crime and police misconduct, and quickly resolving disputed versions of events. Police...
Fears Parents Using an AVO in NSW to Discipline Children
AVOs are not just for adults. Research commissioned by one of Australia’s largest community service organisations Uniting Care indicates that as many as three AVOs a day are being taken out against children, the vast majority of them for domestic...
Recent AVO Breach Stories
Breaching an AVO can lead to serious repercussions, especially if it involves violence. But there is little consistency in the penalties that are imposed. Many real life stories of AVO breaches show that those who are are guilty of contravening...
What Happens if I make a False Statement to Police or in Court?
The reasons for making a false statement to police or in-court are varied: a person may be trying to protect themselves or someone else, or they may be attempting to seek ‘victim’s compensation’, or they may even be trying to...
How can you represent someone like that?
“How can you represent someone like that?” It’s the question many criminal lawyers dread. As a defence lawyer who deals with people charged with serious crimes, it’s the question that pops up most often. I recently represented a client who...
How Accountable Should Police Be In Domestic Violence Cases?
In Western Australia, the family of a victim of domestic violence is suing the state government and the police service for failing to act or investigate breaches of domestic violence orders which took place. This failure in the duty of...
What is the Penalty for Threatening a Person?
Making a threat towards someone can be a criminal offence under certain circumstances. Depending on the nature of the threat and who it is made to, you can face a number of different penalties for threatening a person, from a...
What To Do If False Claims of Domestic Violence Are Made Against You
False claims of domestic violence are distressing and unfair. Some people use these claims strategically to take revenge or gain an advantage in a child custody battle. Even worse, sometimes it is the abuser who initiates charges against the person...
