Community & Business
2 May, 2023
Mareeba revealed as domestic violence hotspot
OVER half the region’s domestic violence incidents last year occurred in Mareeba as officers from the Tablelands Patrol Group responded to more than 2000 calls for family and domestic violence across the region.
The Patrol Group covers a wide expanse of area as far north as Croydon and last year the group recorded the second highest amount of domestic violence incidents, 60 per cent of which were in Mareeba.
Mareeba had half the amount of DV calls than Cairns despite being a fraction of the size.
Inspector Jason Smith said domestic violence calls are sensitive and time consuming due to the risk posed to victims and survivors.
“Last year we had 1012 domestic violence breaches, which approaches about half the number experienced by Cairns. Mareeba accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the Tablelands figures,” he said.
“That is just the breaches of domestic violence, on top of that we have made 412 applications and we’ve attended about 700 domestic violence matters where we made referrals.
“That is over 2100 calls for service to domestic and family violence and each one is really time consuming due to the risk to the victim survivor in that space in what could happen.
“Domestic violence continues to be a priority for us.”
Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Angela Toppin has joined forces with Insp. Smith to lobby for more resources for DV victims as they attempt to flee from their situations and seek refuge.
To this avail, Mayor Toppin has requested a meeting with Dr Kylie Stephens, the acting executive director of the Office for Women and Violence Prevention, and the Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman.
