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Police brace for spike in DV incidents on Christmas Day as new figures reveal six assaults every hour

Christmas Day is one of the worst days of the year for domestic violence attacks in WA with police responding to six assaults every hour on December 25 last year. Horrifying statistics obtained by The West Australian reveal domestic violence incidents spiked 30 per cent on Christmas Day last year, with police responding to 142 assaults and 41 breaches of violence restraining orders. For the entire month of December last year, police logged 5044 family and domestic violence incidents across the State — or 162 a day. “Family violence affects not only the immediate victims but ripples through entire families and communities, creating cycles of trauma that can last generations,” Acting Superintendent Brad Pinch, of the family violence division, said. “Sadly we see an increase of family violence during the festive season. It is a complex community challenge that requires united efforts from all corners of society — government agencies, community stakeholders, families themselves, and organisations committed to making a positive change.” The figures come as an urgent funding request by community legal centres appears set to be rejected by the State Government despite overwhelming demand that is expected to spike even further over the holiday period. Almost 38,000 people were turned away from 26 community legal centres across WA last financial year — double that of the previous year. And the worrying trend is continuing to worsen this financial year. A snapshot of six centres by Community Legal WA showed the number of people turned away between July to September was up to 50 per cent higher than the same time last year. Rising incidents of domestic violence and financial problems stemming from inflation are being blamed, with turnaways at the Consumer Credit Legal Surplus up a massive 163 per cent. Community legal centres provide free or low cost legal help to people in need, including survivors of family and domestic violence. CLWA chief executive Chelsea McKinney said a plea for urgent funding had failed ahead of the Government’s mid-year Budget economic review on Monday. “We’ve been told by the WA Government that next week’s Budget update will maintain investment in community legal services,” she said. “We understand that to mean that there won’t be any additional funding. And so what that means is that community legal services will be standing still and continuing to turn away these hundreds of people that need help every week.” The West Australian spoke to Perth mum-of-four Marie* (not her real name) who said an inability to access help left her unrepresented before the courts and in the grips of a cycle of abuse. It took two years before she could secure proper legal assistance, after being denied legal aid. “I was just really scared, I felt really helpless. I actually felt furious,” she said. “Going back and forth because I was desperate. “I’d be isolated and just give up because it would swing between love and hate so quickly . . . when you’re desperate you do whatever it takes to get you and children’s needs met, even if that means sabotaging yourself and going back into an unhealthy environment.” Attorney-General John Quigley praised the “excellent work” undertaken by the sector but said total funding has already increased substantially. “I have reiterated my strong support for the sector and advocated for it strongly at both the national and local levels,” he said. “When I came into office, Western Australian Community Legal Centres were on life support . . . since that time, the total funding for this State’s community legal sector has increased from approximately $12 million in 2019-20 to $32.5 million in 2024-25.” Ms McKinney said that figure included targeted programs and federal funding, that was recently boosted, but was not enough. “More than a third of that has to be spent on inflation costs and rising wage costs, so really it will leave just a few million to increase services on the ground,” she said. “We estimate that will assist perhaps 2000-3000 people a year, compared to the 38,000 people that we’re turning away. So we still really need additional funding from the State Government.” Midlas chief executive Angie Perkins said her staff hate turning people away. “I really don’t feel like the stats do it justice,” she said. “You ring a service and you’ll get told, ‘I’m really sorry I can’t help you today,’ but it’s not even that we can help you tomorrow, it could be weeks. That takes a toll. “I just feel like it’s short sighted, we haven’t been quiet about the issues and the data speaks for itself . . . access to justice is a fundamental right. I don’t know what more we need to do for that message to get there.” She’s worried outreach services are being stretched beyond breaking point, with lawyers only able to cover three out of four days in Midland court and no services available close to Ellenbrook. “My concern is we know that family and domestic violence doesn’t happen two days a week, we know it happens seven days a week and 24 hours a day,” she said. Marie* urged anyone facing a wait list to hold onto hope. “Keep knocking . . . keep going to family court and keep asking for help, just don’t give up,” she said. Ms McKinney certainly hasn’t given up hope yet. “I’m feeling hopeful the Cook Government will do the right thing in the lead up to the election,” she said.

The West Australian exclusivePolice brace for spike in DV incidents on Christmas Day as new figures reveal six assaults every hour

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Police brace for spike in DV incidents on Christmas Day as new figures reveal six assaults every hour