How rural policing gaps can make escaping domestic violence harder
Rural and regional areas bear a disproportionate burden of domestic violence. Distance, police staffing and station hours aren’t the only barriers to seeking help.
In April 2024, Daniel Billings was convicted of murdering his partner Molly Ticehurst. The court documents reveal that Billings had previously threatened to bypass the limitations of rural policing. He claimed, "I will come in the middle of the night... The police won’t stop me. I will get to you quicker than they will." This illustrates how an abuser can leverage the prospect of delayed access to police and justice to instill fear, control, or commit violence against victims.
While rural life in Australia may seem peaceful, domestic violence is a significant issue in many communities. Studies have shown that in regional New South Wales, the rate of domestic violence-related assaults in 2024 was 73% higher than in Greater Sydney. In the Far West and Orana regions, the rate was even higher, at 3.4 times the state rate.
However, much of this violence goes unreported, with 79% of women who experienced physical or sexual violence from their current partner never telling the police. In 2024, New South Wales had 2,279 police vacancies, which accounted for 12% of the total authorized positions. In the Orana Mid-Western district, a 2024 audit found that the police force had only 70% of its allocated workforce available, even after accounting for vacancies and leave.
This staffing issue, along with sick leave, may affect whether help arrives when needed. The distance between stations and communities can make it challenging for police to respond promptly. For instance, in Forbes NSW, the nearest open station is 30 kilometers away, and in Victoria, the nearest 24-hour counter was 100 kilometers away.
On-call emergency arrangements provide a round-the-clock response, but keeping patrols available and ensuring timely responses are different functions. Social barriers, such as community gossip and the pressures of family privacy, can also discourage victims from seeking help. Specialized resources, such as police and domestic violence services, can provide greater access for victims in rural areas.
However, practitioners have reported crisis workloads and the time-consuming nature of travel to reach women in outlying communities. Greater investment in rural policing, justice, and support services is needed to address the unique challenges faced in these areas.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
