Domestic violence | Stalking, harassment, AVO breaches rise in Orange

Official crime trend figures show the number of intimidation, stalking and harassment cases are up by 49 per cent in the past two years.

Trespassing cases have doubled in the past year while the number of cases of people breaching AVOs rose by 37 per cent in the past two years.

The Bureau of Criminal Statistics and Research's crime figures have also revealed domestic violence cases are rising in Orange.

But, while the figures are worrying, an agency dealing directly with victims of domestic violence in Orange says it shows more women are coming forward to report the crimes.

And that is leading to more arrests and convictions.

Housing Plus head of community facilities Penny Dordoy said there had been an increase in domestic violence in Orange during the coronavirus lockdown.

She said initially less cases were being reported which suggested victims were afraid, or unable, to tell authorities.

"There is an increased level of intimidation, people are trapped in the houses with the perpetrator," she said.

"Increased tensions and increased access to the victim means there will be more incidents."

However, she said that was changing.

"We are [now] receiving many more calls and we're getting an increase in calls from people on how to support others," she said.

"Most domestic violence goes unreported. If we see an increase in reporting we see that as a good sign."

Ms Dordoy urged all victims of domestic violence to report it to authorities.

She said support services were still operating despite coronavirus restrictions.

"Everything is still in place, report," she said.

The BOCSAR figures showed there were 416 cases of intimidation, stalking and harassment in Orange in 2019-2020, up from 278 in the previous 12 months with AVO breaches rising to 194 from 141.