New South Wales Police have arrested 592 people and laid 1,107 charges during a four-day domestic violence blitz under Operation Amarok. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 22 firearms.
Police data shows that more than half of all murders in the state are domestic violence related. Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon described domestic violence as a 'cowardly offence' and called for stronger laws to treat serious perpetrators similarly to organised criminals or terrorist offenders.
Tara Hunter, chief executive of Full Stop Australia, said the high number of arrests indicates that apprehended violence orders (AVOs) are not being effectively enforced. She noted that five women have been alleged victims of domestic violence related homicides in the past eight days.
Since Operation Amarok launched in January, a total of 1,884 people have been arrested across four phases. In the latest phase, 139 of those arrested were classified as 'most dangerous domestic violence offenders', and 103 had outstanding warrants for violent offences.
Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley stated she would consult with the attorney-general, victim support groups, and domestic violence experts to develop further reforms. However, Hunter cautioned that increased police powers alone are insufficient, calling for a more comprehensive service system to address the complexity of domestic violence.
