Intimidation/stalking domestic violence offences

Domestic violence-related stalking/intimidation incidents recorded by the NSW Police has increased 110% from 2012 to 2021, with the significant rise attributed to changes in officers' response to domestic violence.

Over half of all stalking/intimidation incidents are domestic violence-related, with offences normally involving threats, intimidation, and verbal abuse, rather than ‘stalking'. The new coercive control offences are also a newly recognised form of domestic violence in NSW.

The results, published in a report by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, also revealed that one in eight offenders charged with the offence were sentenced to a custodial penalty.

The number of custodial sentences increased 96.1% from 2014 to 2021, from 311 – 610.