ToxicPolice.com
Domestic Violence
There are numerous cases of serving Australian police officers known to be, and often found guilty of perpetrating domestic violence - Abusers in the Ranks. In many cases, these officers go unpunished, or have relatively minor disciplinary punishments imposed by their forces. This has put their family victims at risk and reinforces the feeling that Australian police are a law unto themselves, treated differently from mere citizens and are free to do whatever they choose. In other cases, serving police officers have deliberately or accidentally leaked confidential personal information about victims to their attackers. In yet other cases, victims have complained abut being treated by police as domestic violence perpetrators rather than victims. Examples are also listed where police failed to act on information indicating serious risk of domestic violence, one of which involved the shooting deaths of two children.
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How and why do many Australian police ministers and commissioners appear to perpetuate the impunity their officers enjoy while the public mood, more than ever, is focused on stamping out domestic violence in society?
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And why do they continue to recruit individuals with a tendency towards domestic violence? If these officers can't be trusted to respect their own families, how can they be trusted to respect the public in general? Clearly they can't and many misconduct cases suggest it's more important for the police to "have each other's backs" and protect their individual and whole forces' reputations than it is to protect the innocent women, children and others who suffer at the hands of these perpetrators.
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Following are links to numerous published articles covering a range of twenty-first century domestic violence cases and discussions, including those where serving Australian police officers were the perpetrators. In an extraordinary number of cases the officers remain within their forces with unclear disciplinary actions applied.
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POLICE OFFICERS SUBJECT TO RESTRAINING ORDERS DESK-BOUND UNDER GUN REFORMS, UNION SAYS - 2025 WA
The WA Police Union says officers have been removed from operational duties because new gun laws mean they can't carry a firearm if they're subject to a restraining order. Union president Dave Flaherty said there was little risk of police-issued firearms being used "contrary to orders".
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MULTIPLE CASES OF OFFICERS COMMITTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 2025 NSW
A former NSW magistrate and an anti-domestic violence advocacy organisation are calling for an overhaul of the state's police bail system. They argue the initial decision about granting bail for police officers who are charged should be made independently from police.
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POLICE OFFICER FACING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES - 2025 SA
Charged with aggravated assault (no weapon) against child or spouse, threaten to kill or endanger life - aggravated, aggravated assault with weapon against own child or spouse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn5nEBbbfdM
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHARGED - 2025 NSW
Multiple domestic violence charges against a senior constable attached to the South West Metropolitan Region
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CHALLENGES FACED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS WHERE THE ABUSER IS A POLICE OFFICER - 2025 NATIONAL
Research examines the challenges faced by victim-survivors.
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ALARMING NUMBER OF COPS ACCUSED OF RAPE, VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT - 2025 VIC
Victoria Police is grappling with a scourge of violence among its ranks, with a bombshell report revealing hundreds of members are being probed over alleged rapes, family violence and sexual harassment
https://x.com/theheraldsun/status/1878925010573955325
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Victoria Police have investigated 683 of its own employees in the past five years over alleged sexual and family violence offences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH5IjQEMvSQ
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POLICE CAUSE MORE HARM THAN HELP IN MANY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES - 2025 NATIONAL
Rather than helping victims, new research has found that in too many cases police responses to family violence are harming them, replicating the power and control dynamics that underpin abuse and increasing risk, trauma and feelings of powerlessness.
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMENTS TO BETTINA ARNDT PUTS UTAS LECTURER IN SPOTLIGHT - 2025 TAS
In an interview with Bettina Arndt, a university lecturer has expressed views on domestic violence that Tasmania police say are "not in line with the principles Tasmania Police supports in dealing with family violence". Tasmania Police says Dr Girkin "will not be involved in police training courses until a further assessment of the matter has been completed by UTAS with input from Tasmania Police".
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHARGED - 2024 NSW
Multiple domestic violence charges. The senior constable was charged with five counts of common assault DV, three counts of stalk or intimidate intend fear physical harm DV and two counts of use carriage service to menace or harass or offend and assault occasioning actual bodily harm DV.
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AUSTRALIAN POLICE FORCES HAVE A FESTERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM. WILL A DOUBLE HOMICIDE FORCE NSW POLICE TO FINALLY FACE THE TRUTH? - 2024 NSW
Charged officers get to keep their jobs. Police have long resisted reforms.
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MISUSE OF POLICE DATABASES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER CASES - 2024 NATIONAL
Multiple cases of police officers misusing police databases, with particular concern about situations where police officers are the DV pepetrators
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POLICE TREATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AS PERPETRATORS - 2024 NSW
A Sydney woman has won a lengthy court battle to clear her name after being charged with assaulting her husband, who she claims was abusing her.
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FAILURE TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE AND ACTION DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 2024 WA, QLD, VIC
When police fail to follow operating procedures, the consequences can be deadly. An in-depth article.
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DISTURBING AUDIO OF POLICE OFFICER MOCKING WOMAN WHO REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUE - 2024 QLD
Domestic violence survivor shares a disturbing experience with Gold Coast police, who made inappropriate jokes after she called for help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkMgC9WBo6M
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VICTIMS ARE TOO SCARED TO REPORT THEIR POLICE PARTNERS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 2024 NSW
Since 2017 in NSW, 120 officers have been charged with domestic violence offences. But advocates believe many victims are too scared to report
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TWO CHILDREN GUNNED DOWN BY THEIR FATHER. A WOMAN SERIOUSLY ASSAULTED AFTER OFFICERS IGNORED HER REQUEST FOR PROTECTION - 2024 WA
Two children gunned down by their father. A woman seriously assaulted after officers ignored her request for a protection order. An attack that left a victim with a partially punctured lung recorded as “domestic violence - no offence”.
When police fail to follow operating procedures, the consequences can be deadly.
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BREACHING A FAMILY VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER, STOOD DOWN - 2023 WA
A police sergeant in the Perth metro area charged with one count of Breach the of Family Violence Restraining Order.
SEXUALLY PREDATORY BEHAVIOURS BY POLICE OFFICERS AGAINST WOMEN EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 2023 VIC
A review by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) concluded earlier this year that "predatory behaviour continues"
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SON OF FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF COMMON ASSAULT AND ONE OF COMMON ASSAULT (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) - CHARGES SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED - 2023 NSW
Nicholas McCormack, son of former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack, charged with multiple counts of assault. 2025 court case dismissed four charges, including domestic violence charge, officer pleaded guilty to common assault, but no conviction recorded.
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INCORRECT DISCIPLINARY PROCESSES AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS COULD RESULT IN PREVIOUS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BEING REVOKED FOR RANGE OF TOXIC BEHAVIOURS INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 2023 QLD
The state’s police commissioner said a “significant” number of internal disciplinary matters – including those involving domestic violence, drugs and the misuse of personal information – are affected by a court ruling that found the force’s current practice for instigating disciplinary proceedings was “not valid”.
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ELEVEN NSW POLICE OFFICERS THE SUBJECT OF MULTIPLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INVESTIGATIONS - 2023 NSW
A four-year review into the force’s response to domestic and family violence matters looked at more than 200 complaint investigations, culminating in the latest NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) report.
QUEENSLAND POLICE GRAPPLING WITH 'CONCERNING INCREASE' IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY OFFICERS BUT MOST VICTIMS AREN'T REPORTING, ADVOCATES SAY - 2022 QLD
They've often been threatened with guns, stalked with high-tech tracking equipment and warned that no one will believe them if they call for help — so many don't. Victims of domestic violence by police officers have long faced unique challenges reporting and escaping abuse.
https://www.qpsdfvinquiry.qld.gov.au/public-hearings/assets/exhibits/week-4/abc-news-article.pdf
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POLICE LEADERSHIP IS FACING UP TO UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS AFTER A SERIES OF DAMNING INQUIRY FINDINGS - 2022 QLD
The police officer in charge of the state's domestic violence investigations has vowed to win back the community's trust, saying the embattled Queensland Police Service (QPS) has entered a "new era".
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POLICE ACCIDENTALLY PROVIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM DATA TO PERPETRATOR - 2021 NSW
New South Wales Police handed a domestic violence victim's entire phone data to her perpetrator, a man who is also a senior member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.
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QUEENSLAND POLICE OFFICER LEAKED THE ADDRESS OF A DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIM TO HER FORMER PARTNER - 2021 QLD
Victim calls for overhaul of ‘weak’ internal discipline system that allowed perpetrator to be paid since being charged and stood down in 2018.
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VICTIM SHAMING IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES - 2021 QLD
Coroner cites a degree of victim shaming when police responded to domestic violence reports.
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UNDERMINING CONCERNS ABOUT PERPETRATOR'S BEHAVIOURS - 2021 NSW
A witness from the inquest into the deaths of two teenagers who were murdered by their father has told of how police undermined concerns about the father's behaviour.
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82 COPS CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN FIVE YEARS, JUST ONE FOUND GUILTY - 2020 VIC
Dozens of Victoria Police officers were charged with family violence offences in the five years to 2019 but only one was found guilty and none had a conviction recorded. An in-depth article.
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ABUSERS IN THE RANKS. POLICE ARE TOO OFTEN FAILING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST COPS WHO COMMIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - 2020 VIC
Another in-depth article exploring the culture of police impunity across the country.​
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QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT PLANNING OVERHAUL OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SYSTEM - 2020 QLD
The Queensland government is planning an overhaul of its system dealing with domestic violence after a police officer was stood down for allegedly failing to investigate a reported case.
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EXPOSING THE TOXIC CULTURE OF POLICE OFFICERS COMMITTING FAMILY VIOLENCE - 2020 QLD
As protectors of the community, police are expected to be tough. But what happens when they take their aggression home and are violent with the people they’re supposed to love?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clth5kpkiJc
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OFFICER SENTENCED OVER RELEASING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMPLAINTS DETAILS TO FORMER PARTNER - 2019 QLD
Queensland police officer Senior Constable Neil Punchard has been sentenced to two months' jail, wholly suspended for 18 months, for leaking the personal details of a domestic violence complainant to her former partner.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-14/queensland-police-officer-neil-punchard-sentenced/11598696
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Police Officer Who Endangered Domestic Violence Victim Wins Appeal
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POLICING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE - 2017 NATIONAL
Australian Institute of Criminology report finds opportunities to improve police responses to domestic violence cases.
https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/rr_policing_domestic_violence_211118.pdf
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POLICE CONDUCT IN MANY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES INADEQUATE - 2017 NATIONAL
Research finds little doubt that the police conduct in many police negligence cases has been grossly inadequate. Sydney Law Review.
https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/SydLawRw/2017/22.html
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