Inquest into the death of Domestic violence victim (Jingili Water Gardens)

Contributing factors

• intimate partner violence and coercive control
• failure of police to apply domestic violence lens to incidents
• failure to obtain witness statements at multiple incidents
• failure to issue Domestic Violence Orders despite evidence
• alcohol intoxication in both victim and perpetrator
• misidentification of person needing protection by police
• inadequate police supervision and auditing
• failure to recognize choking as high-risk indicator
• isolation tactics including phone destruction
• victim intoxication affecting ability to provide statements
• failure to offer support service referrals

Coroner's recommendations

1. NT Government should develop and enforce an evidence-based strategy to reduce alcohol availability, recognizing that alcohol increases frequency and severity of domestic and family violence
2. NT Government should provide further and sufficient funding to the Alice Springs co-responder pilot involving NT Police and Department of Children and Families to guarantee full implementation and independent evaluation
3. NT Government should consider development and implementation of further co-responder models including Queensland-based models and partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
4. NT Government should specifically fund and NT Police should provide PARt (Police Assistance Response Training) training to all current NT police officers, auxiliaries, new recruits and JESCC staff
5. NT Police should commit to a significantly expanded and appropriately resourced Domestic and Family Violence Command in Alice Springs and Darwin headed by an Assistant Commissioner with permanent DFSV positions
6. NT Police should commit to ensuring priority is given to continuity of DFSV staff with guidelines and policies amended to recognize necessity of maintaining staff continuity
7. NT Police should commit to a training unit within the DFSV Command with staff liaising with PARt coordinator, recording lessons from Family Harm Coordination Project, and ensuring awareness of best practice
8. Family Harm Coordination Project daily auditing program should receive continued funding and be expanded across the Territory
9. All serving NT police officers identified as falling substantially short of expected standards when responding to or supervising domestic and family violence incidents should be fast-tracked for and rostered to complete appropriate PARt training