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4h ago

NSW’s Coercive Control Law Logs 297 Incidents, Just Nine Charges in First Year

A new BOCSAR report points to high proof thresholds that are slowing charges.

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NSW Police recorded 297 incidents of coercive control in the year since it was criminalised in the state, but laid charges only on nine occasions.

Overview

  • Police recorded 297 incidents from July 2024 to June 2025, but charges were laid in only nine cases, the report shows.
  • The median delay from report to charge was about four months as investigators worked to prove intent and a post‑July 2024 pattern of behavior required by the non‑retrospective law.
  • Three charges have been finalised in court to date, with two withdrawn by prosecutors and one resolved by a guilty plea.
  • Women accounted for 94% of recorded victims, and rates in regional NSW were about twice those in greater Sydney.
  • Frontline services report more victims identifying coercive control, and advocates are calling for extra resources and a broader scope for the offence.