Domestic violence at least 25% of all NR arrests

A 29-year-old Stokers Siding man is to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in a domestic violence context.

Police said his arrest on 3 March was just one of 49 across the Tweed Byron district in the week ending 4 March.

Twelve of the arrests, or more than a quarter, were related to domestic violence.

Further south in the Richmond Police District, which includes Ballina and Lismore local government areas, more than a third of all arrests the same week related to domestic violence.

Officers there arrested 40 people for a variety of charges, 24 of them including DV offences.

Assault the most common DV offence in Tweed Byron

There were eight charges for domestic violence assault laid in the Tweed Byron District, making it the most common DV related offence there, and another five in the Richmond Police District.

The most common DV related offence in the Richmond PD was for breaching a domestic violence apprehended violence order (AVO), while it was the second most common in Tweed Byron.

Multiple charges were also laid in each district for stalking and/or intimidation and for destroying property.

Tweed Byron officers said they charged someone for intentionally choking a person in a domestic violence incident.

Capsicum spray used in Ballina arrest

Meanwhile, a 36-year-old from Tweed Heads South was ordered to twelve months’ intensive correction after being found guilty of a series of DV related offences against a vulnerable family member.

Officers said they used capsicum spray and control tactics in their arrest of a 21‑year‑old man in Ballina who was wanted on two outstanding warrants for alleged AVO breaches.

They said he provided false details and resisted arrest and is to appear before Lismore Local Court today.