The NSW Police Force responds to more than 130,000 incidents of domestic and family violence every year but remains an under-reported crime.
Now, two women reveal their intertwined experience of domestic violence at the hands of the same perpetrator in the latest NSW Police State Crime Command podcast, hosted by Walkley Award winning investigative journalist Adam Shand.
Over three episodes, the new podcast, entitled Control, explores how violence and control are two different tactics used by perpetrators in a relationship and what it takes to break the cycle.
Cassie was aged 29 when she met and married her partner after he moved to Australia. The couple welcomed a son in 2014. Throughout their three-year relationship, Cassie endured controlling, jealous and violent behaviour at the hands of her husband before she finally left him 2015.
In 2016, Kylie began a relationship with the same man. Together they also had a son.
Like many women, Cassie and Kylie hid years of abuse perpetrated on them by their partner from family, friends and even police because they lived with both fear and shame.
This podcast shares their very personal story, in particular, the way that violence and intimidation gradually evolved in their relationships.
“There is a fear that completely envelops you when you’re in an abusive relationship, and eventually, it becomes a matter of taking yourself out of the situation,” says Cassie, now aged 39.
“To anyone experiencing any form of violence, find someone you can trust and have the courage to speak up and get out. Yes, it was hard to leave, but I can’t feel guilty for doing what was the right thing for me and my son.”
The podcast also highlights the red flags of a violent and controlling relationship and how together with police and support services, people can stop the cycle of domestic violence.
“Until you make that decision to call the police, you're never going to get out of it because until the police are involved, you're just going to keep going back and they're not going to stay away,” Kylie said.
Control is the latest series for the NSW Police State Crime Command podcast, produced and hosted by LiSTNR’s Adam Shand, available now on the LiSTNR app.
The following services are available to anyone experiencing domestic or family violence:
- Anyone with information about domestic and family violence incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or visit https://nsw.crimestoppers.
com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. - 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) - a confidential information, counselling and support service;
- NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63) - a state-wide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women;
- Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491) - provide telephone counselling, information and referrals for men;
- Link2Home (1800 152 152) - can help refer women experiencing domestic violence to crisis accommodation; and
- Lifeline (13 11 14) - a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
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