Apparent rise in use of fire in domestic violence attacks must be investigated, expert says

Domestic and family violence services have reported more cases involving fire since the coverage of the killing of Hannah Clarke and her three children. Photograph: David Kelly/The Clarke Family

The apparent increase in the use of fire, petrol “dousing” or related threats by perpetrators of domestic and family violence requires greater attention from researchers and authorities, one of Australia’s leading legal experts on domestic violence says.

Domestic violence support services in Queensland have previously expressed concern that the volume of domestic cases involving fire had increased since reporting on the killing of Hannah Clarke and her children, in early 2020.