Family violence reports increase
AUCKLAND: Family violence continues to increase in New Zealand.
Police investigated 118,910 incidents of family violence last year — almost 9000 more than in 2015.
But police are encouraged by the numbers, saying it shows more people are willing to call for help.
Latest statistics from the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse show in 2014 police attended 101,955 callouts.
That number rose by 8179 in 2015 to 110,126 (more than 8%). In 2016 the number leapt by another 8784 (8%).
‘‘We don’t know whether this is due to an increase in violence or an increase in people coming forward,’’ Clearinghouse’s Pauline Gulliver said.
‘‘However, it is clear that demand on services continues to increase.’’
A campaign last year called ‘‘We’re Better Than This’’, focusing on New Zealand’s biggest social issue, family violence, aimed to raise awareness.
Despite the campaign and the work being done by the Government, police, refuges and countless other agencies, the harm is not easing.
Responding to family violence accounts for 41% of a frontline police officer’s time.
‘‘Intimate partner violence and child abuse do not just affect a few ‘vulnerable’ individuals, but are problems that need addressing in every community,’’ Dr Gulliver said.
She is calling for better resourcing for specialist family violence services and prevention programmes.
‘‘Police and the criminal justice system have received increased funding for responding to family violence in the past 12 months. However, this needs to be matched by resourcing for specialist family violence services and prevention programmes in the community,’’ she said.
‘‘Currently just 1.5% of government spend goes on violence prevention.’’
She said the more crime reported the better: ‘‘Reporting incidences of family harm allows police to work with families and vulnerable people, as well as referral to other relevant agencies to help get people the help and protection they need.
‘‘Family harm is not something to be kept a secret, and we urge anyone with concerns about their own situation or someone they know to call police.
‘‘Reducing harm is of a very high priority to police, particularly the effects on children.
‘‘We know that children exposed to family harm are more likely to be involved in violent and abusive relationships as adults, and can have adverse life outcomes. Stopping this cycle is key to changing behaviour.
Shine spokeswoman Jill Proudfoot said the latest figures were not a surprise but were disappointing.
‘‘We know it’s happening,’’ she said.
‘‘We also know that we can only deal with one in seven referrals from the police with our current resourcing.
‘‘And sadly, the people who do phone the police are just the tip of the iceberg.
‘‘You have to be so desperate before you call the police; it’s a danger in itself for these victims. To make that decision people have to be in pretty dire straits.’’ — NZME
❛Family harm is not something to be kept a secret, and we urge anyone with concerns about their own situation or someone they know to call police❜