Domestic abuse cases rise by 200 in a year

By Gemma Hockey

A large number of domestic incidents are said to go unreported, despite an increase of almost 200 cases reported in 2007 and a high-profile campaign to raise awareness.

In 2006, police dealt with 524 incidents of reported domestic abuse, from harassment by an ex-partner to nuisance phone calls and physical or sexual attacks, compared to 723 last year.

Domestic abuse officer Detective Constable Ayesha Bourgaize said: ‘In the past couple of years there has been a lot of campaigning and publicity with the message that domestic abuse is not to be tolerated,’ she said.

‘The police treat it as a serious crime and will deal with every incident reported.

‘The figure for 2007 is a substantial increase in reported incidents.’

Chief probation officer and Options Domestic Abuse Forum committee member Anna Guilbert said she didn’t believe the number reflected an increase in domestic abuse but a rise in reported

incidents.

‘We know from our survey that domestic abuse is vastly under-reported, in fact extremely so in all societies,’ she said.

‘We did say when we set up Options that our target was to increase the number of reports.

‘I don’t think it is an increase in domestic abuse but an increase in the number of people feeling able to come forward.’

Mrs Guilbert said events such as the White Ribbon campaign against domestic abuse had raised public awareness of the issue.

‘I hope we have raised awareness, essentially women’s awareness, that it is unacceptable for them to have to live with it and that they should report it,’ she said.

‘It is such a hidden crime we do hope it is a case of more people coming forward.

‘The police have had a very positive response to domestic abuse and take it very seriously.’

Mrs Guilbert said the domestic abuse strategy for Guernsey and Alderney was reaching its final stages for consultation by departments and the Policy Council before debate by the States.

‘Although we are cautiously pleased that hopefully more people report domestic abuse it does show we need more services in place.’

Article posted on 29th January, 2008 - 12.00am