Commission wants more help to fight family violence

Domestic violence figures have driven a 7 per cent rise in violent crime. Photo / Tania Webb

The Families Commission is calling for more government support to help fight family violence while the Government is promising more laws.

Police statistics released today showed reported violence crime rose 7 per cent, on top of an increase last year of 11.1 per cent, driven almost entirely by increased recording and reporting of family violence.

The increase in reported family violence increased 13.5 per cent on top of a 28.8 per cent increase the previous year.

Police responded to 82,692 incidents and offences relating to family violence and 23 murders were classified as family violence murders.

Families Commission chief commissioner Jan Pryor said the rise was to be expected because more people were reporting incidents and society was becoming less tolerant of violence.

While the rise was statistically smaller, the trend of improved reporting by families continued, she said.

"The existing level of family violence did not occur overnight and the increased reporting is a testament to the lower acceptance of violence in our society."

Raising awareness and breaking the cycle of violence took time and the country should continue the battle against family violence, she said.

"We must continue to ensure the real levels of family violence are revealed."

Dr Pryor said the reasons for violence were varied -- including income, power and societal support.

"We know that the formative years of a child's development significantly impacts on how children handle conflict as adults."

Research made it clear that deprivation was a significant cause of family violence.

"Encouragement and support for families such as paid parental leave will go a long way toward reducing the consequences of family dysfunction, including family violence."

However, Police Minister Judith Collins promised new legislation would help protect victims of family violence and "see more offenders held to account for their actions".

The Government had introduced new legislation aimed at significantly reducing family violence, she said.

The Child and Family Protection Bill would focus on keeping children safe where there has been family violence in the home.

The Domestic Violence (Enhancing Safety) Bill would allow police to issue on-the-spot protection orders to help protect victims of domestic violence.

"It will also allow sentencing judges in the criminal courts to issue protection orders on behalf of victims."

Today's statistics showed all recorded offences increased 3.7 per cent to 426,690, or 2.8 per cent per head of population.

Ms Collins said an increase in resolve cases, up from 47 to 47.9 per cent, was a reflection of good work by police.

But opposition law and order spokesperson, Labour's Clayton Cosgrove, attacked the Government over the statistics, saying cost cuts could be distracting police from doing their job.

An increase in police funding by the Labour government saw crime decrease by 1 per cent on a population basis, he said.

"But instead of increasing police resources now they are in office, National has actually demanded that police find $21 million in cuts."

Mr Cosgrove said it was a "tragic irony" for New Zealand that National while in Opposition talked up the number of murders occurring in New Zealand.

He said National had indulged in "law and order window-dressing" such as boot camps for young offenders, token changes to remands in custody, and debate over the three strikes policy.

Labour had funded 1000 extra front-line police over its last three years in office, plus 250 support staff, he said.

"Police need resources, not rhetoric and posturing."

- NZPA