Horowhenua domestic violence 4x average

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The lower North Island district of Horowhenua has a rate of domestic violence four times the national average but does not have a Women's Refuge safe house.

In the last week 34 incidents were reported to police and in the year to September last year there were more than 1100 recorded incidents, which police put down to a number of factors, including high unemployment, a lot of young parents with a number of children, and alcohol.

Women's Refuge has an office in Levin, but no dedicated safe house.

A refuge in Levin was long overdue, with people currently having to go to refuges in Palmerston North or Paraparaumu, Sergeant John Battersby told the Manawatu Standard.

He said the only option was to find family or friends to look after victims, which was not ideal as that was the first place an offender would look for them.

Police, Women's Refuge Palmerston North and the Horowhenua District Council are applying for funding to the Ministry of Social Development.

Women's Refuge Palmerston North manager Ange Jury said the rate of domestic violence warranted funding a safe house.

A business plan is being written and would be sent to the ministry, she said.

- NZPA