Violence at home must be stopped

A CAMPAIGN by regional newspapers across the Tasman is being lauded as the catalyst for the Queensland state government stumping up with $31 million to tackle that state's domestic violence problem.

A number of papers followed the lead of the Fraser Coast Chronicle, which launched a hard-hitting Terror At Home campaign, aimed at the state's enormous domestic violence problem. The campaign had lofty ideals, lobbying for specialist domestic violence courts and mandatory respectful relationship education programmes in schools. Four months later, the state government announced its funding package.

In 2008, the Wanganui Chronicle ran its own Living Without Violence campaign, highlighting the extent of family violence in Wanganui, what was being done about it and what more could be done. The campaign didn't lobby for more government money but focused on the work agencies were doing and what the community itself could do to rid the city of this evil.

Sadly, since then this compelling public issue has slipped off the radar. Sure, we have the White Ribbon march each year, but domestic violence doesn't happen on one day of the year. Whanganui police files will show it happens almost every day. We know police resources seconded to work specifically in this area have been reduced in Wanganui, but we hope this decision will be reversed, and quickly. If anything, more resources need to be directed into this area, not fewer.

Domestic violence takes many forms but usually involves control, brutality and sometimes, tragically, loss of life. The (mainly) women and children who are the victims have little or no chance of breaking free. Often the victims are too scared to report these events, or family, friends and neighbours refuse to get involved. Police estimate only 18 per cent of domestic violence incidents are reported.

One in three Kiwi women is psychologically or physically abused by her partner in her lifetime. Across the country, police are called to around 200 domestic violence situations every day. Cutting resources is the last thing that's needed.