It may sound preposterous but a rise of 11.8% of cases relating to family violence in 2009 could actually be considered ‘a job well done.’
Police statistics placed the number of family violence offences reported rose to 54,104 in 2009, compared to 48,389 cases recorded during the previous year.
The figures indicate that campaigns for zero tolerance in general and ‘It’s Not OK’ run by the Wellington based Families Commission are doing their job.
Commission Chief Executive Paul Curry said while the figures may appear bad prima facie, they do not necessarily mean that the incidence of family violence had risen.
“It is not possible from the police figures to say what, if any, proportion of the statistics actually represents an increase in family violence. What they do show is that such crime is more likely to be reported and handled. That is a good,” he said.
The Commission runs the campaign “It’s Not OK’ jointly with the Social Development Ministry and propagates the message, “It’s OK to seek help,’ apart from coordinating and funding the ‘While Ribbon Day’ as a national project.
Mr Curry said increasing public awareness of family violence as an issue was directly proportional to the increase in the rise of reported incidents and associated actions such as increased help sought by victims, witnesses and even perpetrators.
“The high profile ‘White Ribbon Day’ and ‘It’s Not OK’ campaigns, combined with the efforts of hundreds of community organisations throughout New Zealand, have helped to ensure that family violence is now far more visible than it was a few years ago. We are seeing the real level of violence brought into the open,” Mr Curry said.
But there is no room for complacency, with 35 murders (out of 65) committed last year were related to family violence, he said.
“One murder, one assault, one abuse of a child is too much. As a society, we must support the Police and protect our families by continuing to take an active stand against family violence in any form and wherever it occurs,” Mr Curry said.
