16,000 domestic abuse cases in Gwent

More than 16,000 cases of domestic abuse were reported to police in Gwent over the past two years – almost 23 a day.

The figures from Gwent Police show the number of domestic abuse incidents in 2009/10 and 2010/11 amount to more than twice the number of burglaries.

A total of 8,659 incidents of domestic abuse were reported in 2009/10 compared to 3,068 burglaries, and in 2010/11 there were 8,093 domestic abuse incidents and 2,873 burglaries.

Out of the incidents in 2009/10, 2,215 involved violence against the person, 199 malicious or nuisance communications, 48 sexual offences, 14 missing people, 29 burglaries linked to domestic abuse, 375 calls reporting concern for safety and 383 incidents of criminal damage.

In 2010/11, there were 2,631 domestic abuse incidents involving violence against the person, 345 criminal damage, 47 sexual offences, 46 malicious or nuisance communications, 30 burglaries linked to domestic abuse and 115 calls reporting concern for safety.

However, just a fraction of those reports, a number of which may have been made by the same person, made it to court.

Figures from the Crown Prosecution Service show that although there were a total of 16,752 incidents reported to police over the two-year period, only 868 made it to court in 2009/10 and 1,021 in 2010/11.

In 2009/10, 822 men and 46 women appeared in court charged with domestic violence crimes, with 582 (71 per cent) successful prosecutions against men and 29 (63 per cent) against women.

In 2010/11, 970 men were prosecuted, with 733 (76 per cent) successful cases and 51 women appeared in court with 40 (78 per cent) successful prosecutions.

Gwent Police Chief Constable Carmel Napier, who speaks on domestic abuse issues for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: “Domestic abuse is not just about violence, it’s about control. It happens to men and to same-sex relationships and happens when one partner has control over another.

It’s not acceptable behaviour in any society. It’s insidious, destructive and malicious.”

The first all-Wales domestic abuse conference was held in Cardiff last week, and forces are looking at ways of protecting repeat victims and encouraging them to report offences.

Gwent Police incidents 2009/10 2010/11

Violence against the person 2,215 2,631 Criminal damage 383 345 Concern for safety 375 115 Malicious/nuisance communication 199 46 Sexual offences 48 47 Burglary (domestic abuse related) 29 30 Missing persons 14 3 Other incidents 5,396 4,876 Total 8,659 8,093

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Abuse must not be allowed

THE shocking scale of domestic abuse is revealed by Gwent Police today.

It would be easy to think of burglary being one of the most common crimes committed in Gwent. But in 2009/10 alone, there were 8,659 incidents of domestic abuse reported compared to 3,068 burglaries.

Over two years, there were 16,752 reports in Gwent. That’s almost 23 a day.

That figure alone shows the depth of the problem.

Then look at another revealing figure: in 2009/10, 822 men and 46 women appeared in court charged with domestic violence crimes, with 582 successful prosecutions against men and 29 against women.

What we see in court cases reported in this newspaper and other media, for example, is clearly the tip of a much larger iceberg.

Before these cases get to court, the victims have often suffered beatings, emotional abuse and trauma for years.

The figures showincidents of abuse, but many are multiple attacks against the same person.

Gwent Police Chief Constable Carmel Napier is spot on when she tells us: “Domestic abuse is not just about violence, it’s about control.”

Abusers often move from one victim to the next, repeating the same pattern because a newpartner does not know the history of violence or abuse, often because there is still so much stigma or shame attached to the crime or victims fear speaking out.

Victims are stripped of their selfesteem, isolated from their families and friends, told they are worthless time and time again and that no one will believe them.

They come to believe that they have little choice but to endure the destruction the abuser is wreaking on their lives. They cannot stand up for themselves, so we must.

Domestic violence and abuse happens at all levels of society and has a devastating impact on victims and children who are also targeted or forced to live with it.

Perhaps it is nowtime to set up a register for domestic abusers – be they men or women, although the vast majority of victims are still women – in the same way we have a register of sex offenders.

Sex offenders are monitored to protect the most vulnerable in our society, and categorised so that those who have committed the most serious acts have the highest level of supervision.

Maybe it is time for the same sort of protection for those who suffer domestic abuse. These crimes scar generations of families.

Domestic abuse is an insidious cancer at the heart of our society which must be cut out.