Do the Police Act on Domestic Violence?
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
August 25, 2011 2:23am CST
We all have different laws and experiences in our own countries.
In Australia and many other countries there has been a big focus on Domestic Violence, both by governments and support groups.
To a large extent though, DV will be reduced, if the Police don't act properly.
Let me give you an example.
A husband attempts to strangle his wife. He knows exactly where to put pressure on the wifes neck so that no marks are left. The womans 15 year old daughter intervenes, and both run next door to the neighbours. The police are called.
Extenisve interviews are conducted of both the husbdand and wife. The Police later tell the wife they believe her version. They take the husband away to stay in a hotel and not go near the wife for 24 hours. It is midnight.
Much later, when the wife decided to press charges of assualt, is interviewd by detectives and extensively by the Police Prosecutor, is is discovered
that the attending Police did not write hardly anything in their report.
The report is essetial for conviction.
Is this sort of injustice in your country prevalent? Are DV victims given a fair go?
PS. sorry about the typos above, I can't fix them, as the whole sentence gets wiped out when attempting to do so.
4 people like this
6 responses
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
28 Aug 11
we have a law called, violence against women and their children's act.
this law says, it will protect them from physical, emotional, financial and so on abuses by the husband or the father. the police will only help them though, when they complain about the abuse but not automatically mean, the husband will be arrested and will be prosecuted when the woman is not complaining.
2 people like this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
28 Aug 11
At neildc, i think it's RA 9262 - the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.
The thing with this law is that, it really intends to protect women and children from the abusers - there is a temporary restraining order right away to the perpetrators. 
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
29 Aug 11
Yes, Prosecution may only occur if the woman lays charges, persist, and all the evidence is there. Which in my case, was difficult, as the attending police officers did not complete their report properly.
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
29 Aug 11
that's right tryxiness, it's RA 9262. but it doesn't mean, TRO is automatically released. he still have time to depend the case against him, before the police, the prosecutor before it will be raised to the high court. jenny, i guess we have stricter law as the prosecution will pursue even with lighter evidence. the judge will just hear the case once it reach the court.
1 person likes this
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
25 Aug 11
hello jenny,
there is a family law where domestic violence is also focused here in the philippines.
the best evidence that one should have is a police blotter, a medical check record and a witness.
all that the wife needs is the courage to fight the injustice and be firm in pressing the charges. that would teach the husband the lesson not to get physical when angry.
ann
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
26 Aug 11
I completely agree with you that hte wife needs courage to fight the injustice, and to be firm. That is what I have been doing. But it wil probably all come to nothing as the police who visited when the assauolt occured did not write a proper report.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
29 Aug 11
In India, police do not act on all cases of domestic violence and in most cases, people do not talk about it or press charges.
Recently my doctor friend's friend was assaulted by her husband. He is a professional boxer and has caused extensive damage to the wife...especially on the eye. She was unconscious when my friend got to her.When she came to, the wife didn't want to press charges...but her colleagues did. It is a medico-legal case now....and the police couldn't avoid acting on it because all the hospital staff were involved. But generally, they tend to dismiss such cases.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 Aug 11
At times, domestic violence is not talked about here either, but that is slowly changing.I believe it is the law if meidcal people suspect assault,arising from domestic violence, that it must be reported to police.
There must be a lot of poor women victims in India if dv is largely ignored.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
25 Aug 11
The laws on domestic violence have only recently been enforced in my country due to the increasing numbers of domestic violence being reported. But sometimes reports were not taken seriously by the police as they considered husband and wife quarrels are personal matters especially when the offended party show no physical injuries. Unless there are medical reports to substantiate the report then justice will be metered out in the family court of law.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
26 Aug 11
I guess the police are influenced by society values. The government may need to be strict with the Police who may make their own judgements with domestic violence. They shouldn't do this,as their personal beliefs shouldn't influence justice.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
25 Aug 11
jennybianca,
You are talking about prosecuting the violent husband and as such, there will be a need of evidence for the prosecution to prosecute during trial and the offender be punished according to the law.
However, I don't think the prosecution will have enough to work on and bring about a successful prosecution. So, when the authorities cannot bring the case to trial, it does not mean that they do not have the victim's interest at heart. For there's really nothing they can do at all.
But, I believe the woman here could actually take up a protection order against her husband where he is not allowed to be onsight and/or within a certain distance. Should he appear, then the police can act on it and arrest her husband for violating the court order.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
26 Aug 11
We also have restraining orders, etc.
What I really meant was that either the Police were too lazy, too tired or too busy to write up a proper report. Consequently it is very unlikely the case will go to trial.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
26 Aug 11
jennybianca,
Well, I'd really hate to have this sort of police around and I sure hope that no domestic violence victim(s) will ever encounter such law enforcement personnel(s). After all, the police have every burden to help victim(s) consolidate a proper report for the investigating officers to carry out follow up investigations.
However, I did encounter police in other countries that select cases to work and follow up. Cases with high media value or prolific ones, that will enhance their careers. Fortunately, I did not met these in my country and I certainly hope that I would not some day.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
29 Aug 11
You are correct in that the Police tend to slect high profile DV cases to work on.
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
6 Sep 11
In many cases, here police do not act on domestic violence. They usually think it is a family business, and it is not suitable for them involve in that kind case.
But in many domestic violence, one of the family members, especially wives, may be hurt severe , and some of them may lose their lifes.So I think the police should stop that happens.
I think if anyone find that his/her partner has the trend to use violence in the relationship, he/she should separate with him/her as soon as possible.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
8 Sep 11
I guess there are many countries where domestic violence is still not a high priority. I intend joining a domestic violence support group to help spread awareness of the issue.
