The Mets own crime statistics show that domestic violence has increased over the space of 12 months by a whopping 41.2%. According to their figures released earlier this year, the 12 months leading up to December 2008 showed 72,059 domestic violence crimes in the UK.
I’d like to specify here that this means over 72, 059 cases made it before a court with a favourable outcome for the victim. Now, police claim that they receive one call every minute in relation to a domestic violence case, in theory meaning that there are potentially 525,600 times per year where somebody will suffer at the hands of a partner or former partner. This leaves us with a shortfall of over 450,000 domestic violence incidents that will go unpunished.
This can surely only send out one message – that violence towards others, in particular women, is ok??!
Police say they are on the case, that domestic violence is taken very seriously yet with figures like this I suggest they are doing something seriously wrong and put many people at risk in the process. Maybe a register of domestic violence offenders would be a start – women could check out potential partners for their history (not nice I know but safety comes first) and police would be able to keep track of offenders who currently disappear off the radar after offending only to resurface in order to commit another offence: http://www.domestic-violence.org.uk/lets-get-a-register/
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