Guernsey Press

Zero tolerance of domestic abuse is aim of strategy

ENSURING domestic abuse is not tolerated and its victims are protected is the goal of a new strategy launched for consultation by the Home Department.

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Key goals of the document, which will be open for feedback until 30 January, include a review of local legislation and raising awareness about the impact of domestic abuse and the support available.

Minister Peter Gillson, pictured, said the new draft strategy aimed to ensure domestic abuse would not be tolerated and victims would be protected from offenders.

'We know it will take considerable time to achieve this goal and even if incidences of domestic abuse fall, robust protection and support continues to be needed for those at risk of harm,' said minister Peter Gillson.

'We can only succeed if we all work together towards this vision,' he said.

Figures released by the department show there were 682 complaints of domestic abuse made to the police in 2013 – a 64% increase since the statistics were first collated in 2004, when there were 415 incidents.

But this is 22% fewer than in 2008, which saw the most complaints at 878.

Of the 682 incidents last year, 140 were classified as crimes, 75 of these were prosecuted and 58 resulted in a conviction, 5.8% of reported incidents.

This compares with 838,000 reported incidents in England and Wales for the year between 2012/2013, with 6.3% resulting in a conviction.

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