The Wellington Station Commander, Colonel Johan Barkhuizen, noted with concern the increase in domestic violence related cases in the Wellington police area.
It is also evident that alcohol abuse plays a vital role when these cases are reported.
The community is therefore requested to detect and report domestic violence in an early stage when the following happens:
- physical abuse which pertains to slapping, biting, kicking, assault and threats to cause physical violence;
- emotional, verbal and psychological abuse by means of insults, name calling, humiliation and invasion of privacy;
- sexual abuse – forcing a person to have sex against his or her will and sexual assault;
- economic abuse – if the respondent withholds money to which the victim is legally entitled to in an unreasonable manner by refusing to pay or share the rent or mortgage bond for the home you share or shared, or disposing of household goods in which you have an interest, without your permission;
- stalking – repeatedly following the victim or approaching him or her and demanding to talk to him or her;
- damage to property by means of breaking furniture, and deflating the tyres of the victim’s vehicle;
- unauthorised entry into the victim’s residence (for example, entering the house of an ex-girlfriend without her consent);
- intimidation – written or verbal death threats which result in fear;
- harassment – making repeated unwanted telephone calls to the victim, repeatedly watching a person or loitering at places where the victim is; and
- any other form of controlling behaviour towards the victim that endangers them.
Should one of the above mentioned scenarios occur, the victim of domestic violence has the following options:
- lay a criminal charge, if the conduct of the perpetrator constitutes an offence;
- apply for a protection order at the nearest Magistrate’s court; or
- lay a criminal charge and apply for a protection order. Laying a criminal charge is not a requirement for applying for a protection order.
Phone the Wellington police station on: 021 864 8440.
