While the White Ribbon Day slogan, "Not silent, Not Violent" applies to everyone, the enforcement as a result of violence against women is a matter for Police.
Last week as Police and Fire Stations across the Territory raised White Ribbon Day flags, NT Police Acting Commissioner and White Ribbon Day Ambassador Bruce Wernham announced, "already this financial year, Police have initiated 737 Domestic Violence Orders, the vast majority being to protect women - that's around seven women per day and seven women too many across the Territory requiring protection".
Further to this, Acting Commissioner Wernham said Police have responded to horrendous incidents of violence against women in the past few weeks alone,
"One victim was threatened by her husband armed with a loaded rifle in Darwin's Rural area. Another victim had boiling water poured over her resulting in hospitalisation.
"In Katherine, a female was punched and kicked by her partner.
"In Alice Springs, a male punched his female partner a number of times before police were called.
"In Tennant Creek, Police recognised an offender who had a Domestic Violence Order against him. He was intoxicated and in breach of this order resulting in his arrest and subsequently charged for breach of the order," Acting Commissioner Wernham said.
The 737 Domestic Violence Orders to date this year is a 40% increase from the same period last year.
Police have a comprehensive, zero tolerance response to domestic violence. Since the introduction of the Violent Crime Reduction Strategy in 2004, there has been a dramatic increase in reported domestic violence leading to approximately 175% increase in police initiated domestic violence orders and a further correlated 146% increase in police detected breaches.
Acting Commissioner Wernham concluded that supporting White Ribbon Day to raise awareness for the elimination of violence against women is a particularly important event in the Police calendar,
"Preventing domestic violence and ensuring the protection of victims is a number one priority for police, both as enforcement, and working collaboratively with other agencies to prevent such crime from occurring in the first place.
"All men should literally sign up to the National campaign by signing a pledge to never commit, excuse or stay silent about such violence. There is no place in our society for domestic violence." He said.
Media contact:
Katie Fowden
8901 0281
