Police work in combating domestic violence

Riina Paju

Police Department

2007

Introduction

The police have a critical role in solving domestic violence incidents and protecting victims of domestic violence, since

·  the police are often the only ones available for assistance

·  police departments are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week

·  the police have a hotline

·  policemen’s network covers a wide geographic territory

·  the police can arrive fast at the scene

·  the police have legal mechanisms to deal with the perpetrator

·  the police have the possibility of providing security to the victim and to inform her of the assistance available

Policemen’s activities

·  terminates violence

·  questions the parties

·  examines the incident site

·  recognizing presence of criminal behaviour, s/he initiates charges (regardless of the victim’s wishes)

·  removes the perpetrator, if necessary

·  completes the domestic violence questionnaire sheet

·  distributes information about available assistance to the victim

Developments in the police system 2004-2006

Initially

·  the problem was hardly discussed

·  overview of the situation was lacking

·  stereotypical attitudes existed toward incidents

·  contact with other organizations poor

·  special training was lacking

The Western Police Prefecture adopted in 2004

General aim

·  The raising of professionalism in the battle against domestic violence by drafting instructional material for policemen

Sub-goals

·  map the international best practices used in other countries to combat domestic violence

·  map the incidence of domestic violence on the basis of calls to the police and the possibilities for solving them

·  departmental training for policemen assigned to domestic violence cases

·  draft instructional material

·  conduct a seminar at the Western Police Prefecture

2005

·  collaboration agreement signed between the Police Department and Social Security Office

·  national victim assistance system installed

·  collecting of data and its analysis continued

·  discussion initiated to adopt the questionnaire form nation-wide

2006

·  consent agreement to pass victim’s data to the assistance office becomes effective

·  domestic violence questionnaire form adopted nation-wide (June 29, 2006 Police Chief’s order nr. 165 „On the use of the domestic violence questionnaire form and its authorization“)

·  statute § 1055 on contractual obligations and rights changed effective January 01, 1006 (wording revised and the concept of restraining order introduced)

·  Criminal procedural law on temporary restraining orders (§ 141-141; in guilty cases §310) became effective on July 16, 2006.

·  police instructions on solving domestic violence incidents issued for policemen (Western PP jointly with Open Estonia Foundation)

Statistics gathering (examples based on data from Western PP)

Profile of incidents that reached policemen: man, woman, inebriated, sober

Statistics gathering (examples from Western PP)

First timer or repeater Duration

Statistics gathering (examples from Western PP)

Instances of domestic violence registered in 2006

In process at the moment

·  development of a network

·  development of police informational system

·  continuation of training on domestic violence

·  analysis based preventive planning