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20th February, 2012
Ministries DOVVSU Records 460 Cases In Less Than 2 Months
THE Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit at the Ministries Police station in Accra, has recorded over 460 cases between January and date.
A situation described as incredible compared to its previous record within the same period; says the Station officer of DOVVSU, Chief Inspector Whonkows Attipoe.
Speaking to the ‘Times’ Chief Inspector Attipoe said over 30 of the cases were defilement, nine were rape, five, indecent assault with the remaining constituting other crimes such as threat of death, assault, causing of harm among others.
He noted that though his outfit has been receiving cases of such nature over the years, the figure recorded which was within the first quarter was overwhelming and attributed that to the awareness that was created through the massive education and sensitization programms conducted over the years by the Police, civil society organisation and pressure groups.
Chief Inspector Attipoe indicated that society have therefore become aware of such offences and no longer threat them as private matters where they are settled under obligations or duress.
‘It will interest you to know that because of the awareness that has been created, men have also taken the bold step to report harm caused on them by their wives and has no longer become the preserve of women as it was previously to lodge complaint’, he said.
Mr. Attipoe noted that domestic violence is a criminal offence and should not be shelved or be battled at family or religious levels.
He noted that though various churches have arbitration committees like the justice and peace committees which seeks to settle matters among members either at the church or family levels, does not make them autonomous under any obligation to usurp the role of the Police or that of the department of Social Welfare adding that sometimes it is not all the cases that come to the attention of the Police that are punishable.
Sometimes, he said, some of the cases are settled amicably especially among partners or couples. Similar step are also applied to parents who failed to take care of their wards or give maintainace fee.
Chief Inspector Attipoe noted that sometimes in an attempt by churches and family relations to settle issues at their level, they end up not getting to the substance of the matter which usually does not help in addressing the main issue saying that in some cases, one of the parties is either find or made to pay some money or drink to pacify the other which usually does not address the core issue.
In such circumstances, Mr. Attipoe noted that the families or the church end up not addressing the issue rather aggravating it all together. ‘Some of them take the steps for fear that the name of the church or the family could be dented when the issue it gets to the public domain’, he said.
Chief Inspector Attipoe also urged the educational institutions to make domestic violence issues one of their core topics by sensitizing students noting that like the guidance and counseling departments they should be empowered in that respect.
He also called on the public particularly those in compound houses or in satellite communities to be vigilant and report any domestic act that constitute criminal to the Police.
A situation described as incredible compared to its previous record within the same period; says the Station officer of DOVVSU, Chief Inspector Whonkows Attipoe.
Speaking to the ‘Times’ Chief Inspector Attipoe said over 30 of the cases were defilement, nine were rape, five, indecent assault with the remaining constituting other crimes such as threat of death, assault, causing of harm among others.
He noted that though his outfit has been receiving cases of such nature over the years, the figure recorded which was within the first quarter was overwhelming and attributed that to the awareness that was created through the massive education and sensitization programms conducted over the years by the Police, civil society organisation and pressure groups.
Chief Inspector Attipoe indicated that society have therefore become aware of such offences and no longer threat them as private matters where they are settled under obligations or duress.
‘It will interest you to know that because of the awareness that has been created, men have also taken the bold step to report harm caused on them by their wives and has no longer become the preserve of women as it was previously to lodge complaint’, he said.
Mr. Attipoe noted that domestic violence is a criminal offence and should not be shelved or be battled at family or religious levels.
He noted that though various churches have arbitration committees like the justice and peace committees which seeks to settle matters among members either at the church or family levels, does not make them autonomous under any obligation to usurp the role of the Police or that of the department of Social Welfare adding that sometimes it is not all the cases that come to the attention of the Police that are punishable.
Sometimes, he said, some of the cases are settled amicably especially among partners or couples. Similar step are also applied to parents who failed to take care of their wards or give maintainace fee.
Chief Inspector Attipoe noted that sometimes in an attempt by churches and family relations to settle issues at their level, they end up not getting to the substance of the matter which usually does not help in addressing the main issue saying that in some cases, one of the parties is either find or made to pay some money or drink to pacify the other which usually does not address the core issue.
In such circumstances, Mr. Attipoe noted that the families or the church end up not addressing the issue rather aggravating it all together. ‘Some of them take the steps for fear that the name of the church or the family could be dented when the issue it gets to the public domain’, he said.
Chief Inspector Attipoe also urged the educational institutions to make domestic violence issues one of their core topics by sensitizing students noting that like the guidance and counseling departments they should be empowered in that respect.
He also called on the public particularly those in compound houses or in satellite communities to be vigilant and report any domestic act that constitute criminal to the Police.
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