Police aim to protect kids from violence in home

Tamlyn Stewart | 9th March 2010

More than 1800 children were exposed to family violence in Rotorua in a single year.

Police attend an average of seven domestics a day and children are present in nearly 60 per cent of all cases.

About 1850 children were present during family violence incidents in the year to June 30, 2009, according to a recent police report.

Half to 70 per cent of males who abuse their partners also abuse their children and 43 per cent of child deaths occur in homes where the mother is a victim of family violence.

In Rotorua police and 12 agencies have formed the Family Violence Inter-Agency Response System (FVIARS) to try and reduce the number of domestic incidents and break the cycle of violence.

Rotorua police Family Violence co-ordinator Detective Sergeant Mike Mackenzie said seeing children present at domestic incidents was hard. "It's the kiddies that really pull your heartstrings," he said. "It's always the kids who seem to suffer."

More than 4000 children were affected in the greater Rotorua district in the year to June 30, 2009.

In every family violence incident where children were present, police notified Child, Youth and Family (CYF) straight away.

"The bottom line is if children are in danger, either we'll remove the child and take them to CYF or CYF will often attend while police are still there.

"Our priority is the safety of the children.

"We can remove children by force if necessary, we have a statutory right to do that. We can remove children if there is a fear of death or fear of serious harm."

 He said CYF played a huge role. Often the police Child Abuse Team would get involved and work directly with CYF office.

 Mr MacKenzie said family violence had a lasting impact on children. "What happens is they see that as the norm, so the kids become either the next offender or the next victims.

"That's why family violence is inter-generational.

"We are trying to get it across that it's not normal and it's not okay and it needs to stop."

Denise Reynolds, Kaiwhakahaere for the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, said more than 2000 children spent time in a Women's Refuge safe house each year.

"Last year we provided 13,717 services to children, an increase of 16 per cent on the previous year."

"Although the statistics are a real concern, the positive side is that we are seeing young mothers coming to Women's Refuge, determined to break the cycle and make a fresh start for themselves and their children."

WHO TO CALL If you believe someone is in danger or it's an emergency, call the police on 111. Women's Refuge (07) 349 0852. Family Focus (07) 346 2096. If children are involved call Child, Youth and Family on 0508 326 459. Or go to the police station.