New campaign highlights domestic violence

Monday 23rd November 2009, 2:57PM GMT.

A CAMPAIGN to highlight the ‘hidden’ crime of domestic violence and the support available for those who suffer from it is being launched today.

During the first six months of this year, the States police dealt with 491 domestic incidents compared with 431 in the first half of 2008, and 365 in the first half of 2007.

Called Behind Closed Doors, the campaign, run by the Jersey Domestic Violence Forum – which is made up of the Women’s Refuge, States police and the Probation Service – will feature emotive television and radio advertisements, which will continue into December.

Det Insp Alison Fossey said that increases in reported cases of domestic violence could be seen as a sign of success in that women feel more able to report crimes against them. ‘However, analysis is needed over a longer term to find out whether real change can be distinguished from random fluctuation in figures,’ she said.

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