Hamilton stabbing highlights need for public to report domestic violence

The recent Hamilton burglary which involved a Father being assaulted and stabbed by two intruders highlights a gap in domestic violence reporting, local family violence experts say.

“The fact that a neighbour heard a commotion next door but thought to himself, “It’s just a domestic” is simply not okay”, Shelley Wilson, Manawatu Abuse Intervention Network Coordinator, said. “The neighbour only decided to intervene when he heard the victim shouting that he had been burgled. Unfortunately, it’s this kind of public attitude towards reporting domestic violence which is harmful towards the safety of our families and the community”.

The ‘It’s not okay campaign’ aims to create a shift in public attitudes and behaviour towards domestic violence, and has achieved some amazing successes both locally and nationally, Mrs Wilson explains. “However, it is unfortunate incidents such as the home invasion on Tuesday night that illustrate just how much work we still have to do in order to create safety within homes and families. How does a burglary justify intervention but suspected domestic violence does not?”

We need to take collective responsibility for the safety of our community, says Mrs Wilson. “The fact is that domestic violence intervention is everyone’s responsibility. If you suspect your friend, colleague, family member or neighbour is in unsafe, call the police.”

ENDS

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