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Increase in domestic violence in Croydon a cause for concern says the senior most police officer (3 May 2013)

Date: 03/05/2013
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Increase in domestic violence in Croydon a cause for concern says the senior most police officer

Borough commander Chief Superintendent David Musker has described a sharp rise in domestic violence as hugely worrying factor in Croydon. He told papers that failing to address a 13.4 per cent increase in offences over the past year could have fatal consequences for some victims.
He said he had often told his officers that dealing with domestic violence was murder suppression, because looking at the data, 80 per cent of murders seems to have been committed by people who the victim knows or were in a relationship with.
The numbers were high for that reason and the fact that it was up significantly from last year was of a great concern. There were 1,043 reports of domestic violence in Croydon in the past 12 months; up from 903 in 2011-12.
Chief Superintendent Musker believes the rise has been "genuine" and only a fraction of the problem was visible. Police officers do say at times that it is about confidence and people being prepared to come forward but the increase was real.
It's hugely worrying, especially because data has shown there have normally been 40 incidents of domestic violence before a victim calls the police.
This was a particularly pernicious crime, which robs people of the sense of security in their homes, and it is an issue which is getting his full attention.
A review of the police approach to domestic violence in Croydon is now being led by Detective Chief Inspector Sian Thomas, who worked on the Met's Sapphire unit, which investigates serious sexual offences, before moving to the borough in October 2012.
Chief Supt Musker said he would renew the borough's "zero tolerance" attitude and work more closely with the council.
He believes domestic violence was a growing problem because of the "stress" in society. There was no reason for committing such offences but the way the borough has changed in terms of deprivation it should be attributed for the rise in the violence he explained. The stress of the things around housing conditions, incomes, and all that sort of stuff must be the reason for the rise he said.
While not specifically comparable, latest figures for the Met as a whole show domestic violence increased 5.4 per cent in the year up to March 2013.
Selhurst councillor Toni Letts, herself a former victim of domestic abuse, said though domestic violence has always been an issue; the recession has increased family violence. Households where there was two salaries once now had only one or none which could be a factor. She said there needs to be a strong will to do something which would make a genuine difference.
Croydon's Family Justice Centre, which is home to the borough's domestic violence services, is used by about 1,000 people each month.
Simon Hoar, council cabinet member for crime and public protection, said domestic violence was on the increase could be attributed to the economy or the availability of cheap alcohol which is the cause for domestic violence.

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