On the beat

Today police from around New Zealand will be wearing white ribbons to show their support of White Ribbon Day.

While on duty, officers will wear the white ribbon which is recognised by the United Nations as the international day for the elimination of violence towards women.

It was started by a men’s movement in Canada in 1991 and has been officially adopted by the UN as its international day for the elimination of violence against women.

The programme was introduced to New Zealand by the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

In 2008 police recorded more than 73,000 family violence incidents and offences. That is around 200 family violence situations a day, one every seven minutes. It is estimated that only 18 percent of family violence incidents are reported.

Counties Manukau police attended about 12,000 of these with Counties Manukau East attending about 2500.

Eighty-four percent of people arrested for family violence are men. One in three women experience physical or sexual abuse from a partner in their lifetime according to a World Health Organisation study in Auckland and Waikato.

Women’s Refuge received about 50,000 crisis calls in 2007/2008 and provided services to more than 11,000 women and 7000 children.

Applications for protection orders in 2007 totalled 4500.

Each day the courts deal with about 21 prosecutions of assaults on women by men.

A key focus for the New Zealand police is to reduce violence within families and whanau, to hold offenders accountable for their behaviour, and to work with other agencies to keep victims and children safe.

By wearing the white ribbon police support the Families Commission and other various organisations to prevent violence and the distressing effects it has on individuals, family, whanau, iwi and all communities with New Zealand.

- Sergeant Brett Woodmass, Domestic violence co-ordinator

Burglaries from November 16-22:

Pakuranga: Oleander Pt, Pandora Place, Hope Farm Ave, Nevada Ave, Galloway Cres, Ti Rakau Drive, Reeves Rd.

Bucklands Beach: 0.

Highland Park: Bradbury Rd.

Howick: Sandspit Rd.

Botany Downs: 0.

East Tamaki: Elderberry Rd.

Flat Bush: Middlefield Drive.

Whitford, Beachlands, Maraetai: Whitford Maraetai Rd, Maraetai Heights Rd.

Visit the Neighbourhood Support website: www.nsupport.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News