More work needed to help stop violence

More needs to be done to educate the wider community about non-physical forms of violence so people can recognise and report potentially dangerous behaviour before it escalates, says the manager of Nelson's Stopping Violence Services.

Ian Gault said that while promotions and campaigns had increased awareness about domestic violence, and reporting it to authorities and social agencies, there was still a great deal of work to be done.

White ribbons adorned the lapels of Nelsonians today to mark international White Ribbon Day, when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women.

Stopping Violence Services runs courses for men referred by the courts or other agencies, and last year saw 251 men.

Mr Gault said publicity around domestic violence had led more men concerned about their behaviour to refer themselves to the service, which saw 38 self-referred men last year, compared with 15 in 2006.

Mr Gault said he expected a similar increase this year.

However, he said more needed to be done to make people realise that violence was not always physical.

Non-physical violence was often a precursor to physical violence later in a relationship, and was another sign that people needed to recognise and report, he said.

Nelson Tasman Te Rito Family Violence Network coordinator Gayle Helm agreed, saying people needed to feel confident about coming forward.

"If something doesn't seem right, let someone know."

She said controlling behaviour and people exerting power over their partners was sometimes something people did not think needed reporting, but it could indicate physical violence in the future.

She said volunteers had handed out thousands of white ribbons at the Nelson A and P Show at the weekend, and were pleased that so many young people had approached their stall wanting information.

Senior Sergeant Ross Lienert, the Tasman police district youth services and family violence coordinator, said police were again supporting White Ribbon Day this year by wearing ribbons on their uniforms.

On average, Nelson police attend 20 family violence incidents a week. Mr Lienert said there was no doubt that people felt more confident about reporting signs of violence.

Started by a men's group in Canada in 1991, White Ribbon Day has been designated by the United Nations as the official day to mark the campaign to eliminate violence against women.

- © Fairfax NZ News