Family violence advocates bracing for post-holiday spike

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Many women in abusive relationships have likely spent the holiday period riding out the storm.

Marlborough Women's Refugee says it's preparing for a spike in family violence reports as the holidays come to an end, an advocate says.

Women's Refuge community and education advocate Carmel Hancock said the refuge was 'extremely busy' in the last two months of the year, with reports set to peak again.

Marlborough Women's Refuge helped issue about 20 protection orders in November last year, and another 10 in the first two weeks of December, she said.

Senior Constable Andrew Holdaway says police generally receive more calls to family violence over the holiday period.

* Busy start to 2016 for Marlborough Women's Refuge

* Marlborough Women's Refuge braces for spike in domestic violence**

Protection orders, which had to be approved by a family court judge, prevented an abuser from coming in contact with or being violent towards the person applying for the protection order, Hancock said.

The number of family violence reports swell around Christmas due to added pressures. (STOCK PHOTO)

The number of protection orders issued was not reflective of the number of police reports filed in relation to family violence, nor the number of family violence incidences that occurred.

Hancock was one of several who had a first-hand understanding of why there was a domestic violence spike during the holiday season.

Armed with a master's degree in psychology and a thesis in psychological violence, Hancock was one of several workers at the refuge with the goal to empower women impacted by family violence.

She said the office received about 50 police reports relating to family violence during its out-of-office period, which ran from December 21 to January 7.

While some of the reports featured child and parents or siblings violence, most involved partners, Hancock said.

Family violence can occur between siblings, children and parents, and partners. (STOCK PHOTO)

One of the reports related to an incident that occurred on Christmas Day, she said.

Marlborough Women's Refuge also saw an increase in sexual abuse calls over the holiday period, with two back-to-back calls on New Year's week, she said.

Hancock said despite being over the hump of the holiday, she felt workers at the refuge were expecting the number of reports to increase.

While the upswing in family violence reports would not always be sparked by finances, such as unpaid Christmas bills, it could still have 'a large impact' on already strained relations.

'Family violence is not just physical. Most women that we see are psychologically violated,' Hancock said.

Community Constable Russ Smith says family violence is a problem 'common around the world' around Christmas.

She said psychological violence included isolation, emotional abuse, coercion, intimidation, surveillance and economic abuse.

'There's also symbolic violence. He won't hit her, but he'll break things, throw things, hit walls,' she said.

'It says to the woman, 'If I'm pushed any further, it could be you that I hit next, that I kill.''

Hancock said woman in abusive relationships were 'constantly fearful' and 'living under siege'.

'A lot of women we see are an inner shell of themselves. They've lost that joy,' she said.

'As soon as a man hits a woman, it's a crime, but if a woman is psychologically violated, then it's not a crime.

Families gather at Picton for the Ignite New Years Festival on December 31.

'It makes it hard for both men and women to see what's OK and what's not OK.'

A police spokeswoman said data relating to the number of family violence callouts made in Marlborough this holiday season wouldn't be available for several more weeks, as it needed to be processed.

Hancock said while she was unsure what this year's statistics were, she said the Marlborough Women's Refuge office was always busy, despite the small community that fed it.

Her office covered a population spread from Kaikōura to the Marlborough Sounds and Rai Valley to St Arnaud, she said.

Senior Constable Andrew Holdaway, who worked in Marlborough's family violence division, said police generally received more calls to family violence over the holiday period.

'The Christmas holiday period can be very challenging for some families, and sadly while many of us look forward to it, for others this time of year only brings a sense of dread,' he said.

'Financial and family stress, often combined with the consumption of alcohol, can contribute to an increase in family harm incidents.'

Community Constable Russ Smith said while police saw the usual increase in family incidents calls these holidays, there was nothing approaching homicide or intent to injure.

Smith said an increase in family violence was a problem 'common around the world' around Christmas, due to the added pressure.

Holdaway said police actively worked with victims and partner agencies, like Marlborough Women's Refuge, to ensure suitable support and safety plans were in place for at risk families and individuals.

He encouraged anyone who feared for their own or someone else's safety to dial Police on 111.

'Family violence is never okay, but it is okay to ask for help. Do not ignore family violence – your call could save a life,' he said.

Women experiencing family violence could to head to Marlborough Women's Refuge at Unit 3, 19 Henry St on weekdays between 8.30am and 3.30pm to chat with an advisor.

A phone line 0800 REFUGE (733 843) was also available 24 hours and went through to Blenheim staff.