Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said this evening that women who suffered domestic violence who felt they were not taken seriously by the police could report their experiences to the Police Board or approach him personally for immediate action. But he had no such reports to date.
Replying to questions in Parliament after complaints made at a seminar on domestic violence yesterday, Dr Mallia said police officers were trained to handle such cases, but if they felt out of their depth they could always refer to their superiors or call in the government’s specialised agencies.
Dr Mallia said it was unacceptable that women who wished to report domestic violence found they could not do so after 5pm in some police stations.
And the courts could do with putting up a better show when such cases came before them,he said. The courts were empowered to continue with a case even when the victim chose to “forgive” the assailant.
He fully agreed with a remark by Public Dialogue Helena Dalli and others that domestic violence was grossly under-reported.
Dr Mallia said the Police Vice Squad did not wait for formal reports of violence but took the initiative to investigate massage parlours, prostitution of Maltese and foreign women, blackmail after sexual acts and illegal adoptions. But more intelligence could lead to greater successes.
Domestic violence was also discussed this evening in the parliamentary Social Affairs Committee.
Representatives of the Foundation for the Protection of Women proposed the creation of a Child Support Agency, a Family Protection Unit and the beefing up of the 179 support line.
The discussion centred on the way the institutions reacted to and dealt with issues of domestic violence.
Lara Dimitrievic said that the agency stepped in when child support was not paid and when one of the partners obstructed procedures. The agency provided a buffer for the guardian parent to fall back upon for the well-being of the children.
Dr Dimitrievic said that many complaints are levelled at the service given by the police. Issues of forbidding surroundings, untrained or unsympathetic police officers who were insensitive when the reports were filed and lack of action had placed these victims of stalking, abuse and violence in an increasingly vulnerable situation.
Dr Dimitrievic said legal aid for these victims should kick in once the report was filed.
The law regarding protection orders needed to be widened to cover not only cases where separation proceedings were under way. The protection order should be an automatic issue and the courts would then regulate as necessary. This will give the victims courage to stand up to their aggressors.
Former police officer Grace Gatt proposed a Family Protection Unit. She said that cases of rape, the victim normally faced a gruelling wait at the police station, at hospital and at the police headquarters during which no support was given.
In cases where a woman was beaten, the frequently overburdened policeman could fob off the victim. Procedures were lengthy and did not favour the victim. She said that support line 179 gave very poor service.