Kent's domestic violence shame
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Kent's domestic violence shame has
been revealed by figures showing the county has hundreds of serial
offenders.
As many as 425 people - including 36
women - are known to have assaulted at least two partners.
A team of Kent Police officers has
created the register of repeat offenders in a bid to break the
cycle of crime.
Detectives have put a marker against their names on a crime
database and could tell new partners about their violent
background.
Det Supt Maria Shepherd, from Kent Police's public
protection unit, said: "Domestic abuse accounts for about a fifth
of all violent crime in Kent.
"There are nearly 22,000 incidents of domestic abuse in Kent
each year or 60 a day. Significantly, there were five homicides in
the last financial year in Kent linked to domestic abuse.
"By focusing on serial perpetrators police around the country
can track relationships where victims or children are at risk and
intervene before anyone is hurt.
"This is particularly important where offenders move outside
county boundaries.
"Domestic abuse accounts for about a fifth of all violent crime in Kent…” – Det Supt Maria Shepherd
"Once we've identified a serial perpetrator and he or she moves
onto a new relationship, we can make a decision about whether we
should let their new partner know about the offender's violent
background.
"This is designed to better protect potential victims but we
also seek to use the opportunity to encourage perpetrators to enter
rehabilitation voluntarily.
"Our ultimate aim is to reduce the amount of domestic abuse in
our community, make it unacceptable and therefore improve the
quality of people's lives."
As well as pushing for prosecutions on domestic violence, police
are also encouraging offenders to change their ways voluntarily by
enrolling on a course.
Wednesday, January 25 2012
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