Victims of domestic violence urged to report crime at Parkview Police Station
PARKVIEW – Victims of domestic violence are urged to report crimes committed against them at the Parkview Police Station this Women's Month.
Parkview police encourage victims of domestic violence to report abuse to the Parkview Police Station where they will be treated with respect and dignity this Women’s Month.
Parkview police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko defines domestic violence as sexual abuse (whether married or unmarried), physical abuse or assault, threats of harm, damage to property or anything valuable to the victim, stalking, economic abuse, emotional abuse or any other controlling or abusive behaviour that may harm your safety, health or well-being.
“Victims of abuse have the right to apply for a protection order at the nearest police station or magistrates’ court or lay a criminal charge at the police station,” said Sibeko.
A protection order is an order issued by the court at your request ordering a person with whom you have or previously had a domestic relationship to stop the abuse and also prevents them from getting help from any other person to commit such acts. An interim protection order can also be issued, day or night, to protect victims from danger.
Police officials, victims of domestic violence and children can apply for protection orders.
Parkview police are committed to treating victims of domestic violence with sensitivity, care, respect and dignity. They are also committed to listen to what the victim has to say, not insult or blame victims for abuse, assist victims with empathy and care, inform victims of their rights and options, provide victims with a notice in their own home language and explain how they should proceed.
Parkview police also commit to find victims someone to address them in a language they understand, take statements in privacy (away from the abuser and the public), determine, based on the statement, whether to arrest the abuser or take his/her firearm, serve a protection order on the person against whom it was made as directed by the court, among a number of other commitments.
Residents are urged to contact Parkview police domestic violence coordinator Xongani Mathye on 011 067 6000 for further information.
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