One of Levenmouth’s leading police officers has said that his staff are dealing with cases of domestic violence on a daily basis.
Inspector Donald Jenks said violence against women remained prevalent in the area despite continuing efforts to tackle the problem. He was addressing local councillors as they offered their support for the White Ribbon Campaign in Fife, part of a wider national initiative to help tackle domestic abuse against women.
However, while admitting that assaults behind closed doors remained a constant problem, Inspector Jenks said police are doing more than ever to bring those responsible for the crime to justice.
“I have been in the police for 30 years and when I think back to how police work has changed, then there has been a sea change.
“We have always targeted a lot of resources into tackling violence against women but now there is an expectation that the perpetrators will now appear in court.
“Indeed, 99% of those that commit violence against women will appear at court. If we receive a report of violence against a woman, we will also look at the history and interview previous partners.”
He added: “On a daily basis, officers deal with violence against women.”
As part of a presentation to the councillors, who unanimously agreed to support the campaign, Sheila Noble, coordinator of the White Ribbon Campaign in Fife, said that more than 4,600 reports of domestic violence against women occurred in Fife alone last year.
She told representatives in the Levenmouth area that pregnant women and those who had recently given birth were particularly vulnerable.
However, Mrs Noble also said that it was important to recognise that domestic violence was not a problem that could be allocated solely to certain groups in society.
Responding to concerns that some poorer victims could not afford to move away from an abusive partner, she said: “People have different ways of dealing with things.
“A person in a more affluent area may be able to afford to stay in a hotel for a night but we have to be careful not to stereotype, as this is something that happens across the whole of Fife.”
She continued: “I’m not sure how you would like to support us but as key figures in the community your support is important to us.”
The White Ribbon Campaign focuses on men’s role in tackling the problem, in part through them taking a pledge agreeing not to “commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women,” and wearing a white ribbon as a show of support.
Councillor Andrew Rodger said that he was fully behind efforts to rid Fife of violence against women.
“Anyone who hits a woman should be locked up for life,” he said. “It really gets to me when you hear some of the stories and it degrades us as men as well.”