Cook Islands - Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme
Cook Islands - Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme
Cook Islands - Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme
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<strong>Cook</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
• Frontline units were <strong>of</strong>ten short <strong>of</strong> staff: one interviewee noted that on the day <strong>of</strong> the<br />
interview, each unit had only three staff on duty, instead <strong>of</strong> five.<br />
• Senior Officers are <strong>of</strong>ten on duty with probationary constables only; they need the<br />
backup <strong>of</strong> another senior person.<br />
• There was a shortage <strong>of</strong> female Officers to question female victims and <strong>of</strong>fenders. Age<br />
was also a factor here, as mature women could not be told what to do by young<br />
Policewomen.<br />
• One <strong>of</strong> the two Police vehicles was not working. Some Officers used their own cars or<br />
bikes to attend domestic violence incidents.<br />
One Officer said that frontline staff became frustrated, and that morale declined, in the face <strong>of</strong><br />
inadequate resources: ‘They end up feeling that they can’t be bothered’. None <strong>of</strong> the<br />
interviewees explicitly said this, although some said that they become frustrated, annoyed and<br />
angry with women who cry when their husbands are arrested and ask for the charges to be<br />
withdrawn.<br />
There are some CIPS Officers who are strongly committed to reducing domestic violence:<br />
their efforts should not be understated and they deserve full praise and encouragement. On the<br />
whole, however, the results here suggest that the criminal law is not being enforced<br />
effectively or consistently. As a result, it has limited value as a deterrent.<br />
Police attitudes and perceptions towards Police Officers as domestic violence <strong>of</strong>fenders<br />
There was consensus among Police interviewees that Officers who were domestic violence<br />
<strong>of</strong>fenders should be treated in the same way as other <strong>of</strong>fenders, if not more harshly, as they<br />
undermine the credibility <strong>of</strong> CIPS. Although most believed that not many Officers were<br />
<strong>of</strong>fenders, they admitted that some might be hidden <strong>of</strong>fenders.<br />
We deal with them the same as other <strong>of</strong>fenders. They’re not known in the community<br />
because they isolate themselves. Sometimes the wives talk about it, but many wives are<br />
not that stupid to talk about it because their husbands will come back at them. Not<br />
many Officers are <strong>of</strong>fenders, only a few.<br />
Current policy and practice arrangements for dealing with Police Officers as domestic<br />
violence <strong>of</strong>fenders<br />
I could not ascertain if there was a written policy for dealing with Police Officers as domestic<br />
violence <strong>of</strong>fenders. The following information was provided by senior Officers.<br />
Officers who are convicted <strong>of</strong> an assault face automatic dismissal. In the absence <strong>of</strong> an arrest<br />
or conviction, there will be an internal investigation. Discipline resulting from such an<br />
investigation could include demotion or dismissal.<br />
There were indications that Police policy towards Officers as domestic violence <strong>of</strong>fenders<br />
may be applied differently for senior and junior staff.<br />
If another Police Officer commits a crime he should face the consequences. Everybody<br />
is the same. It’s not okay for a Police Officer to assault his wife. If you do that as a<br />
Police Officer, how can you attend domestics? The Executive sometimes hides this and<br />
takes time to make a decision if it’s senior staff, but they’re quick to make decisions for<br />
junior staff.<br />
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