PPDVP Evaluation Report - Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence ...

Samoa52. The PPDVP has played a mentoring role, enabling Samoa Police to own and lead changes in theirown time and in their way. Study tours and regional meetings played an important part in showingwhat can be done and provided an incentive to put similar steps in place.53. A Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) operates 24 hours a day in Apia, and has trained staff in fouroutposts. Samoa Police have developed a Domestic Violence Strategy and domestic violence workplan, which is in the desk File for the DVU but a DVU Manual is still being developed. DomesticViolence reporting mechanisms and practices have been established, with best practice guidelinesand resources provided; these helped when police were deating with a high profile case. It has beensaid that Court files prepared by the DVU are thorough and efficiently compiled, and that DVU staffate exemplary in court attendance.54. Domestic violence training, provided by the Domestic Violence Unit, is included in the trainingcurriculum for recruits. The PPDVP mentor monitors the training approach and the quality oftraining. Some training has been provided to general policing colleagues. There has been animprovement in police awareness of the need to act immediately in response to an occurrence ofdomestic violence, and police are more alert to the victims.ss.Samoa Police use CMlS for recording domestic violence reports and two DVU staff are trained toenter and update information. There is increased confidence around the collection and reporting ofdata. The DV team is able to track cases lodged with them, for example it is now possible to trackrepeat offenders even if cases have been dropped, but there are some issues in tracking informationbetween Units. (Other Units such as CIB and Prosecutions do not have a database but forwardinformation to the DVU.) Weekly reports are produced, looking at trends and some profiling (egdomestic violence is greater on Friday and Saturday nights and certain villages have been identifiedas "hot spots"). The Superintendent with oversight of the DVU meets weekly with the supervisors ofother units and the domestic violence information is assessed as a management team; and thePolice Commissioner receives a monthly written report.56. There has been an increase in reported cases (see graph in Annex Two). Feedback indicates that it iseasier for victims to access the police and that people, including victims, feel they can rely on policewho now have the skills and resources to respond to cases and to deal with victims and sensitivesituations.57. There is greater public awareness of domestic violence as unacceptable, but there is still a need forthe public to gain more trust in the Police and for anti-domestic violence messages to take effect at avillage and household level. The increased awareness is due to a number of influences, but policeand the PPDVP are seen by respondents as having contributed significantly to this. The PrimeMinister and the Minister of Police publicly committed to combat domestic violence. The police areundertaking outreach activities, for example, working with Samoan Rugby to educate young playersabout domestic violence, and the Assistant Commissioner has appeared in TV advertisementsspeaking out about domestic violence. The DVU collaborates with other police units to delivercommunity awareness programmes and feedback indicates that the domestic violence team hasraised people's confidence that matters will be dealt with.se.The PPDVP conducted courses and training to help break down confusion and mistrust betweenpolice and other stakeholders; relationships have improved, and there is a more effective workingpartnership. There is a collective MOU between Police and two of the domestic violence responseNGOs. There are regular casework meetings, increased information sharing, and a referral systembetween police and NGOs.PPDVP Evaluation Report Page 10