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

59. There is a National Gender Based Violence Committee, with 22 government agencies and NGOsrepresented, which is overseeing and supporting the development of legislation. PPDVP has runworkshops with this Committee. The Law and Justice Sector Committee also provides an opportunitytolink with national strategies and priorities. The PPDVP itself is not an appropriate mechanism toengage with Samoa's legislation, but the Samoa Police could become more engaged with the processthrough sector committees such as those mentioned above.60. Prioritv areas for future su~port include:On-going training; both refresher training for those already trained, and basic training for allpolice staffEmbedding and institutionalising the new processes and procedures to improve police responsesto domestic violence, and monitoring adherence to theseContinuing to build sustainable and strong relationships between police and other stakeholders,including government agencies and NGOs, for a more holistic response to domestic violenceEncouraging police management to give priority to mobilising effective governancearrangements for the PPDVPSupport police to engage more closely with other government agencies and Sector Committeesto advance relevant legislation, including the incorporation of domestic violence provisions intothe legislationTonga61. There is a very strong commitment by the current Police Commissioner, and a number of changesinstituted. The police Strategic Plan features domestic violence in two results areas. The DomesticViolence Response Policy, adopted in 2010, places responsibility on each police officer to take,investigate and prosecute domestic violence complaints. Not all staff have been trained on the newpolicy as yet.62. A National Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) has been established; staff have been trained and nowtrain other front-line staff. Representatives from each of the six Police Districts have been selectedand trained as District Domestic Violence Officers (Coordinators). All staff with a role in domesticviolence have received training and it is reported that there are now a number of officers who arecapable investigators and interviewers, can identify risks and put in place strategies to minimise risk.The DVU is integrated into one of the four Response Groups.63. Protocols and procedures for response to domestic violence have been developed, includingmandatory referrals, as well as a detailed policy on reporting. There is a 'no drop' policy which ismonitored at monthly meetings of District Commanders. The National DVU gets copies of alldomestic violence complaints, cases are tracked and victims notified of sentencing decisions.Respondents indicated that police are more open and responsive in dealing with domestic violencecases, and victims are more comfortable talking with police now this is done in a private space.64. Prior to 2008 rjomestic violence was not specifically recorded. The use of CMIS has led to a morecoordinated effort to record domestic violence reporting, and greater confidence in the dataavailable. There has been an improvement in data collection, analysis and use of the CMlS data toassist the police response. CMlS analysis is done in-country, the data is used to highlight trends andis now being used as a tool to try and decrease the prevalence of domestic violence. Monthlymeetings of the Commissioner and District Commanders discuss reports on domestic violence cases.65. The CMlS data shows an increase in reporting between 2008 and 2010 (see Annex Two). Participantsin the Baseline Update reported that a number of historical barriers to reporting domestic violencehave decreased significantly. They also suggested "that a domestic violence incident is more likely to- - ~PPDVP Evaluation Report Page 11