Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Domestic Abuse Cases Since the Start of the Circuit Breaker, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many reports per month have been received by the police for domestic abuse cases since the start of the circuit breaker period; (b) how many of these reports have been investigated by the police; and (c) what percentage of such family violence cases subsequently resulted in charges being brought by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Answer:

1. 1. Police have received an average of 415 family violence reports per month since April.2. For all the reports, Police will assess the facts and circumstances of the case to determine if investigations should be initiated. Investigations were initiated in more than 40% of the cases.3. About 3% of the cases investigated were prosecuted in court and about 12% were given a warning in lieu of prosecution. Family violence cases often have complex underlying issues and prosecution may not always be the optimal solution. In some cases, other avenues of assistance may be more appropriate. For example, Police may advise the victim to apply for a Protection Order, or refer the family to social service agencies for counselling and assistance.