Brighton Beach police drive domestic violence awareness campaign

THE Brighton Beach Social Crime Prevention Unit created awareness of domestic violence as part of the station’s operational activities during the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Constable Samkelisiwe Buthelezi and Constable Tamara Small distributed domestic violence information guides to shoppers at the Hill Side Mall.

According to Captain Louise le Roux, the brochure gives a rough explanation of what a domestic relationship is.

By definition, she said, it refers to the relationship between a victim and perpetrator, which may include people who:

• are or were married to each other in terms of any law, custom or religion;
•  live or have lived together in a relationship as husband and wife (whether they are of the same or of the opposite sex);
• are the parents of a child and share or have shared parental responsibility for the child (whether or not at the same time);
• are family members related by marriage, blood or adoption;
• are or were engaged, dated or in a customary relationship, including an actual or perceived romantic, intimate or sexual relationship of any duration;
• share or recently shared the same residence (whether or not they were romantically or sexually involved).

“Other aspects of domestic violence discussed within the brochure include what actions constitute domestic violence, and the procedures to follow to attain a protection order. The brochure also cautions the applicant of a protection order that, if the court finds that the warrant of arrest is used maliciously to have the abuser (respondent) arrested without just cause, then the applicant may be prosecuted in terms of the Domestic Violence Act,” she said.

On behalf of Brighton Beach police management, Le Roux expressed gratitude towards the management and tenants of Hill Side Mall for creating a platform to generate awareness about domestic violence.