Three Rarotonga police officers are in Aitutaki for a week-long programme of consultations with community stakeholders, on Gender Family Harm (GFH).

According to Police Media, the rollout of meetings and presentations this week is a team effort with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Intaff), and the Crown Law Office.

“The Police trio Senior Sergeant Rebecca Hosking, Senior Constable Lisa Tatakura, and Detective Barry Raemaki will be working closely with Intaff’s Social Policy and Services Family Protection Unit in delivering a Joint Prevention and Awareness Programme on Gender Family Harm (GFH),” Police said in a statement.

Following sessions with the Aitutaki Island Council and the Aitutaki Family Protection Board, the spread of meetings across the villages will engage school students, and include training with the Aitutaki Police.

“While statistics paint a bleak picture of domestic violence involving women and children, spouses and partners, and relatives, Police Prevention efforts are being stepped up with targeted initiatives,” Police said.

“The scope of the violence that impacts on women in particular, as well as the family, is broad, and complex. Prevention and awareness building is an important step - one in which support groups and agencies can significantly contribute to breaking down the barriers to end the violence.”

Last year, Police responded to more than 300 callouts to domestic incidents involving spouses and partners, and family members. Just over 22 per cent of those involved offenses of a physical nature, including assaults on females.

“The annual figures for 2023 were barely an improvement over 2022 although the share of assaults did drop by 4 per cent.”