Griffith urges public to say something about domestic violence

An increased proactive approach by the public as well as the establishment of a gender based violence unit within the TTPS has been identified by police commissioner Gary Griffith as the two pronged strategy to deal with the “Pandora’s Box” of domestic violence.The commissioner outlined the new strategy in three short video clips posted on the TTPS’s Facebook page yesterday.Standing in front of an outdoor pool and adopting a conversational tone, Griffith said dozens of women had been killed last year as a result of domestic violence and cited an incident which occurred on Good Friday in which a Chaguanas man was killed by police officers. The man was caught in the act of chopping his wife. The woman is presently warded at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex in a serious condition.Griffith said the “proactive approach” by the public had prevented the woman from being killed.“This situation is what we are speaking about, we want the public to be aware of what is happening, we cannot continue to hope that this situation will go away.”“If it is that you know something, say something, if you see something, say something.”He said the TTPS has a number of units to deal with social problems such as the witness support unit, the child support unit and the gender based violence unit which will deal specifically with domestic violence as well as the sexual exploitation of minors. The commissioner said reports of domestic violence were expected to increase as the public’s levels of confidence and trust increased in the TTPS and their ability to deal with the problem.“Not many persons would not have reported it because of a lack of confidence, a lack of trust, we are putting a proper system in place ensuring a degree of confidentiality and that the police officers are well trained. We will now come to your home and deal with the situation.”He said men would no longer be embarrassed to also report cases of domestic violence.