Assault charges urged

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 2

Assault charges urged

Any man who assaults his: wife or partner should bei charged with criminal assault. according to the! Women’s Refuge Centre, Society. Too often, such assaults | were regarded as “just an-; other domestic dispute,” the secretary of the society (Mrs S. M. Givnan), told the committee.

The onus to prosecute > /should be put on the police!: i rather than the woman in-1 ivolved. ■, "She can be open to all kinds of intimidation from iher husband, and will often! withdraw a charge rather! 1 | than face this and the! 'frightening prospect of fac-|, ing her husband across a j

■ courtroom,” Mrs Givnan Isaid. I If the woman concerned felt that pressing charges I was too drastic, the police [should be able to remove I the violent offender from i the property for 24 hours. i i “The old adage that a Iman’s home is his castlei 'should not apply, and in fact! I his home should not become!

•la refuge from the law,” said [Mrs Givnan. If the police were called to a home because of a violent dispute, she said, they tshould be given the right to (follow up the case independently. [ "Very often the police are called to a home one or two nights a week — every week — as well as a social worker visiting once a week. “This type of environment is undoubtedly a breeding ground for the violent offenders of the future,” Mrs Givnan said.

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