Police defend role in marital rows

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 4

Police defend role in marital rows

J Effectively, every police ; patrol was a “domestic inter- ■ vention squad,” trained to re- _ spond objectively and sympathetically to domestic disj putes, said the acting comI mander of the Christchurch Police District (Detective j Chief Superintendent E. G. ; Perry) yesterday. The article “Police 'must act’ in marital rows” which appeared in “The Press” yesterday was unfairly critical of the police, he said. In the article, Mr lan McDonald. director of the Marriage Guidance Council in Christchurch, alleged a reluctance by the police to take a constructive role in domestic disputes. He said the police should give disputes a high priority. “My department regards domestic disputes extremely seriously, in view of the possible consequences,” said Mr Perry. Policemen were particularly concerned about .their effects on children, and the Youth Aid Section dealt with this aspect. I,

t[ Studies had shown that • people in dbmestic disputes ■) wanted a quick remedy from - a reliable, authoritative, but - understanding figure. Members of the police 1 attended many domestic dis- ’ putes, and received many • complimentary remarks from those whose problems had been resolved by “police i members young enough to have been their sons or grandsons,” said Mr Perry. “I dispute that the police are reluctant to take a constructive role in these matters,” he said. Contrary to the views expressed in the article, the image of the police was of a “constructive role;” most people involved in “domestics” requested police attendance around the clock, even I when other agencies were' available. The police were called because people had confidence . in them, and because they were on duty when other agencies were not available, I said Mr Perry. |

i “We are a mobile and dis-, 'iciplined service, trained to i respond objectively, cau-, tiously, diplomatically, sympathetically, and, if neces- : sary, firmly to domestic disputes.” Advice from the police was freely given, including advice about the desirability of consulting other agencies. Mr Perry said the police would gladly refer marriage disputes, and problems in de facto relationships, to social; welfare workers or marriage' counsellors if such services were available 24 hours, and the disputants were agree- ; able. i But many would resent the police bringing in other agen- ■ cies without their express i authority, and would see the < i intrusion of social workers as < an interference with their 1 sense of privacy and human t rights, and blame the police accordingly. . t However, any long-term i family “case” treatment must i be a matter for other agen- s icies, said Mr Perry. These r

l agencies were often involved already, he said. “Domestic intervention squads.” such as established by the New York City Police Department, were not feas- . ible. “Whatever the situation in New York, we must deal with realities as we find them in New Zealand, and as they exist for the New Zealand police.” “Intervention squads” sounded fine, but the concept was not based on ‘ reality, he said. The initial call for help frequently did not provide, nor could be expected to provide, the kind of information needed. “Human problems do not segregate themselves neatly into categories that are domestic or criminal.” Frequently, the police did not know' the true position until they reached the address. The family fight ranged from a family squabble, which was generally nonviolent and generally re-) solved itself, to a psychotic I member of a family holding'

d other members hostage, said Mr Perry. n “The only way is to have d a policeman who is equally e. prepared and trained to deal -'with criminal and noni criminal emergencies. This is 1 what we have in New Zealand.” ,■ Talking about the question I of priorities, he said, the police had a multi-functional ’ role which included protect - -Ung people from potential i violence anywhere and at any 1 time, landlord-tenant dis--1 putes, emotionally disturbed, - the insane, the armed offend--1 er, the suicide, sudden deaths, the family and mart riage disputes, tracing missing persons, search and : rescue operations, as well as • having to deal with the : 300,000 criminal offences rei ported annually. “Society itself determines I priorities and any one of the . various matters referred to ■ could, if concentrated on, appear to require a higher; ; priority than the others,”; J said Mr Perry.