13 Oct 2009

Tonga police chief encourages reporting of domestic violence

7:48 am on 13 October 2009

The Tonga police commander, Chris Kelley, says his officers are working to make it easier for people to report domestic violence incidents.

He told a workshop on domestic violence last week that there are low levels of reporting in Tonga and he wants this to change.

Commander Kelley says police have a No Drop policy - meaning allegations of domestic violence will, without exception, be followed through.

He says this has required a change in attitude within the force and he concedes there is still work to do in this regard.

"I think we have got officers, who probably in the past, have not pursued it in the way they should have and now are faced with a change in our approach. Like all things sometimes change is difficult to come to terms with, but they have to do that and we are putting in place training programmes and support from the New Zealand group, Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme, to actually assist with that. So yes I think it's working, but it's hard work."