Pacific / Samoa

Reports of domestic violence drop in Samoa

15:10 pm on 22 July 2019

There has been a significant drop in the number of domestic violence cases reported in Samoa during the 2017-18 financial year, a report by the Ministry of Police says.

Samoan police headquarters in Apia Photo: RNZI/Sally Round

According to the Samoa Observer, the report noted 212 calls related to domestic violence were received by police during the period, a 32 percent reduction on the previous year.

The reduction comes as police in Samoa continue to raise awareness about domestic violence though public awareness campaigns and social media posts.

The report said a total of 4760 crimes were reported and attended to by the police on Upolu island during the period, and 800 on Savai'i.

The ministry also completed 96 investigations into complaints about police conduct during the 2017-18 financial year, when "a slight increase" in the number of complaints internally and from the public and were received.