Porirua Police and Plimmerton Rotary Club are putting the theory of ‘Safer Communities Together’ into practice, tackling family violence in their community.

Porirua Prosecution’s Sergeant Jason May recently returned from a Rotary Group Study Exchange scheme to New York, where he studied domestic violence prosecutions. New York Police have a successful mandatory practice of photographing the scene and victim’s injuries when attending incidents of family violence.

“With evidence that supports the complainant’s statement, especially photographic evidence showing the injuries or damage to the scene, the burden on the complainant to give evidence is significantly reduced,”
says Jason.

From left: Prosecutions Sergeant Jason May, President of The Rotary Club of Plimmerton Bruce Couch and Kapiti Mana Area Commander Inspector John Spence. Bruce presented several digital cameras which may help police attending domestic violence incidents. Photo: NZ Police

“The prosecution is less reliant on the complainant to give evidence and ultimately the complainant is less at risk of being intimidated by a violent partner to recant.”

Jason emphasises this scheme is not to replace the role of the Police Photography Section, but to be used immediately on attending scenes when the Photography Section are not employed. “It is about securing photographic evidence when victims are willing to talk to police. However, all too often the next day they are unwilling and the evidence is gone.”

Jason points to significant gains for police from this system. “Unfortunately currently, only a small percentage of files have supporting evidence. Where there is photographic evidence to support the complainant’s statement, police have a stronger case. Early guilty pleas are entered saving front line staff a great deal of work preparing for fixtures or depositions.

“It is about getting back to basics, investigating early and fully,” he says.

The Rotary Club of Plimmerton have funded a number of digital cameras in support of the new scheme which will be monitored to measure its success.