DOVVSU records an increase of 423 cases in 2008

The crime rate in Accra increased 9.4 percent over last year with women leading the way as victims of domestic violence, according to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU).DOVVSU handled a total of 4,904 cases in 2008, compared to 4,481 cases in 2007, an increase of 423.Assault cases overwhelmingly dominated the complaints with 2,122 cases reported at the end of December 2008. It also ranked high in 2007 with 2,172 cases. Inspector Irene Oppong, public affairs officer at DOVSSU, told Public Agenda that the unit continues to receive long lists of complaints, particularly assault cases due to the reluctance of people to change their attitude. “Some people feel that no matter what they do they will only be reported to DOVVSU and perhaps jailed for some few years,” she said.
Inspector Oppong, however, admitted that some people are beginning to know their rights due to the extensive public education the unit embarks on. “Sometimes people come for medical forms but fail to return them and would rather settle the issue at home. Apparently, they are unaware that settling defilement and other serious domestic cases at home is a crime, for which parties involved could be charged for abetment.”
Threat received the second highest number of reports last year with 600 cases. According to Inspector Oppong, some men feel that once the violent act has not been carried out it does not amount to crime. Cases of defilement came third with 552 complaints lodged at DOVVSU. Defilement involves cases of mainly adults having sexual intercourse under duress with minors or children below the age of 18. Offensive conduct was the fourth highest to be recorded with 359 cases.
Inspector Oppong said that when there is separation and the women go for money for the upkeep of the children and the men refuse to give them the money, the women resort to raining insults on the men. She appealed to women to desist from such acts and, instead, report the matter to the Social Welfare Department located on the premises of DOVVSU. The unit received 268 cases of stealing for the period under review. Rape cases recorded were 161. Abduction, which involves keeping a minor and having sex with her, stood at 146. A total of 107 cases of parents and guardians who failed to supply basic necessities of health and life were recorded. Some 87 cases of exposing children to harm were recorded. DOVVSU also reported 120 cases of causing unlawful damage, 59 cases of indecent assault, 10 cases of child trafficking, 15 of incest, 19 of criminal abortion, 21 of attempted abortion, 24 of attempted rape, 10 abandonment of child, 12 child stealing and 11 of unnatural carnal knowledge, including three of carnal knowledge of a mentally ill female. Lastly, there were three reports of kidnapping.Inspector Oppong called on all and sundry to be involved in the fight for better human rights.