Last year there were nearly 12,000 incidents of domestic abuse on Teesside :: Crime Reporter Sophie Barley went out on patrol with officers to learn more about the crime
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It's Friday night and Sergeant Phil Morris and PC Rachel Hunter are starting their shift where they will be responding to domestic abuse calls.
It is a crime which covers a range of different levels of incidents and takes up a large majority of police call-out time.
PC Hunter said: “It comes in all different forms.
“On a Friday night we tend to see a lot of incidents come in later on, once people have come in from the pub and arguments have started.
“When we go out on patrol for these incidents there is always two of you.
“That way, if there is an altercation we can separate them and each talk to one of them.
“If you are on your own it would be a lot harder.”
Amy Turner from My Sister’s Place, a charity which supports female victims of domestic abuse, also came out on patrol.
One call-out the officers responded to was a woman who reported that her ex-partner had been parked outside her house all evening - something she claims he was doing up to three times a week.
She said that their relationship ended when he became aggressive towards her before Christmas and police had to be called.
Sgt Morris and PC Hunter attended and took a statement from the distressed woman.
PC Hunter told the Gazette: “This is something we would record as a domestic violence incident, it wouldn’t be a ‘priority zero’ call-out, which is the most serious.
“I have filled out a domestic abuse investigation report in which she answered questions about her relationship with her former partner, how he treated her and whether there was any violence.”
The officers then visited the home of the woman’s former partner. He denied parking outside the woman’s house that evening but admitted doing it on previous occasions.
The officers issued him with a harassment warning. The warning means that the man could not communicate with or see the complainant. If he was to continue to visit her home, he would be liable to arrest and prosecution.
Following this call-out the officers were given a “priority zero” call-out - which warrants an emergency response.
They are told that a woman’s former partner is banging on her door and threatening her.
He has a non-molestation order against him which should prevent him from visiting her.
Officers race to the scene and when they arrive the man is arrested.
The victim, who has a young child, was in a distressed state and officers took a statement from her.
The woman’s former partner was taken into custody and was due to be interviewed by officers.
Miss Turner told the Gazette that victims of domestic abuse come from all different walks of life and some find it harder than others to come forward and seek help.
She said: “We see a mixture of ages also.
“There are a lot more younger women - aged 16 to 25 who are coming to us now. A lot of women don’t have the confidence to come for help, or are too scared to. Domestic violence comes in a manner of different forms - from controlling behaviour to violence.
“Once a victim of abuse makes contact with us, we will then make sure we keep in contact with them.
“Once they have gained the courage to come forward we will support and help them.
“This can mean by supporting them through any court hearings.
“We go through the whole process with the victims.”
Another call-out the officers responded to was to a woman who had received threats from one of her boyfriend’s relatives through Facebook and texts.
The call-out was not recorded as domestic abuse but the person the victim was complaining about was given a verbal warning.
PC Hunter said: “Facebook is a nightmare for us. In this situation the complainant had put a status on Facebook which provoked a reaction.
“My advice in these situations is always to just remove yourself from Facebook but sadly people don’t really take that advice. It is sometimes how it starts.
“We see a lot of threats made through it.”
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