The number of cases of domestic violence reported so far this year decreased by 50% compared with the corresponding period last year. Marin Maxian, head of the General Public Security Division of the General Police Inspectorate, told a news conference that the amendments to the Law on Domestic Violence Combating that empower the police to issue restraining orders without waiting for a relevant court decision and to this way protect the victims of domestic violence took effect on March 16, IPN reports.
During the first two months of this year, there were reported 136 cases of domestic violence, as opposed to 272 cases in the same period last year. According to Marin Maxian, this was possible owing to the cooperation between the law enforcement bodies and civil society and to the information campaigns carried out by the police.
A questionnaire with 20 questions will help the police officer who deals with a case of domestic violence to determine the gravity level of the offense and to decide what action to take in relation to the aggressor. The court of law will pronounce on the necessity of a restraining order in ten days.
Under the amendments that came into force, the abusers risk a fine of 3,000 to 4,500 lei or 160 to 200 hours of community service or even up to three years in jail for domestic violence.
General Police Inspectorate chief Alexandru Panzari said the police are always trying to promptly react to people’s calls and are anytime ready to cooperate with civil society so as to reduce the crime rate.
Head of the Women’s Law Center Angelina Zaporojan-Pargari made reference to statistics, saying only 8% of the women victims of domestic violence are ready to go to the police. Also, 40% of the men and 20% of the women believe that domestic violence is something normal. Only 20 protective orders were issued in 2010, while in 2014 -2015 the figure rose to about 900.
After the news conference, the head of the Law Center of Causeni and the chief of the General Police Inspectorate signed a cooperation agreement.
