The lead-up to Christmas is the busiest time of the year for family violence services, with Women’s Health West (WHW) receiving the same number of police referrals in December as it did for the entire year in 2006-07.
WHW received 657 police referrals for the western metropolitan area in December last year and 715 in November.
According to WHW 24-hour crisis response co-ordinator Louisa, the service received 708 police referrals for the entire 2006-7 year.
“It’s positive in that people are reporting it more. It’s becoming everyone’s business instead of staying hushed up,” she said.
“The festive season is a time when families can be quite stressed financially and emotionally.
“While alcohol or drugs don’t help, they’re not the cause. It’s ultimately about power and control.”
Council of Single Mothers and Their Children spokeswoman Kerry Davies said Christmas could be troubling for single parents.
“For parents who are separated and share custody of children, it can lead to much contention over who has them and when,” she said. “Domestic violence doesn’t always end when people separate.”
Ms Davies said although stress was often a factor, it was no excuse.
“People who are stressed and deal with it by being violent at home know the difference,” she said.
“They don’t go to work and do it to their boss.”
