Sekondi June.14-GNA-Domestic violence cases have been on the increase for the past three years in the Western Region. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in-charge of the Regional Domestic Violence Support Unit (DOVVSU), Cecilia Arko, disclosed at a press briefing at Sekondi on Friday. She said her office recorded 1,013 cases in 2006 and this rose to 1,626 cases in 2007 adding, 832 cases have been registered from January to June this year

ASP Arko said although few cases were recorded in January this year because of the CAN 2008, there is the probability that this year's figure could exceed last year's. Cases recorded included rape, defilement, attempted rape, attempted defilement, criminal abortion, attempted abortion, incest, assault, abduction, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct and failing to provide accessories of health and life, she said ASP Arko said others were carnal knowledge of a mentally handicapped Female, abandonment of infant, compulsion of marriage, child stealing, causing or encouraging the seduction or prostitution of a child under 16 and indecent assault.

She said the most common cases were defilement, assault and failing to provide the necessaries of health and life. ASP Arko said more men physically abused their partners than women, Adding that in the first quarter of 2006, 128 men assaulted their female partners as against 16 women who physically abused their male partners. She said in the first quarter of 2007, 158 men physically abused their female partners as against 10 women, who physically abused their male partners. ASP Arko said in the first quarter of this year, 101 men physically abused their female partners while three women physically abused their male partners. She said sexual offences should be reported to the Police and not settled at home. ASP Arko urged the press to highlight domestic violence cases to reduce their incidence to the minimum. Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, the Regional Police Commander, was present.