Policing of Domestic Violence in a Locked Community: A Challenge for the South African Policing Services

Proceedings of The 4th World Conference on Research in Social Sciences

Year: 2022

DOI:

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Policing of Domestic Violence in a Locked Community: A Challenge for the South African Policing Services

Mothibi Kholofelo A, Sithuga Ndivho P

ABSTRACT: 

Covid-19 is spreading its tentacles around the world. A deadly virus with a potentially fatal fallout in the form of domestic violence.  Abuse levels have skyrocketed globally, and in South Africa, 2 300 calls were registered to domestic abuse hotlines in the first four days of lockdown. Around the world, as cities have gone into lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, the mass efforts to save lives have put one vulnerable group more at risk. The covid-19 pandemic caught the global economy and the justice system off guard, mainly the South African Police Services. With the country’s pronouncement of the national lockdown to control the spread of the virus, the SAPS and the South African National Defence Force were deployed across the country to ensure compliance with the lockdown rules. The pronouncement suggested policing a locked community that became frustrated by the presence of law enforcement agencies, especially the police. The SAPS had to continue with its mandate, including policing domestic violence. Women and children who live with domestic violence have no escape from their abusers during quarantine. Therefore, this chapter intends to explore police challenges in dealing with domestic violence cases during the lockdown. The trends and patterns of domestic violence in a locked community will be presented. The ramifications of the lockdown on victim empowerment for domestic violence victims will be discussed. Furthermore, the chapter will demonstrate how a frustrated community birth criminality, particularly domestic violence.

keywords: Victim Empowerment, Policing, Frustration, Law Enforcement, Violence.