Police officers daily spend a huge number of hours investigating cases of domestic violence.

They have a no-drop policy about such cases where a woman is ruthlessly beaten by her partner.

But, it has been noted that women sometimes change their statements or refuse to co-operate with police when the time comes to punish the perpetrator.

This leads to Police taking a more cautious approach when investigating cases of domestic violence.

So why do women turn back from their words and end up trying to protect their partners who mercilessly beat them?

It is never easy for women to leave a relationship behind them – no matter how violent or emotionally draining it is.

There are some reasons for this:

The fear of the unknown.

Not knowing what awaits the woman once she leaves behind a relationship that she has been in for years.

This only leads women back to the same old beatings and more violence.

So what will it take to keep a battered woman from returning to a violent man?

It takes a strong woman to say enough is enough.

It takes an educated community to make a woman understand that a broken marriage or relationship is not the end of the world.

Women fear broken relationships and marriages if the society makes them feel that it is a failure on their part.

We need to do our part. And, most importantly, every woman who is a victim of domestic violence needs to do her part when lodging a complaint with Police. Women need to stick to the truth, they need to have the courage and get the perpetrator punished for his crimes.

No amount of hoping that it would get better, will make things better. Act now. We have the Domestic Violence Decree to safeguard women.

Police cannot do much with their no drop policy on domestic violence when the victim refuses to co-operate.

Take a stand. No one deserves to be beaten up.

If you’re in a relationship and all you do is cry every day, my sister, you need to stop and ask yourself: Am I with a human or a beast?

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj