A joint effort against domestic violence

Haraldur L. Haraldsson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, Ármann Kr. Ólafsson, Mayor of Kópavogur, Gunnar Einarsson, Mayor of Garðabær,  and Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, the Police Commissioner for the Capital Region, today signed a declaration of cooperation on a campaign against domestic violence.

 The statement means that from Monday, 18 May, local authority social services and the police will adopt new procedures to ensure more targeted responses and resources to tackle domestic violence.

The aim of the campaign is to send a clear message that domestic violence will not be tolerated. In this way, the police and local authority social services work together to assist families in a targeted manner, ensure the safety of children and provide them with support and guidance. Services for victims of domestic violence are greatly improved, cases are investigated more thoroughly, and information on resources and follow-up support for victims is increased. Perpetrators, meanwhile, receive assistance in the form of counselling and are offered treatment.

The municipalities of Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður and Garðabær have had a joint child protection on-call service since January 2014. The on-call service will handle all calls concerning domestic violence, both in families with children and in childless families.  The police request the involvement of staff. During office hours, social services staff handle calls. Follow-up with the police is handled on a case-by-case basis by each municipality, as is other work with the families.

Reykjavík and Mosfellsbær have both signed a similar declaration on a campaign against domestic violence.