Police Respond to 243 Domestic Violence Cases during COVID-19 Crisis

Luxembourg's Minister of Equality between Women and Men, Taina Bofferding, took stock earlier today of recent developments and support measures for victims of domestic violence. 

In response to an increase in police force interventions and expulsion orders from the public prosecutor's office regarding domestic violence last year, Minister Taina Bofferding has called for continuing and deepening the assistance and support measures currently deployed.

During today's press conference, Minister Taina Bofferding thus detailed the different mechanisms of the Ministry for Equality between Women and Men and partner organisations to stem domestic violence, help victims and support perpetrators.

“The upward trend must be followed and observed constantly. Luxembourg has efficient legislation and an efficient institutional framework with the Cooperation Committee between professionals in the field of combating violence as a supervisory body. The network of reception structures and consultation services provides essential psychosocial support for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence", noted the Equality Minister.

Regarding the figures listed in 2019, the Grand Ducal Police carried out a total of 849 interventions, which represents an increase of 14.88% compared to 2018 (739), whilst the number of expulsions authorized by the prosecution was 265 (231 in 2018). On average, the police intervened 71 times and carried out 22 evictions per month. 63.58% of the victims were female (66.1% in 2018) while 36.42 were male (33.9% in 2018); 195 victims were minors.

"The report for the year 2019 shows us that victims of domestic violence are more [willing] to seek help, which is very important. Domestic violence is not a private matter”, said Minister Taina Bofferding.

In its report, the Committee in charge of domestic violence affairs also made recommendations and reflections, particularly for the tracing of police and judicial history committed by a perpetrator in order to better protect the victims, the professionalisation of statistics thanks to the new “Equality Observatory” and an in-depth analysis of the measures taken in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

Indeed, Luxembourg's Equality Minister highlighted the various collaborations with the police and judicial institutions and the support services within the framework of the law on domestic violence. This cooperation was strengthened during the coronavirus crisis.

From the start of the pandemic, a crisis management system was put in place to avoid a substantial increase in domestic violence. The system notably provided for weekly monitoring of the evolution of domestic violence, the development of the violence.lu information site (with FAQ in Luxembourgish, Portuguese, French and English), the establishment of a helpline (in the form of a pilot project) managed by social managers contracted with the ministry and the maintenance of expulsion arrangements and the care of perpetrators.

Evictions and police interventions during the acute phase of the COVID-19 crisis have so far shown no substantial increase compared to the monthly figures noted in previous years (91 police interventions in March, 73 in April and 79 in May 2020). Minister Taina Bofferding recalled that close collaboration between the partners, the development of the new observatory, awareness-raising work, assistance and support work as well as overall vigilance thus remain a factor in the face of domestic violence.