In the first half of 2022, the police issued 7,100 entry and approach bans in Austria. “Domestic violence is just as unbearable as violence in public spaces,” the interior ministry said. The executive branch now has more than 960 prevention officers who are specially trained to protect against violence.
For now, the number is slightly above the 2021 level, in which 13,686 entry bans were issued throughout the year. In the first half of the year, 5,900 at-risk persons were referred to the violence prevention clinic and a temporary weapons ban was automatically issued per entry and approach ban, as provided for by law since 1 January. According to the ministry, more entry bans do not necessarily mean an increase in violence in the private sphere, but rather a greater willingness to report.
‘It also takes civic courage’
“Women who are victims of violence should be encouraged to call the police to break this cycle of violence. But it also takes civic courage and the conscious observation of family members and neighbors when violence occurs in the private sphere. In the future, therefore, the focus will be even more on raising the awareness of society as a whole against violence in private life,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP).
In addition, 85 security police business conferences were held in the first half of the year, at which representatives of all relevant institutions and authorities analyzed current high-risk cases in the field of victim protection and coordinated appropriate measures. This number has risen sharply: in all of 2021 there were only 57 such conferences.
Fighting domestic violence
Because private violence usually takes place behind closed doors, this makes this crime area particularly challenging for law enforcement. As in other countries, it has long been established in Austria that a security or investigative approach alone cannot solve such a complex criminal-sociological problem. Therefore, there is close cooperation between various state and non-state organizations. “Violence within your own four walls is not a private matter. Rather, it is our job as a whole to combat domestic violence. Every woman should know that there is a way out of the spiral of violence. Anyone who is violent should go,” emphasized Women’s Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP).
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
