Police drills faith leaders in domestic violence

Police at Soche in Blantyre have drilled faith leaders around Soche and Chilobwe policing areas on how to deal with issues of domestic and gender based violence.

Speaking when she opened the training, Senior Superintendent Caroline Jere, Station Officer for Soche Police Sub – Station said her office appreciates the contributions made by the faith community and other stakeholders in reducing crime and Gender Based Violence in the Policing area through community policing.

Jere said it is because of this that her office thought of training these leaders to equip them with crime prevention skills and ways of handling Domestic as well as Gender Based Violence cases in order to improve and address security concerns.

“The training drew together faith leaders from Muslim and Christian communities including victim support unit officers in these two police facilities. Participants were drilled in; Domestic and Gender Based Violence, Case Handling, Conselling Skills, elements of crime and principles of crime reduction,” explained Jere.

She added that her office understands that Police alone cannot manage to satisfy the security needs of everyone.

Jere added that “when communities take part in security issues, there is likelihood that security in such areas will be enhanced.”

Speaking on behalf of the faith leaders, Father George Kaliati thanked the Police for considering the Faith Community leaders to take part in security issues.

He said faith leaders will continue working hand in hand with the Police.

“I appeal to police to arrange as many trainings as possible for the faith leaders to ease the police workload in addressing issues of domestic and gender based violence,” Kaliati pleaded

Taking his turn, Chairperson for Soche Victim support Sub- Committee, Mr. Charles Gobola thanked the Police for the initiative saying the faith community will take a leading role in solving family issues and assist their communities to have peaceful families free from domestic violence.

He said many families have been divorced because people who were handling their issues did not have the required skills on how to handle them.