Wellington Police Staff Support Local Women's Refuge Appeal Week

Wellington Police have today handed over hundreds of cans and other dried foods to the Wellington Women's Refuge and Te Whare Rokiroki Maori Women's Refuge, following on from their annual appeal last week.

The Wellington Police Family Violence team decided to ask staff in the wider Wellington policing district to donate a can or two, instead of money.

Constable Wendy Bryant says, "Police wanted to help our local Women's Refuge in a practical way, which is clear from the amount of cans, dried foods and toys we collected over the past couple of weeks."

"The work of the Wellington Women's Refuge and Te Whare Rokiroki is invaluable. We wanted to show them we appreciate all they do in keeping our families safe."

Detective Sergeant Penny Gifford, head of the Wellington Family Violence Team says through the Family Violence Interagency process that operates in Wellington and across the country, we have developed a valuable partnership with our local Women's Refuge.

"While there may be areas where we have different views on things, the single most important bond we share is our common goal of wanting to see our women and children free from abuse and to feel safe wherever they are and whoever they are with."

Detective Sergeant Gifford says their involvement with women obtaining support may not always lead to a formal complaint or a prosecution, but together Police and Refuge still do what they can to assist those in need.

Philippa from the Wellington Women's Refuge says the food is much needed for their safe houses. "This food is going to be very much appreciated by our women and children."

Nationally in 2009, Women's Refuge took one crisis call every nine minutes, providing more than 17,000 services to women and close to 13,000 services to children.

Ange from Te Whare Rokiroki Maori Women's Refuge says by working so well together with the Wellington Police Family Violence Team has meant they are in a better position to provide safety to the women and children they help.

Both Ange and Philippa agree that they couldn't do without the help of the Wellington Police Family Violence Team, which has improved relationships between Police and the Refuges, which in turn works well for the women they are supporting.

This year's Women's Refuge Annual Appeal highlighted psychological abuse and the lasting impact this has on the women and children they support.

The Women's Refuge National Crisis Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week - 0800 REFUGE, but in an emergency, phone Police on 111.

ENDS

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