NO MORE violence this festive season

THE greatest gift we can give this year to each other is a festive season free from family violence, says NO MORE founder Charlie King

Members of the public, police force and football club members link arms to fight against domestic violence. PICTURE: Ivan Rachman

THE greatest gift we can give each other this year is a festive season free from family violence, says NO MORE founder Charlie King

Yesterday, about 40 people linked arms in Darwin’s Smith Street Mall, united against domestic and family violence.

Mr King wanted Territorians to make a strong stand against family violence this festive season.

“Half a million (people) get abused in Australia — half a million men, women and children,” he said.

“This is not the Australia we want, and this is certainly not the Territory we want.

“You can be part of the solution if you do something but you’re only the problem if you do nothing.”

NT Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said this festive season, the NT Police wanted to see zero incidents of domestic and family violence.

“Last Christmas, if we count Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, sadly in the Northern Territory, there were 255 domestic violence incidences that our Northern Territory police responded to,” he said.

In September, Commissioner Kershaw revealed officers had responded to 75,000 cases in the past three years,

He said linking arms yesterday was a “powerful symbol” for the whole of the Territory.

He said at Christmas time, alcohol was a factor in incidences of domestic and family violence. “More than 50 per cent, close to 60 per cent of our domestic violence incidents alcohol was involved,” he said.

“If you’re going to drink alcohol be responsible when you do — and look after each other, have a safe and happy time.”

NT Children’s Commissioner Colleen Gwynne said children were the “silent victims” of family and domestic violence.

“They can’t make a decision to get out of this — they are stuck there,” she said.

“I know what it’s like, I was stuck there as a child. “

“It’s the most disgusting, disgraceful crime ... it can be fixed by us, every one of us to call this out for what it is and do something.

She said the trauma that kids experienced had to stop.

“We cannot stop the flow of kids into our child protection system and in youth justice unless the community stand up and say, ‘we’ve had enough of this’,” she said.

“There’s no process, there’s no department, there’s no government that can do this but we as a community can.”