With the pressure of Christmas becoming too much for some, Hamilton Police are finding they are being called to attend far too many domestic violence incidents, most of them alcohol related.
Overnight Police attended six incidents including one in Pine Ave where a fight broke out among intoxicated relatives in which one person was left with a suspected broken jaw and another on Mardon Rd in which a man was beaten by a relative.
The 29-year-old man suffered cuts to the mouth and bruising to his head and face after a 49-year-old male relative allegedly attacked him in a bedroom in front of his son and then twice again while the man was on the phone.
Hamilton Family Safety Team Supervisor, Sergeant Alan McGlade, said last night's incidents were of concern given that it was only Wednesday night and the weekend was still to come.
"Weekends are particularly busy for our Police, Women's Refuge and other staff who deal with family violence and this time is busier than ever given the break up of schools and pressure related to Christmas.
"Between 01 January and Tuesday Waikato Police attended 3987 domestic incidents, 2258 in Hamilton, 1240 in the Western Waikato and 489 in Eastern. In July a valuable new tool for dealing with domestic violence incidents, Police Safety Orders, but tools or options like these are only valuable if a victim seeks help and lets somebody know what's going on."
With mounting stress from financial pressures coupled with families often being piled on top of one another over the holidays Mr McGlade said one of the simplest solutions was to take time out.
Help is available from a variety of different agencies but Waikato Police say taking some simple tips could help people through the holiday period.
• Watch your spending, over spending often leads to pressure when the bills mount up.
• Don't spend more on Christmas than you can afford. Christmas can be about spending time together as a family, not about buying expensive presents.
• Set aside money to cover bills in January and February.
• Set a budget and stick to it- a key factor in making it through the summer.
• Ease up on the drink, alcohol is a major contributing factor to violence, pace yourself and don't blow your cool and look like a fool.
• Don't drink and drive. Arrange for transport home prior to going out or appoint a sober driver.
• Take time out, sometimes, with all the family in each others hair it's necessary to take a breather.
• Don't spend all your time on top of one another- plan activities that give you breathing space and identify areas or issues likely to cause pressure.
• Seek advice- various agencies offer assistance on relationships, budgeting and managing stress, take advantage of them.
• If you share custody of children, come to an agreement before Christmas so that children get to spend time with each of you.
Mr McGlade said it was important to realise problems can be resolved without arguments.
"Taking time takes the sting out of things that become heated or stressful, if you find yourself in a pressure situation go somewhere for a few hours to let things calm down and if you're feeling afraid or overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust.
"Most importantly, if you have any fears for your own or your children's safety, contact the Police by dailing 111 immediately."
Agencies phone numbers Waikato
24 hr Police Emergency 111
Women's Refuge Hamilton (07) 8551569
Womens Refuge Thames (07) 8683132
Womens Refuge Waitomo (07) 8785081
Womens Refuge Tauranga (07) 5411911
24 hr Victim Support 0800 842 846
24 hr Life Line – Waikato (07) 8380719
24 hr Youth Line 0800 376 6333
24 hr Crisis Team (Mental Health) 0800 505050
Family Violence. It’s Not OK (9am-11pm) 0800 456 450
Or visit: www.areyouok.org.nz
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