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In 2020, 2,919 persons experiencing domestic violence made use of services available within this area. Of these, 79 percent were females.

When compared to 2019, the number of persons using services for support on domestic violence during 2020 increased by almost 14 per cent, from 2,565 to 2,919.

Cases counted within and across services may involve the same person more than once. In 2020, as in previous years, the main services used by persons experiencing domestic violence were the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) within Aġenzija Appoġġ (2,321 registered cases) and the Police Department (1,820 individual reports).

Cases registered with domestic violence service providers by age group of the registered service user. In 2020, more than half of the total cases registered across all services involved persons aged over 40. The majority, almost 87 percent, were cases involving Maltese nationals.

 Over 90 percent of cases registered during 2020 by the shelters and the DVU were of persons who had experienced psychological violence. Of the cases registered by the Police Department during 2020, slightly more than 60 percent were of persons experiencing psychological violence while almost 38 percent were of persons reporting physical violence.

This news release also covers services targeting perpetrators of domestic violence. Data for 2020 includes the ‘Stop!’ programme by Aġenzija Appoġġ and services provided by the Department of Probation and Parole. The ‘Stop!’ programme registered 107 cases dealing with perpetrators of domestic violence while the Department of Probation and Parole registered 57 cases. As is the case for services offered to persons experiencing domestic violence, cases reported by perpetrator service providers may include persons counted more than once. For both service providers the absolute majority of cases involved male perpetrators, with only eight cases involving female perpetrators. The majority of perpetrators were aged between 30 and 49. When looking at the unique number of persons using services targeting perpetrators, 2020 saw a total of 153 individuals using one or more service, with 145 males and eight females.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NSO

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