Ms Rita Harling:

The Do or Die Foundation has an interest in how other countries deal with cases of domestic violence. I have referred already to the pilot scheme of Claire's Law, which operates in the UK. The Do or Die Foundation has also looked to what applies in Manhattan for other answers. My colleague, Ms Priscilla Grainger was invited to visit the Family Justice Centre in Manhattan. She was met by the chief commissioner of domestic violence, Ms Kathleen O'Reilly. Since her appointment as commissioner, there has been a decrease of 40% in the incidence of domestic violence in Manhattan. In the case of the murder of females by past or present intimate partners, the Manhattan area has a specific police unit that deals only with domestic violence cases. They are very proactive in this area and keep close involvement with victims of domestic violence with follow up home visits, which act as a deterrent. In the US, if the police force receive a call for help from a victim of domestic violence, the officers immediately make an arrest after assessing the situation without intervention or contribution of evidence by the victim.