IN support of White Ribbon Day (November 25), ACT police will be running stalls in five major shopping centres around Canberra to raise money and awareness for family violence.  

Deputy chief police officer, commander Mark Walters says it is disheartening for police to see so many people hurting their loved ones.

In the past year, ACT police have witnessed more than 1000 family violence related charges including one charge for murder, one charge for attempted murder, 46 threats to kill and more than 50 charges in relation to choking, suffocating or strangling a person.

Walters says: “Family violence, however, is not only physical and includes emotional, psychological and financial abuse.

“Police are seeking assistance from the whole Canberra community to put a stop to these disappointing figures. For those who believe family violence is a private matter – it is not.  We want the whole community to join us in not accepting family violence.”

The White Ribbon Day stalls will be at the Canberra Centre, Westfield Belconnen and Woden, Gungahlin Marketplace and Tuggeranong Hyperdome, as well as Gungahlin, Belconnen, Fyshwick and Tuggeranong Bunnings stores.

The “Uniforms Unite Against Family Violence” stalls will also be held tomorrow, Saturday, November 19 between 10am–2pm.