There are so many cases of domestic violence that never end up going to court because the victim in these cases end up withdrawing charges because of family and village pressure.

That is why the No Drop Policy undertaken by the Samoa Police Service is something that will ensure that all offenders are taken to task and made answerable to the law.

The Samoan Police have undertaken this policy to reduce the number of violence cases in our homes. We have said it before, there is violence in homes in Samoa, if you do not believe that, then just look at the growing number of children at the Campus of Hope.

These are the victims of physical and sexual violence in Samoan homes.

There are so many cases where young women and children are subjected to physical and sexual violence in their own homes. The perpetrators are husbands, fathers, uncles, grandfathers and cousins. Most times the matter is initially reported to the police but because there is family pressure the case is withdrawn.

Because the perpetrator in this case is related, goes free not bearing the brunt of the law. The culprits hide behind culture and tradition and the victims never get justice. In most cases the cycle of violence never ceases.

Perhaps the No Drop Policy will see this cycle of violence in our homes actually come to a stop. What this means is that once police get involved in a domestic violence case, either physical or sexual, no matter how many times the complainant asks to withdraw, it will not happen.

This will lead to people being charged. Initially, this will lead to a surge in the number of cases that would be presented before the courts because under this policy, most perpetrators would definitely be charged.

This may also lead to more children being placed at the Campus of Hope but this is for their safety.

We are hoping that perpetrators of sexual offences are unable to wriggle out of this one because they are family members and traditional apologies are being offered while police investigation is in progress.

However, for this policy to work, there needs to be a change in mindset of the police officers themselves. The police officers have to realise that law supersedes cultural and traditional affairs of the community, while due respect being given.

Police officers have to do their work and not mistake themselves to be judges and get picky on which cases should adhere to the policy and which should be dropped. The police administration has to ensure that the message is relayed to all officers on what the No Drop Policy is.

The No Drop Policy is not something new for the Pacific. It started in Australia and New Zealand and then in 2005, it was adopted by Fiji.

The policy is designed to act as a deterrent. In Fiji, when the policy was first introduced, the start was great but then it faded away.

A watchdog like yours truly will definitely be keeping the police in check in regards to the policy but the internal systems must be in place to ensure that this works. Otherwise this becomes a redundant policy just to tick some boxes and for Samoa to stand at some high level meeting and say ‘We have a No Drop Policy’ on domestic violence.

It was very unfair before when women or children were assaulted by their husbands and fathers and the police had no choice but to bail them after questioning.

And police do anything if the suspect goes back home and assaults the victim again. Hopefully, the policy would allow the police to issue interim Domestic Violence Restraining Orders before the court can give a proper one.

The nation’s legislators also have a duty here in ensuring that the No Drop Policy becomes part of the law. Women and children are the most vulnerable in our society and they need to be protected.

Hopefully, the police utilise this policy and ensure its intentions are fulfilled. There is no place for violence in Samoan homes.