Reported domestic violence have risen 50% in the past three years, according to Portugal’s Attorney General who described the figure as overwhelming.
Much of the rise can be put down to more women coming forward to lodge complaints with Joana Marquês Vidal (pictured below) saying that there had been an increase in cases reported and a greater trust from women in the police response.
The Attorney General addressed a conference in Oporto, saying there had been 29 women murdered by their partners last year, down on the running average since 2004 of 36 victims each year who died as a result of domestic violence.
Oporto has the highest incidence of domestic violence, followed by parts of Lisbon, then Braga, Loures, Lourinhã, Torres Branca, Vila Franca de Xira and Aveiro.
Marquês Vidal said there were four areas that needed improving to combat violence in the home, better risk evaluation, swifter response times, the gathering and reporting of usable evidence and better cooperation between the various institutions involved.
"We are all responsible. Domestic violence is a question of citizenship and involves the whole community," said the Attorney General.
