White balloons released for violence victims

The International Day for the Elimination of Domestic Violence, which took place on Sunday November 25, is traditionally marked by wearing a white ribbon.

This year Rother District Council has asked staff, councillors and partner organisations, as well as the public, to sign up to a pledge which has been signed across the world informing others that domestic violence will not be tolerated.

The pledge states: ‘I swear never to condone, commit or remain silent about domestic violence.’

Domestic Violence is an issue that affects adults and families across Rother.

In the last 12 months (to the end September 2011) 748 domestic abuse incidents in Rother were reported to Sussex Police.

Members of Rother District Council, in conjunction with the Safer Rother Partnership, simultaneously released 76 balloons at locations across the district on Wednesday afternoon.

Each balloon released represents every 10 incidents of domestic violence reported to the police across Rother in the last 12 months.

43 balloons were released at Devonshire Square in Bexhill (427 incidents), 14 at Battle Fire Station (136 incidents in Battle policing area) and 19 were released at the Gun Gardens in Rye (185 incidents in the Rye policing area).