Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviour on the rise in our communities, says Inspector Sipiliano Tapueluelu, the newly-appointed manager of the Tonga Police Domestic Violence Unit.

Inspector Tapueluelu said the behaviour is where an adult in the home tries to maintain control of another using physical, verbal, or emotional force, threats, or intimidation, isolation from family and friends, humiliation, financial control, destruction of property and more tactics. 

“Children exposed to domestic violence learn to believe that domestic violence is normal, and they themselves often grow up to be abusers or victims,” he said.

“The DVU is committed to seriously addressing domestic violence because it has in the past led to death. We know the negative effects domestic violence has on the victim, the perpetrator, the children, the family, and our community, and we want to decrease its recurrence before the worst happens.”

Insp. Tapueluelu, who has 30-years of experience in policing was appointed to his new role on 13 September by the Tonga Police Employment Committee.

His policing career began in the Traffic Department and he was deployed to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands in 2004, the Police Mobile Unit, and has been providing prosecution services at the Magistrate's Court.

“I look forward to working together with our relevant stakeholders and NGO partners on how we can best provide this essential service for our communities,” he said.

“Tonga Police encourages the public to contact the Domestic Violence Unit on 7401647 or 922 for domestic violence criminal activities.”