Persons who make domestic abuse complaints only to later withdraw those complaints will now have to explain the reasoning for the withdrawal to a magistrate.
Assistant Commissioner Hulan Hanna said, “Traditionally it has been common for persons to make complaint and initially say they want action. However, once the complaint is taken it won’t be long before they say they want to withdraw the matter.”
“In the past we have obliged, because generally it was felt whatever their situation was, they were probably coerced into withdrawing the matter.
“However, going forward, we will no longer be offering that consideration and persons will have to withdraw before the courts. We will not insert ourselves in this process.”
