Crime over Christmas

So this is the slightly odd few days between Christams and New Year. I gather from the press that 18 million people in the country went shopping in the sales. So much for the credit crunch. Well if all that shopping helps business and therefore jobs in Southampton then that's good. Sadly for too many people it wasnt shopping they couldn't resist. They couldn't get through Christmas without getting involved in violence, normally drink related and often committed against partners or family members. There seems to be much greater risk from people who are known to each other than from what many people might fear ie stranger attacks on the streets which in fact are very rare. We've known for decades (its been the same since I was a PC in the City 25 years ago) that a few days together over Christmas may be all it takes for family arguments to break out. But it's not about Christmas, it's about the continuing attitudes and behaviour, usually of a violent man towards a woman, which sometimes comes to the surface at Christmas (and after a few drinks). What sort of a Christmas present to a partner is a black eye and bruised ribs. What about the kids who witness this? I don't think another PS game or new mobile in the sales is any type of repair to the harm caused. So there's more for police and others to do in 2010 to try and protect vulnerable people and target those who commit these crimes. But enough of being bleak, it's almost a new, and hopefully more peaceful, year.