Police To Provide Nicolette Ghirxi’s Written Refusal Of Risk Assessment To Complaints Board
The Malta Police Force “categorically denied” giving inaccurate information at a press conference following the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi specifically regarding a refused risk assessment in a statement issued yesterday evening in response to allegations made by the Opposition Party.
The police assured that they will provide all necessary documents to the Independent Police Complaints Board led by retired Judge Geoffrey Valenzia, including the assessment refusal which was reported by the risk assessors from Aġenzija Appoġġ on 22nd April of this year.
The statement continued to say that the Victim Support Unit also tried to contact Ghirxi the following day even though she declined the services on offer, as per standard procedure.
“While we cannot comment further, the Foundation for Social Welfare (FSWS) also categorically denies these allegations,” the statement reads.
Earlier this week, Nationalist MPs accused the Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà of giving false information and unintentionally blaming the victim for denying a risk assessment.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times of Malta alleged that Ghirxi had initially agreed to a risk assessment for domestic violence but was then talked out of it by officials who said she’d score low.
The newspaper got this information from a friend of Ghirxi who accompanied her to the police station to file a report and left after the victim agreed to take a risk assessment and was informed she’d have to do it alone.
A voice note sent by Ghirxi and heard by the Times of Malta further described how she was talked out of the assessment because it would be ineffective since the messages she received from her ex-partner contained insults rather than threats.
In yesterday’s statement, the police said that it has been prioritising cases of domestic violence in recent years with the establishment of the Gender-Based and Domestic Violence Unit ensuring a more professional and empathetic service.
This has led to a drastic increase in the number of people who are coming forward and reporting cases of domestic abuse, the police said.
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