Policing the home

In yesterday's STAR, we were yet again told of an apparently minor incident between lovers, which has ended up with them before the courts.

This time it was a kettle - or, rather, the use of a kettle - which was at the root of the fracas.

The lady who was hit claims that her gentleman elbowed her in the forehead because he claimedshe has been using the kettle in the bathroom. The gentleman, who pleaded guilty, said he accidentally hit her as they tussled over the kettle when he wanted to make some tea.

And the arguments continue.

Unfortunately, as minor as the circumstances surrounding domestic issues like these are, they often build up and escalate into tragedies.

Detrimental effect

And, even when they do not, the early exposure to violence between adults in the home is certain to have a long-lasting, detrimental effect on the children in homes where situations like this exist.

Beyond the control of the state

So, when we are critical of the government and the police force about the level of violence in the country, we must be aware that a significant part of it is well beyond the control of the state. And seeing that the police are called in only when the situation has deteriorated so much that it is almost beyond recall, it is citizens who must be vigilant in their communities.

For while, in this case, it was an elbow meeting a forehead, in others, there is the standard "a knife was brought into play ...", with fatal consequences.

It is not a matter of watching one's neighbour, but watching out for the community.