671 individuals underwent at least one risk assessment in 2024, down from 1,104 in 2023
A total of 671 individuals underwent at least one risk assessment in 2024, down from 1,104 in 2023, Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon said.The overwhelming majority of individuals were female (528 risk assessments) while 143 were male. The majori
A total of 671 individuals underwent at least one risk assessment in 2024, down from 1,104 in 2023, Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon said.
The overwhelming majority of individuals were female (528 risk assessments) while 143 were male. The majority of the individuals who received a risk assessment were aged 35 to 39 years (118 individuals).
Falzon was replying to a parliamentary question made by PN MP Graziella Attard Previ, asking the Minister to say how many victims of domestic violence have received a risk assessment in 2023 and 2024. She also asked the Minister to state the gender, age and locality of these victims.
In his reply, Falzon quoted report statistics by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), which are published on their website, with figures classifying age and gender of the service user in the reporting year.
In 2023, 838 individuals who received a risk assessment were female, and 265 were male, amounting to a total of 1,104 risk assessments conducted. The majority of individuals who received a risk assessment were aged 35 to 39 years (189 individuals).
Moreover, 165 individuals were aged between 30 and 34, and 163 individuals were over 60 years of age, or older, Falzon said.
In 2024, 103 individuals who underwent a risk assessment were aged between 40 and 44, and 91 individuals were aged between 30 and 34. 81 individuals were of 60 years of age, or older.
The Minister also provided details of the district of residence as reported by the service user within the reporting year. In 2024, the majority of risk assessments conducted were for individuals in the Northern Harbour District (187 individuals), followed by 150 individuals in the Southern Harbour District.
Falzon said that 129 individuals resided in the South Eatern District, and 120 reside in the Northern District.
Attard Previ also asked the Minister to state how many victims of domestic violence refused to complete a risk assessment in 2023 and 2024, to which he said that the FSWS only collects statistical information on individuals who make use of its services.
"Therefore, the information requested cannot be provided, as, by definition, these individuals refused the service, and no information about them is collected or stored in the FSWS Case Management System," Falzon said.
He was also asked to provide a list of reasons given by domestic violence victims for refusing to complete a risk assessment in 2023 and 2024.
Falzon said that among the reasons, many victims do not feel the need to do it, as they do not consider themselves to be at risk.
Another reason was that the individuals were in a hurry to pick up their children and return home, Falzon said.
Another reason for refusal is that the individuals felt tired, and the timing was not suitable, so the risk assessment was postponed to another day or time.
He said that yet another reason given for refusing a risk assessment is that a previous assessment was conducted for similar situations, so the individuals did not feel it is necessary to repeat it.
Falzon said that some individual visit the Gender-Based Domestic Violence Unit (GBDV Hub) only to provide updates to the police regarding previous reports.
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