Between January and June 2024, there was a 32.6% increase in the number of people who completed a risk assessment at one of Aġenzija Appoġġ’s hubs for gender-based violence and domestic violence, under the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS).

FSWS statistics reveal that, in 2023, Aġenzija Appoġġ handled 1,317 risk assessment cases involving 1,104 individuals, amounting to 1,592.39 hours of interventions. By mid-year (January to June 2023), there were 562 cases involving 506 people, resulting in nearly 664 hours of interventions.

During the first half of 2024, the support provided included 770 risk assessment cases involving 671 people, totalling 1,004.51 hours of interventions.

In an official statement, FSWS explained that the process and assistance provided during the risk assessment are outlined in Article 540A of the Criminal Code of Malta, which governs the support offered to victims of domestic violence. In Malta, victims of domestic violence can go to Police Headquarters, the Gender-Based and Domestic Violence (GBDV) section in Floriana, or the GBDV Hub in Santa Luċija. The police, in the presence of risk assessors, explain the procedures for reporting incidents and work together to prevent further trauma to the victim.

Following the risk assessment, victims are offered emotional, psychological, and practical support. They can also receive assistance from social workers at Aġenzija Appoġġ’s Domestic Violence Unit. Victims are given the option to enter an emergency shelter or return home with their relatives, with safety planning in place. They also receive a GBDV business card containing helpline information and details of other organisations that offer support.

While most victims who report to the police choose to undergo a risk assessment, some decline, believing that their situation does not pose a significant risk to their lives. Some victims are convinced of this, while others refuse because they have recently undergone a similar assessment and believe their risk level remains unchanged.

Victims who choose to undergo a risk assessment after making a police report sign a consent form, which informs them that high-risk cases will be referred to the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Meeting (MARAM), where all high-risk domestic violence cases are reviewed.

The Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Service is a social service rooted in the values and principles of social work, including the principle of “client self-determination,” which respects the wishes and decisions of the individual.

Despite this emphasis on self-determination, the efforts of Aġenzija Appoġġ’s social professionals within FSWS led to a 32.6% increase in the number of people who completed a risk assessment between January and June 2024 at one of their hubs for gender-based violence and domestic violence.

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