NATIONAL POLICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT

By Humphrey Carter THE escalation of domestic violence in the Balearics, two women have been killed already this year, is deeply concerning the local authorities and it appears that extra police are going to be drafted in to assist in a regional crackdown. Miguel Ramis, central government's representative in the Balearics, said yesterday that, of the 100 extra National Police bound for the Balearics, a percentage, yet to be agreed, will be assigned to domestic violence duties. Until now, the Balearics has not had a domestic violence police unit, but it would appear that the problem has become so serious that, for the first time, a number of National Police officers will only deal with domestic violence cases. Those officers dealing with such cases at present, do so voluntarily. Since the start of the year, two women have died in Majorca at the hands of their partners, 50 percent of the total number of cases in Spain and there has been a massive public outcry by politicians and society. Only last week was the body of a mother of two found dumped on a farm on the outskirts of Palma after a four-day search. The prime suspect, boyfriend and father of their ten-month-old child, has apparently fled home to Morocco. The year started on a bad note in the Balearics. On January 1, a middle-aged mother was shot dead and her two teenage sons seriously injured at their Arenal home by her ex-lover. The suspect had been reported to the police and arrested on previous occasions for domestic violence. It appears that the Moroccan suspect of this latest tragedy, also had a record for domestic violence. NATIONAL