Increase in reports of domestic violence following the tragic murder of Nicolette Ghirxi

Tista' taqra bil-
Malta.

Following the shocking murder of Nicolette Ghirxi by her ex-partner, the police have received a significant increase in reports of harassment, according to Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà.

Ghirxis' tragic death at the hands of Edward Johnston on a Sunday evening has prompted many victims to speak out, as the consequences of such incidents often motivate people to take action.

Nicolette Ghirxi identified as victim of Monday morning murder

Johnston was later killed by police in St. Julian's after threatening them with a weapon that turned out to be a replica firearm.

Gafà, speaking in an interview with Times of Malta at the Domestic Violence Hub in Santa Luċija, confirmed the expected increase in reports. “Such cases prompt people to take action,” he said.

A persistent problem with no easy solutions

Despite increased awareness and reporting of these crimes, Gafà acknowledged the sobering reality that the complete eradication of these crimes is still a distant goal.

“Nobody is happy about these tragic cases and it is naive to think that we can reduce the number to zero. But we are determined to do everything in our power to prevent similar incidents,” Gafà said.

Ghirxi had previously reported harassment by Johnston in April and May, but declined to undergo a risk assessment because she believed her life was not in danger. She informed police of Johnston's presence in Malta just four days before her murder.

This case has prompted women's rights activists to call for better risk assessment training and a more flexible reporting system that more accurately reflects the reality of victims.

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The increasing number of reports reflects the growing awareness

According to police, the domestic violence unit received 1,264 reports in the first seven months of the year, 1,979 in 2023 and 1,753 in 2022.

Gafà attributes this increase to changing social attitudes and improved police services. “In the past, many victims preferred not to report domestic violence. We are now more aware of the problem and it has become one of our top priorities,” he said.

In addition to the gender-based and domestic violence units, all police members now receive training in how to deal with victims.

Gafà stressed that while it is easy to criticise the police, one should not forget how many lives were saved by their actions. “Imagine if we had not seen an increase in reports. Without this change of course, Ghirxi might unfortunately not have reported Johnston at all,” he explained.

The role of risk assessments

Victims of domestic violence receive a risk assessment from Aġenzija Appoġġ professionals at the Domestic Violence Hub. This assessment classifies the risk as low, medium or high so that cases can be prioritised accordingly.

Superintendent Johann Joseph Fenech explained that when a victim arrives while others are waiting, a police officer conducts a preliminary risk assessment to determine the urgency of the situation.

Despite the importance of risk assessments, Gafà and risk assessor Rachel Farrugia stressed that ultimately it is up to the victim to undergo one. “We cannot force anyone to undergo a risk assessment; it is always the individual's decision,” said Farrugia.

She also explained that while it is rare, some victims choose not to seek assessment, often because it is their first report or they would rather issue a warning rather than take further action.

Even if no formal risk assessment is carried out, Gafà said this does not automatically mean that the case is classified as low risk. “The assessment informs us of the immediate level of risk, but we always carry out our investigations to fully understand the threat,” he explained.

Gafà stressed the importance of continuous improvements in support services, such as the integration of risk assessors into the domestic violence centre to better assist victims and prevent future tragedies. He also reiterated the police's commitment to protecting people at risk.