Opinion (Ten.Cor. Rogério COPETO): VIOLENCE AGAINST ELDERLY.
The purpose of the International Awareness Day for the Prevention of Violence Against Elderly, to be marked on Monday, 15 June we get to know the so-called Report "Criminal victimization Seniors in Portugal: Participated crimes to law enforcement in 2011", dated March 2013 and the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Rogério COPETO
Lieutenant Colonel of the GNR, Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
Head of the Education Division / Command Doctrine and Training
This report is perhaps one of the most comprehensive studies on the crime committed against the elderly (+65) in 2011, the data have been analyzed from the Homeland Security Annual Report 2011 and especially the data provided by the GNR and the PSP for its preparation, for the year 2011, concluding the report that year, although the elderly population represents about 19% the resident population in Portugal, only 6,5% of participatory crime to the police as victims were elderly people.
According to the Census 2011, Portugal, like other countries in Southern Europe, It presents an aging frame rather sharp, in that, the elderly population is 19% (it is expected that in the thirties represent 24,2%) the resident population in the country and young people only 14,9%, It is the districts of the countryside (Bragança, Watch, Portalegre, Évora, Beja and Vila Real) the most aged, with aging rates of over 170 by elderly 100 young (0 – 14 year old).
The aging population and the vulnerabilities associated with this age group must have consequences in the sense of (in)security. And the main risk factors of the elderly relate to social isolation, the attacker depend on the victim, the history of violence between spouses, cohabitation, factors that cause stress or economic tensions, substance abuse or mental illness caregiver, the precarious state of health and functional impairment and cognitive impairment.
So, and considering the special vulnerability of the elderly crime, a GNR desenvolve, from 1996, or program called by "Support 65 – Elderly Safety ", a proximity policing program focused on the safety of this population, based on a philosophy of preventive policing and awareness aimed at the elderly and the community where integrate.
The objectives of this program are achieved based on the knowledge of the reality of older people and a personalized support, guaranteeing them security and sensitizing them to adopt behaviors to prevent or reduce any criminal practices that they can focus on.
As already mentioned in 2011 only 6,5% the elderly population was the victim of crime, representing the elderly population about 19% the resident population, so it appears that there is a low crime rate on this population in the year 2011, fact that has been observed in recent years, raising the question that seniors do not report the crimes they suffer, in particular crimes of abuse, fraud, teasing, "Tales of the vicar" and financial exploitation.
For not denouncing the crimes of abuse are seen as justification the fact that the elderly be victims in their own home, na ou family home caregiver, the institutions responsible for providing them care (homes, hospitals, etc.) and, for various other reasons. The elderly victims of abuse do not report these situations nor its authors, fearing to be alone, stay with no one to take care of them, lose caregiver, losing privacy and family relations, be reprimanded hair abuser, be posted publicly and subjected to external intervention, be placed in an institution, be discredited without anyone believe in violence or abuse they suffer and feel responsible for abusive behavior.
Also the fraud committed against the elderly, They are unreported, because the victims believe that the help of the authorities, social protection services, family members, or other, They will not be mobilized to stop the abuse.
The scams and "tales of vicar" are unreported because the victims feel ashamed, or because they fear what others will think they are no longer able to care for themselves, and therefore may come to be institutionalized. The lack of information on the existence of aid resources or limited as they have access, is a factor that leads victims to not report the crimes that are victims.
In the case of financial exploitation, victims often have emotional connections proximity to the aggressors and this inhibits the elderly to report that a victim of crime, but may, want to end the exploitation to which it is exposed and recover their property, but do not want the offender to be punished, by adding that many victims believe that, partly, the guilt of finding that situation, also, is yours and blaming yourself for that reason.
Where the authorities have no knowledge of a crime can not intervene and did not intervene, It becomes more difficult to prevent or investigate, for lack of information on victims, the modus operandi and aggressors. The non formalization of complaints can still create the aggressors a feeling of impunity, that will inevitably lead to relapse into crime.
Aiming to reduce isolation and increase the feeling of security of the elderly population, GNR place through the Safety in the Elderly Centres, with the support of the military of the Territorial Offices, various actions within its community policing mission, ranging from the survey of isolated areas inhabited by elderly and respective signs of danger, within the Operation Census Senior, to carry out awareness and information actions under the Operation Safety in the Elderly, where they are informed about the safety procedures to be followed in situations assault or fraud, and how they can report crimes they suffer, It is made available direct phone numbers of the military GNR, thus creating trust between the GNR and the elderly and their families.
