Nearly 2,000 domestic violence protection orders received in the Ministry of Interior since the beginning of the year

For the first six months of 2023, the Ministry of Interior received 1,950 protection orders. Of these, 647 were permanent protection orders and 1,303 were for immediate protection. This is according to the summary data of the General Directorate “National Police”..

From the analysis carried out, the highest ratio of protection orders issued is in Veliko Tarnovo district, followed by Silistra and Razgrad.

In terms of pre-trial proceedings initiated for crimes committed in the context of domestic violence, in the first six months of the year they were 596 compared to 426 in the same period last year. This represents an increase of 40%.

According to Zornitsa Shumanova, national coordinator of the Ministry of Interior on domestic violence, this is due to the fact that people are much more willing to share their problem and ask for help from the police by reporting to the relevant district office. Separately, many applications and declarations are made to the court.

"Domestic violence is not so latent anymore, victims are more often referring it to us. Separately, the isolation associated with Covid also had its impact because people were in lockdown for a long time," summarised Shumanova.

In the Ministry of Interior, a national coordinator for domestic violence has been appointed by order of the Secretary General. At the same time, regional coordinators have been appointed in the district directorates of the Ministry of Interior, by orders of the directors, who carry out a detailed monthly check of materials related to domestic violence, received during the month.

The National Coordinator collects, summarises and analyses the data submitted by the Regional Coordinators on domestic violence cases. He/she shall request additional information from the regional coordinators on specific cases of domestic violence, if necessary, and shall liaise with state bodies, institutions and NGOs for the implementation of joint programmes for prevention and protection from domestic violence.

The regional coordinators perform the same tasks as the national coordinator, but at regional level. They have the duty to provide methodological assistance to all police officers of the respective district directorate of the Ministry of Interior on the implementation of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence.

More charges pressed against the man who slashed 18-year-old girl with a knife, inflicting wounds that required 400 stitches

Thousands came out in protests across the country against violence