The community police in Kirkuk revealed that 12 cases of girls running away from their families' homes and 17 cases of domestic violence were recorded during the past six months.
The statistics were presented at the second annual community police conference held on Tuesday, July 8, at the Kirkuk Office, which highlighted the statistics and activities of the community police.
According to the statistics, 11 cases of cyber extortion, 12 cases of girls running away from their families' homes, 17 cases of domestic violence, and six cases of resistance to violence were recorded during the six-month period.
Compared to statistics recorded several years ago, cases of cyber extortion have declined. In 2022, 670 cases of cyber extortion were recorded by the community police during the first nine months of the year.
The northern, oil-rich, ethnically mixed province of Kirkuk is home to approximately 1.77 million Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs. Located 238 kilometers north of Baghdad, it has long been at the center of disputes between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Community police officials attributed the decline to increased awareness activities. For example, in the first six months of this year, the community police carried out 1,377 awareness campaigns in markets and public places, in addition to 116 seminars in government and non-governmental institutions.
The community police also held 143 dialogue sessions with clans and tribes on issues of domestic violence.
Other activities mentioned at the conference included the confiscation of 267 unlicensed weapons, which were returned to the state.
The community police force is part of the Kirkuk Police Directorate within the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and is responsible for following up on cases related to violence against women and domestic violence, as well as promoting preventive security and resolving local disputes.
Article 29 of the Iraqi Constitution stipulates that the state shall prevent all forms of violence and abuse in the family, school and society.
