Coronavirus Divorce and Domestic Violence :
My-City.gr spoke with private investigator Pelekasis Lefteris and lawyer Anna Deuteraiou about the increase in Divorce and Domestic Violence that occurred during the Coronavirus period.
It is a fact that the coronavirus has affected many aspects of human life and human relationships. Our everyday life has changed radically compared to two years ago. Tele-education, teleworking, distancing, much longer hours at home, lack of spending money on entertainment and also distancing from friends and family. The market and economy has been steadily declining downward and no one knows when this pandemic will end or what will happen.
With this situation prevailing couples, husbands and wives and families have been forced to spend many more hours of the day in the same place. This combined with the difficult economic situation of most households has highlighted problems that did not exist in the past, or at least were not felt in the past. For the most part the habits of the average couple were to eat together in the morning and to be together in the evening after several hours of work, unlike now.
As private investigator Pelekasis Lefteris reports, cases of marital infidelity of both sexes have almost doubled. The phone calls we receive as a private investigation agency on a daily basis have exceeded all precedent. The most unfortunate fact is that in over 90% of cases the instinct comes out right and infidelity does indeed exist. The difference with previous years is that introductions and contacts are now mostly made electronically before the final act is carried out.
There is a time gap and an unjustified or falsely justified absence from home which is naturally perceived.
In contrast, in the pre-crown era there was still a large percentage of people who met someone at work, in a café or a nightclub. There were also more ‘flexible’ hours in terms of time away from home, as the job required physical presence. Many business meetings were held indoors and outdoors, which is now avoided.
The fact of confinement brought the couples’ good and bad moments closer together. It revealed psychological problems of many people which had not come to the surface until that moment. The phenomenon of divorce in many cases seems unpleasant, but let us consider the percentage of murders – femicides that took place in 2021 and how much the percentage of violence, both verbal and physical, between couples has increased.
Empirically from the more than 30 years that we have been dealing with the field of private investigations, we believe that, at least in Greece, we are statistically in the worst period in terms of the above acts and we see this in fact not only from the news but by discussing with dozens of men and women who have entrusted us with their cases.
Coronavirus Divorce and Domestic Violence.
As attorney Anna Deuteraiou told us, in 2021 we saw the numbers of divorce filings skyrocket dramatically as well as the rates of domestic violence. The cases we take on as a firm have increased dramatically. There are domestic violence, divorce, child custody, etc. cases at a much higher rate compared to previous years. We are receiving calls many times late into the night from women requesting divorce in an out of state situation.
They refer to marital infidelity, psychological pressure and often physical violence.
The most unfortunate thing is that some of these wives who report on the phone that they were beaten or harassed either physically or psychologically, in the process regret filing for divorce or suing their abuser partner. This may be caused by intimidation and psychological pressure from the abuser, or by the victim themselves mistakenly believing that it was an act that will not be repeated in the future.
The degree of increase in domestic violence is evidenced, in addition to the statistics of our own cases, by the research of Bourgault,s.,Peterman 2021. “Violence against women and children during covid-19” In this study they analyzed 15 individual studies that examined the likelihood of an increase in domestic violence during the pandemic. These studies were conducted in different countries. As can be seen, 12 of the 15 studies analysed showed a dramatic increase in domestic violence.
Given the extent of this phenomenon, every woman and every person in general needs to be aware that the infliction of physical injury or damage to health by a family member on another family member, as defined in detail in the Criminal Code, constitutes a criminal offence and carries prison sentences or even imprisonment.
Indeed, the application of these articles applies not only to family members but also to the permanent partner, and to the children of both or one of them, if these persons are cohabiting, as well as to former spouses.
At this point, it is worth noting that the criminal prosecution for the above offences is initiated ex officio and the procedure of articles 417 et seq. of the Code of Criminal Procedure, i.e. the ex officio procedure, is followed against the perpetrator. Therefore, if anyone “found” to be a victim of domestic violence has the right to file a complaint against the perpetrator, while the investigating officer or the police officer may arrest the perpetrator under the auto-procedure and bring him or her before the competent public prosecutor, who may also refer the perpetrator directly to trial. Any person subjected to such behaviour should not allow it and should initiate legal proceedings to safeguard their physical and mental integrity.
And in case he fears that any initiation of criminal proceedings will confront him with renewed aggressive behaviour by the perpetrator, he is advised to be aware that the relevant law gives the possibility to impose restrictive measures against the perpetrator, including removal from the family residence, relocation, prohibition to approach the victim’s residence and/or work premises, residences of close relatives, etc.”
Anna Deuteraiou Civil – Criminal Lawyer.
Stadioy str. 39 Athens, 6980559751, deftereou-law.gr