Increasing levels of violence are being reported in the Island’s cases of domestic abuse, according to the Centre Against Abuse.Executive director Laurie Shiell said the domestic violence charity is also confronting a greater number of family situations involving firearms.Gun murder in these cases “probably is inevitable one day”, she told The Royal Gazette, adding: “We pray there isn’t one.”She said the Centre today works closely with the Bermuda Police Service, as guns and gang crime are “definitely a big new issue for us” in domestic abuse situations.“It’s been an eye-opener. One of our clients was giving a statement to police and said her partner had guns, and my colleague who was there at the time was shaken. But that was about two years ago.”Because of the higher rate of violence and greater incidence of firearms, police today are treating cases of domestic violence situations “much more seriously”, she said.“We’re not seeing an increase in domestics; we have seen an increase in the violence of domestic cases. We’re seeing people who have been threatened with guns, and whose children have seen guns. We’ve been working extremely closely with police because of this.“When we know of someone whose partner may be affiliated with gangs, police are notified so they can protect us, and so that we can make them aware of anything that comes to our attention. We’re encouraging clients who know their partners have guns to understand: ‘This can turn bad on you one day’.”Most reported domestic violence is perpetrated by men. Ms Shiell cited “a lack of value of life” in the rising intensity of violence, with abusers reporting “a lack of love, and a lack of someone caring in their life”.“It leaves them feeling empty, and they therefore do not have value for life.”She added: “Quite a number that come through our door do not have the love of a father. As one man in our batterers intervention programme said, he realised in the programme that for most of his life he hadn’t been a real man.”A rise in the intensity of violence accompanying abusive acts is “definitely a world trend”, and no single factor can be identified as the cause.Nor is the economic recession seen as a significant contributor.“Financial issues don’t make you violent,” Ms Shiell explained. “You’re already violent. We feel it’s the same with drugs and alcohol.”The charity, which runs a safe house for women and children, and two years ago opened a men’s office on Mount Hill, is currently dealing with roughly seven clients a day, she estimated.More child sexual abuse is being reported — but the Centre Against Abuse believes people today are simply more willing to report cases than they were in the past.“As more services come along, more people are opening up,” Ms Shiell explained.On the issue of a public sex offenders’ register, she continued, “It’s not cut and dried.” She warned against offenders being publicly identified in case they were singled out for attack, saying she preferred that parents make their own children privately aware of who and what to look out for.At a time of increasing demand and limited budgets, she said the Island’s help agencies are joining forces to tackle a spectrum of family and social issues.Responding to concerns aired at an open discussion on the Island’s social issues held last week, Ms Shiell said the Centre and other agencies work in tandem with Government, and charities such as the Eliza DoLittle Society, to take on the Island’s problems.She added: “It’s all about doing what’s best in the interests of the client, at the end of the day. Agencies are definitely trying to pull together, collaborate more and utilise each other’s services. If we can’t help, we help to put people in contact with the agency that can.”Useful website: www.abusefree.org.