The Physical Abuse Centre is in desperate need of financial and legislative help in the battle against domestic abuse.

Physical Abuse Centre chairwoman June Augustus yesterday made an impassioned plea for support at the Hamilton Lions' weekly luncheon where she revealed that despite an increase in its workload, the organisation still received minimal funding from Government.

"Over the past several years there has been a steady increase in the number of calls we receive for admissions into the shelter, for information and counselling,'' she said.

The Centre received 240 calls and housed 49 adults and 50 children in 1991.

Last year the Centre received 667 calls and housed 57 adults and 63 children.

Operating costs are now in the region of $300,000 per year.

"The Physical Abuse Centre receives a Government grant of $60,000 a year which covers a small portion of the Centre's total operating expense,'' she said.

One audience member called this "disgusting'' and asked how Mrs. Augustus and her three-person team were able to keep the Centre afloat.

Mrs. Augustus said an ongoing fundraising effort and the community's kindness had kept the Centre afloat since it was founded 20 years ago.

But fundraising for charities presents its own challenges, she continued.

The Physical Abuse Centre is a member of the Family Resource Network Charitable Trust. But the trust is just a small part of a growing number of charities in Bermuda, she pointed out.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult for charities that provide ongoing services to foot the bill themselves. The pool of donors is essentially the same for all of us, since we have a small community and very limited resources for funds.'' The Physical Abuse Centre's mission is to provide a safe haven for abused women and counselling services for the victims and perpetrators of violence.

It is also concerned with crisis intervention and keeps up an ongoing educational programme around the year.

But its efforts are hamstrung, continued Mrs. Augustus, because vital legislation is missing from Bermuda's law books.

The "Quincy Model'' for dealing with domestic abuse would be perfect for Bermuda, she noted, adding it was introduced to the Island and the then-Government a number of years ago.

Mrs. Augustus said she believed the legislation which would allow the introduction of the model was drafted but had yet to go before the House of Assembly.

The Quincy Model allows prosecution of a batterer even if the victim refuses to testify. It also provides for an on-call judge to issue a restraining order at any hour. And it allows for the immediate arrest of a batterer whether or not there has been serious injury.

Under the Quincy Model, any physically obvious signs of abuse like bruises or black eyes can be used to prosecute abusers but changes would have to be made to the Island's Criminal Code to allow Police officers to do this.

The Quincy Model also requires counselling programmes for battered men and calls for specially trained domestic violence prosecutors and Police officers involved in domestic violence investigations.

June Augustus Graphic file name: JUNEUG IN DEMAND Statistics showing the increase in demand for the services of the Physical Abuse Centre between 1991 and 1998: Year 1991 1998 Calls 240 667 Adults housed 49 57 Children housed 50 63 FUND RAISER FNR