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Domestic violence cuts across all walks of life

A judge today told a 20 year old man to “put away thoughts of champagne, Bentleys and girls” as he was sentenced to at least 16 years in jail for the murder 17 year old Emily Longley. The case of Elliot Turner has been highly publicised in recent weeks and it highlights the extent to which domestic violence can be taken. Throughout the trial, the jury heard how Turner had a history of obsession and the relationship between perpetrator and victim had descended into daily death threats and violent arguments.

More can be read about this case here.

It is this case that significantly portrays the prevalence of domestic violence within society, whilst highlighting that it is something that can be seen to happen throughout all walks of life. Many of the articles that document the case mention that Turner is the son of a wealthy jeweller. This makes it clear that domestic violence is not limited to any one social class or area of wealth, as it can sometimes be perceived.

As well as the issue of Turner’s heritage, his victim’s age has been repeatedly publicised in the media. Emily Longley was only 17 years old at the time of her murder, an aspiring model that had come to England to study only eight months before the incident. The ways in which the media present this make it clear that it is more shocking to society for a younger female to experience domestic violence. However, as with social class, domestic violence is in no way limited by age. In fact, the British Crime Survey in 2004 found that women under the age of 30 are at considerably greater risk of becoming a victim of domestic violence.

Both women and men experience domestic violence regardless of age, ethnicity, class, religion or sexuality.

Domestic violence is an extremely hidden crime, as it is not legally categorised. However, its prevalence is shown in that 89% of women and 26% of men have experienced at least one incident of this kind of violence in their lifetime. In addition to this, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience some kind of domestic violence in their lifetime.

Though it is clearly an issue that affects both genders, women are more likely to be victims of multiple incidents of abuse. In relationships where there are more than 4 incidents of violence, 89% of the victims were women. In addition to this, 2 women a week are killed by a male partner or former partner.

The statistics are striking, with those mentioned above and many more laid out here.