Police tackle domestic violence over Christmas

December 11, 2012 at 4:01 pm | Posted in Children, Christmas, Domestic Violence, Law, Young People | 2 Comments
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As the festive season approaches, police across the country are launching campaigns aimed towards tackling domestic violence. In previous years it has become clear that domestic abuse is a significant problem over Christmas, with violent incidents in the home rising by approximately 20% at this time of year according to Hampshire Constabulary.

Agencies give prolonged family time, increased debt and high levels of alcohol consumption as possible reasons for such a high increase. Charities such as ‘Refuge’ acknowledge that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for those experiencing domestic violence. The many campaigns being launched over the festive period aim to raise awareness about domestic violence, aswell as encouraging victims to seek help.

Cllr Greenall, in this article for West Lancashire Police, said “Christmas can be particularly stressful for people living with violent partners because the family are together for an extended period, or the alcohol is flowing, which can intensify abuse. Often they will not leave over the festive season because they don’t want to ruin Christmas. As a result, the New Year is always a busy time as victims seek help. Therefore, we want our campaign to raise awareness and show victims that there is support out there if they need it”.

There has also been a significant focus upon the effects of domestic violence on children throughout these Christmas campaigns. An example of this is the ‘Letter to Santa’ campaign developed by the Violence Reduction Unit and the Children 1st charity. Chief Inspector Graham Goulden, who heads the campaign, acknowledged that Christmas is a peak period for domestic abuse incidents. This means that children in violent homes often witness abuse or become victims themselves. Children should look forward to Christmas every year but it is easy to forget that for some children, it is a time of fear.

 

 

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Definition of domestic abuse widened to include coercive control and under 18s

September 21, 2012 at 3:29 pm | Posted in Domestic Violence, Young People | 1 Comment

Home Secretary Theresa May has announced a shake-up of the definition of domestic abuse. Under the change, domestic abuse will now be widened in order to include a range of coercive and threatening behaviours. This will see people who bully their partners with verbal abuse, control of their finances or isolation from their loved ones being prosecuted alongside those who commit physical violence.

Under the new definition, victims of domestic abuse aged 16 and 17 will also be recognised for the first time. This change in the view of domestic abuse aims to increase awareness that young people do experience domestic violence. This follows on from the Teenage Relationship Abuse campaign, which we blogged about here.
The new definition of domestic violence and abuse now states:

“Any incident or patterns of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse – psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional.”

This means that acts such as preventing partners from leaving the house, or demanding control of their finances, can now lead to prosecution. These changes, which will be implemented in March 2013, follow calls from local authorities, police and voluntary organisations.

However, it is important to note that domestic violence is still not a specific criminal offence. This will not change, but the new definition may avoid agencies making too narrow an interpretation of domestic abuse and letting some perpetrators go. One victim who spoke to the BBC anonymously said that had the new guidelines been in force while she was suffering, she may have sought help earlier, stating that “if I was more aware that I was suffering the psychological abuse and emotional abuse, I may have been more able to see what was going on and get the help I needed for me and the children much sooner”.
Whilst many think that these amendments are fundamental in helping to raise awareness and enable effective prevention,some lawyers and campaigners have questioned how effective these changes will be in bringing more cases to court. This is due to the fact that because domestic violence is not an offence in itself, the government are expecting the police to prosecute under the protection from harassment act which is already very much underused.

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