Domestic Violence
The usual view of domestic violence is of a man who beats up his female partner, or abuses her in some way. Information campaigns, literature, services, posters, all purvey that image of domestic violence. In fact, there are several different forms of domestic violence, which may include mental instead of physical control, or denial, and there are also forms of domestic violence which emerge in gay and lesbian relationships. And of course domestic violence does not have to be directed at partners; it can be directed at children and even parents.
In the Guardian, writer Ally Fogg takes a critical look at what we mean by domestic violence, and challenges orthodox views of the problem; in particular, he considers, most of the resources available to help the victims of domestic violence are only relevant to one quarter of the problem.
Since 2005 Police are allowed to photograph the victims of domestic abuse to capture a record of any bruising or temporary injury. Gay couples and other unmarried couples are protected. Courts can already order suspected offenders to keep away from their partners but the government is trying to make such orders easier to enforce. Suspected offenders may receive a “yellow card”. If the yellow card is ignored there will be a possible jail sentence of five years.
The law makes common assault an arrestable offence, triggers multi-agency reviews in cases of domestic murder, as happens with child killings, makes breaching non-molestation orders an arrestable offence with up to five years jail, establishes a register for domestic violence offenders, forcing them to tell police when they change their addresses, as for sex offenders, provides a new offence of causing or allowing death of a child or vulnerable adult, introduces a ban on the media naming victims of alleged domestic violence in court cases in an effort to encourage more people to come forward with complaints and establishes a victims’ commissioner to speak up for the interests of victims.
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Order 2005
Gays too
Under 10% of victims of gay domestic violence report their abusers to the police because of fears of prejudice and being forced to reveal their sexuality, say Staffordshire Police, who estimate that reporting of gay domestic violence has doubled in the past year but that this is still only a small percentage of the actual number of cases taking place. National statistics indicate about a quarter of all people in same-sex relationships become victims of domestic violence while a fifth also suffer sexual abuse. Victims only come forward after they have suffered around 35 attacks.
Domestic incident co-ordinator Helen Appleby said: “There are lots of reasons why victims don’t come forward but we know that confidence is increasing now. They have to face all the problems that heterosexual victims have, such as having nowhere to go and fearing financial independence, together with a lot of other issues that come along with being gay. For instance, a lesbian can find it difficult to go to a women`s refuge for help because they don`t want to be ostracised or seen as a threat by others. “Unfortunately the issue hasn`t been highlighted in the media and soap operas like it has with heterosexual relationships.”
Force hate crime officer PC Pete Rigby added: “It`s a misconception that there is a butch one and a feminine one in gay relationships, the abuser is more likely to be the one who wants power and control over the other and that will not always be obvious. Previously, police officers wouldn`t have recognised a problem when attending a fight between a gay couple. It would just be logged as an assault, not as domestic violence. Sometimes if there is no box to tick on a form, it can be ignored. But we are now recording these offences and when we get a clear picture of what is happening will bring it onto the agenda and do something about it.”
