‘When you admit the truth, you have to take action’: the phoneline helping abusers change their beha
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
The number of abusers calling a helpline over their actions has surged. But are they really willing to change? Maya Oppenheim listens in to find out.
Paul* manages his finances ‘to the penny.’ If he buys a packet of crisps when he is out, he records it in his account book at home, noting down the exact amount. But it’s not just his own spending he keeps a watchful eye over. If Paul’s wife Susie* buys anything when she’s out, Paul knows – and he records that too.
In fact, Paul keeps tabs on quite a few parts of Susie’s life. He and his wife share all their emails and texts with each other. They do ‘everything together,’ he says.
Paul is going through the details of his marriage after calling an anonymous and confidential helpline, run by the charity Respect, set up for people who have been violent or abusive to their partners or families – or fear they could be. Paul’s children have accused him of perpetrating a concerted campaign of domestic abuse against his wife.
Although he claim...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
