ISSUES
: Domestic Violence
Chapter 2: Tackling domestic abuse
28
One in three people do not know
domestic abuse can happen after a
relationship has ended
By Rachel Moss
Y
ou do not have to be in a
relationship with a physically,
emotionally or financially
abusive person to be a victim of
domestic abuse.
But new figures from Citizens Advice
reveal that one in three people do
not know that domestic abuse can
happen between former partners.
The research also shows victims can
be at greater risk of being harmed
after leaving an abusive relationship,
but many people are unaware that
domestic abuse can continue when
victims are no longer living with the
perpetrator.
Our lack of knowledge may mean
we’re missing signs that suggest a
friend or family member needs help.
The survey of over 2,000 British adults
found that just one in five (22%) think
it is always easy to tell what counts as
domestic abuse.
A total of 13%believe domestic abuse
can only be between two people in a
relationship who live together, not
among those who are casually dating.
Abuse that occurs after a relationship
has ended often includes a financial
or psychological element, but the
report revealed that our knowledge in
this area is seriously lacking.
Speaking to HuffPost UK Lifestyle,
director of policy at Women’s Aid
Hilary Fisher said it is “deeply
concerning that domestic abuse is
not always recognised for what it is”.
“It means that women are less likely to
receive the support they need to move
past their abuse. We need a huge
cultural change around understanding
what domestic violence is,” she
added.
Last year, the Citizens Advice report
Controlling Money, Controlling Lives
revealed that victims of financial abuse
had access to their bank accounts
restricted, were
stolen from and
had their property
destroyed.
Some
victims
sought help after
being left with
huge debts when
they were forced
to take out loans
for their abuser.
The
financial
abuse was in
some
cases
accompanied by intimidation, physical
violence and repeated death threats.
An analysis of almost 200 cases
of financial abuse brought to local
Citizens Advice between January and
June last year revealed that nine in ten
victims were women.
However, the new research showed
that people are more than twice as
likely to know that domestic abuse
can include a psychological element
than a financial one.
Only two in five (39%) are aware of the
financial side of abuse compared to
four in five (86%) who are aware of the
psychological side.
On top of that, two in five people
(39%) are not aware making a partner
account for all their spending can
constitute domestic abuse.
“The suffering of domestic abuse
victims is going undetected. Many
people do not realise abuse can occur
after a relationship has ended and be
financial or psychological, as well as
physical,” Gillian Guy, chief executive
of Citizens Advice, said in a statement.
“Without the knowledge and
understanding of the extent of abuse
it is difficult for family and friends to
make sure people get the help they
need.
“New measures from the Government
to make coercive control illegal will
ensure those found guilty of these
crimes are punished. For this to truly
help victims the public and authorities
need support to identify abuse.”
Citizens Advice is currently developing
new guidance that will aim to better
equip everyone, from friends and
family through to professionals, to
identify all forms of abuse and take
the right steps to help victims get the
support they need.
For support on domestic violence here
in the UK, you can contact Women’s
Aid – support for abused women
and children – or call the National
Domestic Violence Helpline, run by
Women’s Aid and Refuge, on 0808
2000 247. Contact Broken Rainbow –
the LGBT domestic violence charity –
on 0845 2 60 55 60. Or contact Men’s
Advice Line – advice and support for
men experiencing domestic violence
and abuse – on 0808 801 0327.
2 July 2015
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The above information is reprinted
with kind permission from The
Huffington Post UK. Please visit
for
further information.
© 2016 AOL (UK) Limited
CPS domestic violence prosecutions and convictions
Year
Total
prosecutions
Total
convictions
Convictions as % of
prosecutions
2008/09 67,094
48,465
72.2
2009/10 74,113
53,347
72.0
2010/11 82,187
59,101
71.9
2011/12 79,268
58,138
73.3
2012/13 70,702
52,549
74.3
2013/14 78,071
58,276
74.6
2014/15 92,779
68,601
73.9
Source: Domestic violence in England and Wales, Briefing Paper,
John Woodhouse and Noel Dempsey, House of Commons Library,
26 February 2016. Licensed under the Open Parliament Licence
v3.0. Visit
for further information.
