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International: company’s ‘DA spyware’ banned

Using Mobile Smartphone App

United States’ consumer watchdog, the Federal Trade Commission, has banned SpyFone from the surveillance business because of allegations its stalkerware app secretly harvested and shared data on people’s physical movements, phone use, and online activities through a hidden device. “The illegal secret surveillance provided by the apps made it easy for stalkers and abusers to […]

Perpetrator work to benefit from government cash

Big Ben and House of Parliament, London, UK, in the dusk evening

The Westminster government has awarded £11.3m to 25 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales to support 31 programmes focusing on interventions to encourage behavioural change to help perpetrators stop committing domestic abuse. “To prevent the abhorrent crimes of domestic abuse from happening in the first place, we must deepen our understanding of […]

Ireland: surge in older men seeking DA support

The National flag of Ireland

Men’s Aid in Ireland is seeing an increase of men in their 60s and 70s seeking help from domestic abuse support services. The charity is on course to having around 8,000 contacts this year, up from roughly 5,500 last year, said CEO Kathrina Bentley. “Most months, 600 to 700 men a month are contacting us. […]

Euro 2020 caused spike in DA cases

Football (soccer) fans

The football tournament prompted a rise in domestic abuse against women in England, according to the work of the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV). In the five weeks of the Euro 2020, which began on 11 June, the NCDV referred 400 more people for protective court orders compared with the five-week period before the […]

Court retraumatises DA victims, report finds

Urgent action is required to clear case backlogs and improve the way courts deal with domestic abuse survivors, according to an investigation Safelives carried out for domestic abuse commissioner Nicole Jacobs. The resulting report, Understanding Court Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse, revealed 89% of survivors receive no support in family courts. Also, one in […]

Study reveals creative ways to support DA victims in Covid times

Woman hands using smartphone

Friends, family, neighbours and colleagues are using inventive ways to keep in touch with and continue helping domestic abuse survivors during the pandemic, according to University of Bristol research. Supporters have established support bubbles with the victim, even at the cost of forming one with another family member or breaking lockdown rules. They also adapted […]

Wiltshire scheme focuses on altering abuser’s behaviour

Domestic Violence With Young Man And Abused Woman

The domestic abuse conversation needs to be refocused with responsibility to change put firmly in the hands of the perpetrator, according to Martin Parker of Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner office. “It shouldn’t be down to victims to do all the hard work to keep themselves safe and for too long the onus has been […]

Calls to Respect rise in lockdowns

Headset headphones and telephone in call center

Respect’s helpline had 1,430 callers in the 12 months to March, a 27.3% rise on the previous year. The charity, which helps domestic abuse perpetrators wanting to change their ways, expects an increase when counter-coronavirus restrictions ease. After stating the lockdowns had made things worse for those in unhealthy and abusive relationships, Respect’s head of […]

Police chief says officers accused of DA must face investigation

UK flag close up

All serving police officers accused of domestic or sexual abuse should face misconduct hearings as well as criminal investigations, according to Louisa Rolfe, the lead on domestic abuse in England and Wales for the National Police Chiefs’ Council. She was commenting after it emerged 144 women have come forward to claim domestic abuse, rape or […]

Police officer awarded for her domestic abuse work

Blue police light

Chief Inspector Sharon Baker of Avon and Somerset Police has earned the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award 2021, partly for sharing an online video recounting her experience of living in a controlling and abusive relationship. She was presented with the award at the Police Federation of England and Wales’ annual conference held this […]