Child maintenance changes to help DA survivors
Domestic abuse victims in England and Wales will be able to allow the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to collect and make payments on their behalf, without the consent of an abusive ex-partner. This will prevent perpetrators from using the benefit as a form of ongoing financial abuse and control, and reduce the need for victims […]
Few NI teens know about coercive control, study shows
Fewer than one-in-six of 16-year-olds surveyed in Northern Ireland – 325 of 2,069 – had heard of coercive control and knew what it meant, according to research findings. To gauge young people’s understanding of a behaviour which became a criminal offence in the province last year, Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast and the Northern Health […]
Police rapist and domestic abuser jailed for life
David Carrick, who committed a string of sex offences including rape as well as coercive and controlling behaviour during his 17 years as a serving Metropolitan police officer, has been jailed for at least 30 years. “I was ridiculed, teased and shamed,” one of his victim-survivors was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper. “I […]
Domestic abusers sentenced to more than 200 years in jail
Thirty-two domestic abusers are serving a combined 215 years in prison following investigations led by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force since 1 April. Individual sentences range from 18 months to 15 years. “Behind the numbers are victims who have lived in fear and with the trauma of domestic abuse, sometimes for many years, before […]
Survivors’ changing attitude behind rise in DA reports, says police chief
Provisional figures show more than 2,000 domestic abuse incidents were reported in police in Northern Ireland between 17 November and 19 December, a 40% increase on the year-ago period. Arrests increased by around a tenth to about 500. Chief superintendent Davy Beck of the Police Service of Northern Ireland attributed the rise to growing confidence […]
New guidance issued to PCCs on handling perpetrators
The Westminster government has published seven guidelines to help police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales ensure effective interventions with domestic abuse perpetrators. Up to £36m has also been allocated to the work. The guidance is based on the need for interventions to be conducted at the right time by highly skilled staff. […]
Respect’s CEO recognised in New Year’s honours list
Jo Todd, CEO of Respect, has received a CBE in recognition of her services to victims of domestic abuse over 30 years. Starting out in survivor-support organisations, she later shifted her focus to addressing the root cause of domestic abuse: perpetrators. As a result she was among founder members of an organisation around the year […]
Government grants money for domestic abuse support
The Westminster government has allocated £257m for English councils spread over the next two years to ensure refuges and other safe accommodation can provide vital support to domestic abuse survivors. The help will include counselling, assistance with rehousing, financial advice and play therapy for children impacted by domestic abuse. The funding follows the introduction of […]
Men abused by false claims, says charity
Men are sometimes forced to stay in abusive relationships because their partner has threatened to make false allegations against them if they leave, according to Rhonda Lusty of the Men’s Advisory Project. Threats can include wrongfully accusing them of domestic violence or child abuse. Threatening to make false allegations to stop a partner ending a […]
Incoming chief constable hails force’s DA progress
Thames Valley Police now has one of the country’s highest arrest rates for domestic abuse-related offences three years after the force’s short comings were highlighted by the inspectorate of constabulary, according to Jason Hogg who becomes chief constable in April. “It was never in the report, but the inspectors told us informally that they identified […]
