High levels of drug use in domestic abusers, study shows
An average of three in five (59%) of those arrested for domestic abuse offences tested positive for cocaine and/or opiates, according to findings from seven UK police forces. The highest proportion was 85% from one area. The results also support anecdotal evidence that cocaine use is an exacerbating factor in domestic abuse. “We know there […]
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 […]
Camilla praised for her domestic abuse work
Queen Consort Camilla, who has spoken of her intention to continue raising awareness of domestic abuse in her new role, has been praised by campaigners in the field. Former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal tweeted: “Lots known about King Charles’s interest in green issues, less about Queen Consort Camilla’s passion for tackling violence against women […]
Cost-of-living crisis ‘adds to DA pressures’
The UK’s cost-of-living crisis is leading to an increase in domestic abuse cases and need for refuge spaces, according to Hestia. The refuge provider says it has seen a 30% rise in demand for spaces and support in the first quarter, and families are having to stay in refuges for longer as the cost of […]
Survey reveals extent of economic abuse
Economic abuse is potentially more widespread than previously thought, according to the Know Economic Abuse report by Refuge and The Co-operative Bank. One in six (16%) of around 4,000 adults surveyed said that they had experienced economic abuse from a current or previous partner. However, 39% of respondents reported they had experienced economic abuse behaviours, […]
NCDV in running for Law Society award
The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) has been shortlisted alongside large global legal practices for the 2019 Law Society’s Excellence Award for Pro Bono Services in recognition for its work with victims who cannot obtain legal aid and cannot afford a solicitor. Mark Groves, CEO of the NCDV, said: “I am extremely proud […]
Clare’s Law ‘father’ speaks in favour of law’s revision
Michael Brown, who headed the campaign which led to ‘Clare’s Law’ after the murder of his daughter Clare Wood, says he supports efforts to speed up access to its main benefit – whether an applicant’s partner has a history of violence. Under current rules, police forces have up to 35 days to respond to […]
Judge gives sobbing abuser no sympathy
A 26-year-old man who punched and bit his partner sobbed in the dock as he faced Judge Robert Egbuna at Derby Crown Court. “You need to stop crying in front of court. Your partner is here. She is the one that should be crying,” Judge Egbuna was quoted as saying by the Derbyshire Live […]
Hundreds of DA crimes recorded under new Scottish law
A total of 414 cases of coercive and controlling behaviour were recorded by Police Scotland in the three months after the activity was criminalised in April. Of those cases, 190 were reported to prosecutors and 13 people convicted. The constabulary has trained 18,500 officers and staff on domestic abuse and the new offence […]
Round up of initiatives
The coming together of 23 agencies to work with domestic abuse perpetrators in Cleveland has seen a welcome reduction in offending, says the local constabulary. Of the 43 people who started on the Matac scheme in its first year, 22 have been discharged and not committed any further abuse offences according to police records. […]
