Safe Newcastle Domestic Violence Strategy - Newcastle City Council

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3. Understanding Domestic Violence andAbuse What is Domestic Violence and Abuse? Defining domestic violence has historically proved to be problematic. In 2005 the Government agreed a core definition of domestic violence as follows; “Any incident of threatening behaviour violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality”. The Government also made explicit that such issues as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honour killings are encompassed within this definition. In order to achieve consistency across all agencies and sectors, the Newcastle Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership intends to adopt the Government’s definition. There are considerable benefits to be gained from a shared common definition, however the NDVAP additionally believe that in order to fully understand the complexities of domestic violence the following factors need also to be considered. Domestic violence is a systematic pattern of abuse that is committed within a current or non-current partner or family relationship. It is rarely a one off event. It includes a range of abusive behaviors that tend to escalate over time, and can occur in new relationships or after many years. Domestic violence includes, but is not limited to: Physical violence: for example Slapping, pushing, kicking, stabbing, damage to property or items of sentimental value, attempted murder or murder Sexual violence: for example Any non-consensual sexual activity, including rape, sexual assault, coercive sexual activity, or refusing safe sex Restricting freedom: for example Controlling whom you see or where you go, what you wear or what you do, stalking, imprisonment, forced marriage Emotional/psychological abuse: for example Intimidation, social isolation, verbal abuse, humiliation, constant criticism, enforced trivial routines Economic abuse: for example Stealing, depriving or taking control of money, running up debts, withholding benefits books or bank cards 6 Newcastle Domestic Violence And Abuse Strategy
1 British Crime Survey: England and Wales (2000) London: Home Office 2 Reder P and Duncan S (1999), Lost innocents. A follow-up study of fatal child abuse. London, Routledge. 3 Part 8 enquiries Why does domestic violence happen? Domestic violence happens because perpetrators choose to use abuse to exert and maintain power and control over another person or persons. The abuse continues when there are no negative consequences fortheperpetrator,ortheconsequences are not severe enough. Their choice to use violence is usually a significantly ingrained pattern of behavior. Victims and survivors find it hard to end the abuse because domestic violence is a crime that is often secret, difficult to accept and because they care about the perpetrator. They may also fear that telling someone about the abuse will make it worse. Other people who know about the abuse can sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, collude with the perpetrator and allow the pattern of abuse to continue. Friends, family or professionals can do this by minimising the abuse, refusing to believe the person who is being abused or saying that they deserve it. Doing nothing is also a form of collusion. Who experiences domestic violence? Domestic violence is not limited to any particular type of person or relationship. Anyone can experience domestic violence. Research evidence 1 indicates that the majority of domestic violence is abuse of women by men, but domestic violence also occurs in same-sex relationships, in heterosexual relationships when men are abused by women and in caring and other family relationships, for example when grown up children use violence against their parents. Lack of relevant research means that much less is known about these forms of domestic violence. Acknowledging that domestic violence affects a range of people does not diminish the experience of heterosexual women survivors/victims. Domestic violence also affects those people who are not being directly abused. It harms children, damages family relationships and causes friendships to break down. The costs to the survivor and those around them are extensive. Victims and survivors do not want to be abused, nor do they actively seek out violent partners and people, but perpetrators are sometimes skilled at identifying people who may be vulnerable. Domestic violence is experienced differently according to gender, age, ethnicity or race, social class, religion or sexual identity. Societal oppression and discrimination, such as sexism, racism and homophobia make it harder for victims and survivors to protect themselves or get support and therefore make it easier for perpetrators to get away with using violence. Who commits domestic violence? There is no typical perpetrator. Just as anyone can become a victim of domestic abuse, so perpetrators come from a range of social backgrounds, can be men or women, heterosexual, lesbian or gay. Research shows that most perpetrators of domestic violence are men. Perpetrators choose to use systematic violence against others because they have learnt that this enables them to maintain their control. Perpetrators make a conscious decision to abuse people; it does not happen because they are out of control or because they are provoked. Links between Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. There is a strong link between child abuse and domestic violence which is now firmly acknowledged and embedded in the Government’s approach to safeguarding children. Research demonstrates that children and young people can be negatively affected by domestic violence in all aspects of their lives, however service responses are inconsistent and frequently fail to address children’s needs. Statistics show that up to one third of child protection registrations result from children experiencing or witnessing domestic violence. On both a national 2 and local level, 3 we know that serious injury or death occur as a consequence of domestic violence. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 established that children suffer harm as a result of witnessing violence and abuse. The Children Act 2002 imposes new duties on Local Authorities to ensure local cooperation to improve wellbeing, make arrangements to safeguard children and to improve information sharing. Domestic violence is also strongly identified within Every Child Matters: Change for Children 2004, the Government’s approach to the well being of children and young people, as a cause of vulnerability which has a negative impact across the five outcomes identified: – Be healthy – Stay safe – Enjoy and achieve – Make a positive contribution – Achieve economic well being Newcastle Domestic Violence And Abuse Strategy
Page 1 and 2: Better Lives, Stronger Communities.
Page 3 and 4: Foreword Who experiences domestic a
Page 5 and 6: Victims Voices Peter, Father of thr
Page 7: “From first meeting to present da
Page 11 and 12: 4) ensure that victims of domestic
Page 13 and 14: 1 Incidents are recorded at the fir
Page 15 and 16: Newcastle Domestic Violence And Abu
Page 17 and 18: Number Objectives - To provide a vi
Page 19 and 20: The main themes covered by the staf
Page 21 and 22: 6.5 Areas requiring further develop
Page 23 and 24: Emerging Work with Perpetrators The
Page 25 and 26: “Thank you for helping me at such
Page 27 and 28: 9. Performance Management and imple
Page 29 and 30: L Local Area Agreement (LAA) A gove
Page 31 and 32: 5. The forum should have a mix of s
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Safe Newcastle Domestic Violence Strategy - Newcastle City Council

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