Domestic Abuse

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021

Domestic Abuse Act 2021 will provide improved protection for the many victims of domestic abuse (DA) as well as strengthened measures to tackle perpetrators. Key provisions include:

• For the first time, a new wide-ranging statutory definition of DA, incorporating abuses beyond physical violence, such as emotional abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour and economic abuse.
• New powers for the police and courts as part of a new system of DA Protection Notices and Orders (DAPNs/DAPOs) – the notices will enable victims to be provided with immediate protection and the orders include measures to prevent re-offending by requiring perpetrators to change their behaviour through mental health support or drug/alcohol rehabilitation etc.
• Recognising that an abuser can exert controlling or coercive behaviour on a victim, even if the parties do not live together – the specific offence of controlling or coercive behaviour will be extended to cover non-separation abuse.
• Extending the existing ‘revenge porn’ offence to cover the threat to disclose intimate images.
• Clarification of the law in order to further address claims around ‘rough sex gone wrong’ in cases involving death or serious injury through the creation of a new offence of non-fatal strangulation.
• Establishing in law the office of DA Commissioner and set out their functions and powers (Nicole Jacobs is already in the designate role).
• Placing existing guidance supporting the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (also referred to as ‘Clare’s Law’) on a statutory footing, i.e. making it a legal requirement to follow.
• Increasing access to special measures in courts to help prevent intimidation, e.g. screens and giving evidence via video link.
• Ensuring abusers will no longer be able to directly cross-examine victims in the family and civil courts.
• A new duty on Local Authorities, expected to come formally into effect from summer 2021, to provide support to DA victims and their children in refuges and other safe accommodation – such support could include therapy, advocacy and counselling. Eligible victims of DA will be automatically granted ‘priority need’ for homelessness assistance. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government noted Local Authorities have received £125 million from central Government to fund the new duty including for the commissioning of additional support services and improving links between existing providers.

  The amendments which, once brought into force, will make non-fatal strangulation a specific offence; and recognition that an abuser can exert controlling or coercive behaviour on a victim, even if the parties do not live together were welcomed. However, the need for more sustainable funding for support services to assist victims of domestic abuse to provide sustainability, stability and building capacity and resilience is needed.

How are children affected by domestic abuse?

Children can experience domestic abuse in many different ways. For example, they might get caught in the middle of an incident in an effort to make the violence stop, or they may be in the room next door and hear the abuse or see physical injuries following an incident of violence.

Even when not directly injured, children are greatly distressed by witnessing the psychical and emotional suffering of a parent.

We and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognise the devastating impact that domestic abuse can have on children exposed to it in their own home.

The Act provides that a child who sees or hears or experiences the effects of domestic abuse and is related to the person being abused or the perpetrator is also to be regarded as a victim of domestic abuse. This will help to ensure that locally commissioned services consider and address the needs of children affected by domestic abuse.

“Research carried out on behalf of the NSPCC suggested that around 1 in 5 children in the UK are likely to have been exposed to domestic abuse.

 Approximately 130,000 children in the UK are living in homes with domestic abuse where there’s a high risk of murder or serious harm – 95% of these children are often at home when abuse takes place”

(Radford et all 2011 Child Abuse and neglect in the UK today for the NSPCC)

 “Domestic abuse can have a detrimental and long-lasting impact on a child’s health, development, ability to learn and well-being. Children and young people who have lived with domestic abuse often experience intense feelings of responsibility, guilt, anger and a sense of despair and powerlessness over their lives”

(Safe Lives 2014 in Plain Sight : effective help for children exposed to DA report)

Are the effects the same for every child?

Each child will respond differently but the impact will increase when directly abused, witnessing the abuse of a parents, colluding (willingly or otherwise) in the concealment of assaults and whether other issues, such as substance misuse, are also present.

Some of the effects described in a briefing by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2004) include:

• becoming anxious or depressed
• difficulty sleeping
• nightmares of flashbacks
• easily startled
• complaining of psychical symptoms such as tummy aches
• wetting the bed
• temper tantrums
• behaving much younger than they are
• problems at school
• becoming aggressive or internalising their distress and withdrawing from other people
• lowered sense of self-worth
• older children may begin to play truant
• developing an eating disorder

Children may feel angry, guilty, insecure, alone, frightened, powerless or confused and have mixed feelings about the abuser and the non-abusing parent. Remember that these responses may also be caused by something other than witnessing domestic abuse. There, a thorough assessment of a child’s situation is vital.

Unfortunately, the risk of harm from domestic abuse to the victim and the children increases around the time of separation and may continue through contact with the abuser.

Local information and support

North Tyneside Harbour Domestic Abuse Support Service

Provides refuge accommodation for women, outreach for male and female over 16 years old, an IDVA service and group work. Access to the service is 24hrs a day by telephone with face-t-face contact between the hours of 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm Saturday. Telephone (0191) 251 3305, 03000 20 20 25 or visit www.myharbour.org.uk

Acorns project

Counselling, support and advice for children and young people, aged 6 – 18years old, who have witnessed domestic abuse. Telephone (0191) 200 6302 (office hours only) or visitwww.acornsproject.org.uk

Victims First Northumbria

Support and advice to victims of crime throughout Northumbria. Telephone 0800 011 3116 or visit www.victimsfirstnorthumbria.org.uk

Police

The police can take action against an abuser and give advice on home security and other matters. In an emergency ring 999, at other times ring 101 and ask for the crime desk or visit www.northumbria.police.uk

Housing

For housing advice and help with re-housing contact a customer service centre in person or by phone during office hours. You can ask for an appointment to see either a female or male officer in private if you wish. For emergency accommodation (out of hours) telephone (0191) 200 6800.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland

For women who need to talk to someone about rape or sexual abuse. Telephone (0191) 222 0272 (General enquires and referrals), email [email protected] or visit www.rctn.org.uk