We have always been very concerned by court orders which allow contact with a domestically violent parent on the grounds that the violence was between the parents themselves and not the children. However this new research highlights what we’ve said for many years: that domestic violence between parents does affect children and causes them direct harm. Whilst it doesn’t take a genius to work this out, it does, apparently, require research…..
The report goes on to explain that, “As well as witnessing the abuse of a parent, 62% of the children had experienced direct abuse in the form of physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. Despite this, just over half (54%) of these children were known to children’s social care services…
In most of the incidents the child abuse was perpetrated by the same person responsible for abusing the adult victim: usually the child’s father or their mother’s male partner.”
The report also notes that a quarter of the children displayed abusive behaviour usually directed at the mother, sibling or friend, rather than the abuse perpetrator. The charity responsible for this research (CAADA) estimates 130,000 children are at high risk of serious harm or death from domestic abuse, while hundreds of thousands more are exposed to abuse at lower risk levels.
The charity’s recommendations for dealing with this enormous problem are as follows:
- Create a network of nominated lead professionals on domestic abuse and safeguarding across all agencies who work with families, with a shared understanding of risk assessment.
- Provide linked specialist domestic abuse services for adults and children.
- Monitor provision and outcomes for children exposed to domestic abuse.
What the charity does not address, is the heightened fear parents have, usually mothers, about coming forward. This may in part account for the huge discrepancy in numbers of children known to social services. The fear of social services taking these children away from these mothers, despite many of them being able to protect their children from harm (and come forward precisely because they have the courage and state of mind to do so) is often what keeps these cases hidden from support services.
Until social workers implement the recommendations above, improve their training levels and learn to work with and not against the alerting parent, we can expect to see many more cases go under the radar.
(For an interesting read from over the pond, do check out this article from the Stop Abuse Campaign.)
daveyone1 said:
Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
LikeLike
forcedadoption said:
The absurdity of the family courts comes when the parent that has been abused is punishd twice more by being deprived of all future contact with the children for “failing to protect them “from witnessing abuse even when it is only verbal and the abusive partner is miles away; and worse still if the abused parent is a mother any future baby she has will frequently be confiscated and given to strangers for forced adoption !
LikeLike
Dana said:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2570379/Jilted-dad-jailed-bludgeoning-ex-girlfriend-death-rolling-pin-bid-win-custody-toddler-daughter.html
LikeLike
James Williams said:
When I have engaged with official domestic violence organizations I have found them to be heavily influenced by pro-feminist individuals or those representing such groups who have a funding interest in promoting the female victim model.
What is consistently ignored in gathering official research is the reluctance by males to report domestic abuse. It may be that the lack of support facilities for male victims is a discouragement, but having Stop Violence Against Women campaigns does nothing to encourage men from coming forward. Under reporting by males can be up to 3 times as bad as it is for females. As if to support this, males going to see their doctors over a medical problem is significantly higher than it is for females.
I have found from my own engagements that ‘so-called’ feckless fathers who walk out on their families are often victims of emtional and sometimes physical abuse. What is more, mothers are often quite willing to use children as a means of inflicting emotional and finanicial abuse. I have a 19 year old young man o my records whose partner is assaulting him regularly, but he dare not leave because he has been told he will never see their young son again if he does.
Also, I have actively engaged with homeless people (about 90% of whom are men) a significant proportion of these are also victims of domestic violence.
Organizations that come out with research claiming males are the main abusers will often use data gained from sources such as police records. I have found that there is an inherent bias by many police forces in the way they deal with domestic violence which leans towards a tendency to arrest men rather than women. Although, there is some evidence that this attitude is changing.
On top of that if you look at research produced by M. Fiebert et al, Prof Don Dutton, Dr. Murray-Straus and our own Brit, Dr. Nicola Graham-Kevan consistently shows that women are slightly more violent than men (53:47).
LikeLike
Kenneth Lane said:
James is entirely correct. Fact is domestic violence and domestic abuse are NOT gender specific, and all independent studies confirm this is so.
Yet such independent studies seem to be ignored when anyone broaches the subject. Moreover, to compound matters, officials speaking out often support their view, either with a spokesperson from Women’s Aid, or reference to WA ‘research’.
Consequently, a whole industry has evolved around women being the only victims.
Whilst this is as inappropriate as it is wrong – these uncomfortable truths not only detract from DV and domestic abuse from being dealt with seriously; but, as a result of ignoring half of the problem it follows that existing ‘official thinking’, for over a decade, has been to promulgate what it claims it seeks to prevent.
Perhaps its not too soon for policymakers to pull their heads out of the sand and start thinking based on the facts as they are known rather than as imagined to be – before implementing policy in this important area; rather than adopting a self evident one-side approach. In so doing, perhaps some of the longstanding damage can actually begin to be undone.
LikeLike
Dana said:
I think both men and women are capable of inflicting terrible violence emotionallly and physically and abuse each other, often declaring their love in the same breath! When couples split its usually one sided. When children are involved they can be used as leverage. Same applies to money. Some people having emotionally invested in a relationship are loath to end it and those feelings should never be underestimated. This all too human condition is exploited in the courts! Especially if there are children. That’s what needs to change.
LikeLike
Kenneth Lane said:
I agree Dana, although some research does indicate that actual physical harm is proportionately worse ‘male to female’ – given that men are physically bigger. That said, in the broader context of domestic abuse and DV there are indications from research, including that highlighted by James Williams sighted above that women are slightly more violent.
James informed reference to the plight of the homeless makes stark reading, and is most likely as a direct result of the one-sided approach taken toward DV by policymakers. The plight of such people should not be ignored or forgotten – people need the right help, support and early intervention before they reach this point – but their is precious little out there, unless you are female.
Govt cannot but be aware of the extent of the problem, and consequences of failed policy. Question is, what is Govt doing, or intend doing, to put right this wrong?
LikeLike
Pingback: Judge Forces Mother Whose Throat Was Slit By Partner To Write To Him Whilst In Prison | Researching Reform
bcbonusmom said:
Reblogged this on A Day In The Life of A BCBonusMom ………...
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: NEW: Protection Orders For Victims Of Domestic Violence Extended To Include Their Children (US) | Researching Reform
Pingback: Interesting Child Welfare Questions In The House Of Commons | Researching Reform