What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence affects both men and women regardless of ethnic origin or social status. It can cause lifelong harm to children. The financial cost to local communities each year in health, policing and social work services is staggering. It affects everyone in Tendring

Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling and aggressive behaviours from one adult, usually a man, towards another, usually a woman, within the context of an intimate relationship.

• It can be physical, sexual, psychological or emotional abuse. Financial abuse and social isolation are also common features.

• The violence and abuse can be actual or threatened and can happen once every so often or on a regular basis.

• It can happen to anyone, and in all kinds of relationships - heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). People suffer domestic violence regardless of their social group, class, age, race, disability, sexuality or lifestyle. The abuse can begin at any time - in new relationships or after many years spent together.

• Children are affected by domestic violence both in the short and the long term.

• Less frequently but still wholly unacceptable, men are abused by their partners, both male and female.

• All forms of abuse - psychological, economic, emotional and physical - come from the abuser’s desire for power and control.

There are many people who remain in violent relationships because they don't acknowledge what is happening to them. It's not easy coming to terms with the fact that your partner is violent or abusive toward you, and it's not unusual for the abused partner to minimise, or even justify what is happening to them.

If you are being abused, it’s not your fault. People often blame themselves because they are made to think this by the abuser; this is simply their way of justifying what they are doing to you. You should always remember that any form of domestic violence is wrong.
 

What can you do?

It is very easy to say that you must find help, but that is exactly what you should do. It might not be easy to talk to someone about what is happening to you, but you must. Either confide in a friend or contact one of the agencies listed below to talk to someone who can offer you emotional support and also practical help.

There are refuges where you can go to escape the abuse or perhaps move in with a friend or a family member.

A refuge is a safe house where people who are experiencing domestic abuse can live free from violence, many are able to cater for children and some are specifically for women from particular ethnic or cultural groups. There are over 400 refuges in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - you can choose to travel as far away from, or stay as near to your hometown as you wish, Refuge addresses are confidential.
 

For links to helpful local organisations click HERE.

Extent and nature: The Facts and Figures

	1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic violence over their lifetimes. (Council of Europe, 2002; BMA 1998; Home Office Research Study, 1999)
	‘Current or former partners’ in England in Wales in the year 2000/1 each week killed an average of 2 women. (Home Office, 2001)
	It's estimated that police receive a call from a victim of domestic violence every minute. (Betsy Stanko, 2000)
	Domestic violence incidents make up nearly a quarter of all violent crime. (Crime in England and Wales, Home Office, July 2002)
	Less than 35% of actual domestic violence is reported to the police. Some surveys put it as low as 11%. (Crime in England and Wales, Home Office, July 2002; Home Office Research Study, 1999)
	Just under half of victims will tell a relative or friend. (Home Office Research Study, 1999)
	In a 3 month period 128 of 180 victims of domestic violence were unwilling to pursue the allegation. (Metropolitan Police Research 'Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime' team)
	Out of an estimated 635,000 incidents of domestic violence in 2001/2 in England and Wales - 81% of the victims were women and 19% were men. (Crime in England and Wales, Home Office, July 2002)
	There are no significant differences between ethnic groups. Under-25s are most likely to be affected. (Crime in England and Wales, Home Office, July 2002)
	In a study of the take-up of services by Asian, African Caribbean and Arab women it was found that about half the women who had experienced domestic violence waited 5 years before they sought help. (Rai and Thiara, 1997)

Children

	There are children (16 years or under) in half of the households where there is domestic violence. (1999 Home Office study)
	It is estimated that between 1 third and 2 thirds of children in homes where the mother is being abused are also at risk of being abused. (Home Office, 2000)
	A 2000 survey of 1300 schoolchildren found that 1 in 3 boys thought violence against women was acceptable. (Survey by Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust)

Local Contacts

Colchester Rape Crisis Line

PO Box 548, Colchester CO1 1YP

Contact Telephone Numbers:

Helpline (24 hour answerphone): 01206 769795

Manager: 01206 367881

Youth Support Worker: 01206 543577

Family Support Worker: 01206 542123

www.info@crcl.org.uk

Availability of Services:

Office Hours 10am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Counselling and support also take place outside these hours by prior arrangement. There is no drop in service

CRCL provide support for children, young people and adult women who have experience sexual violence. CRCL offer Face-to-face and telephone counselling, support, advocacy and information. CRCL has a specialist Family Support Worker and Youth Support Worker.

Colchester and Tendring Women’s Refuge

Tel: 01206 500 585

Fax: 01206 500 325

e-mail: info@ctwr.org.uk

www.colchester-refuge.org.uk

Essex Police Tendring Division (Vulnerable Victims Unit)

Tel: 01255 254078

The unit, which is based at Clacton, has been set up to provide a comprehensive and appropriate response to these types of crime and will be staffed by a specially trained team of police officers dedicated to working on crimes fitting these categories. These officers will work closely in partnership with other agencies such as Tendring District Council and Victim Support.
 

Victim Support

Tel: 0845 30 30 900

www.victimsupport.org

A national charity with trained volunteers to contact people following a crime to offer a free confidential support and information.
 

National Contacts

Women's Aid 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline

Tel: 0808 2000 247

www.womensaid.org.uk

Women's Aid offers support and refuge for women and children affected by domestic violence.
 

BBC Hitting Home campaign

www.bbc.co.uk/health/hh

Information, help and support for anyone affected by domestic violence.
 

Home Office Break the Chain Leaflet

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/domestic-violence

Steps that people suffering from domestic violence can take. There are phone numbers for organisations plus advice for people who want to help a friend experiencing domestic violence.
 

Refuge 24-Hour National Crisis Line

Tel: 0990 995 443
 

Rights of Women

www.rightsofwomen.org.uk

A charity providing free legal advice by telephone to women in England and Wales
 

Victim Support

www.victimsupport.org.uk

Victim Support (0845 30 30 900) helps people cope with the effects of crime. There are separate advice sections for people living in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
 

Shelterline

Tel: 0808 800 4444

www.shelter.org.uk

Housing advice both for the homeless and people having difficulties paying their rent or mortgage. Numbers for local centres are published, along with information guides.
 

The Samaritans

Tel: 0345 90 90 90

www.samaritans.org.uk

Not only do the Samaritans provide an invaluable listening service, they also raise public awareness of issues such as depression and suicide.