Domestic abuse - your rights and the law

Average rating:

What does the law say?

The police have a duty to protect all citizens, so if you are feeling threatened or fearful you must inform the police.

A recent statement released from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said, 'Violence against women in all its forms is unacceptable and ACPO is leading the police service in doing all it can to protect and support victims and to arrest perpetrators and put them before the courts. We urge victims to come forward so that we and other agencies can help them.

'For some time ACPO has been calling for more consistent partnerships between all the local agencies involved in tackling domestic abuse. In some areas the need for better information sharing between local government and partners is particularly acute so that the clearest possible picture of risk is available and acted on to assist police in preventing domestic abuse.'

Refuge suggest that if a woman feels frightened by her partner's shouting, that she's living her life on eggshells, that she never knows if her partner is going to be charming one minute or angry and aggressive the next, then it's likely that she's experiencing domestic violence. 'We'd encourage her to get in touch with Refuge to find out more about what she's experiencing and to speak to an expert who understands the techniques of an abusive man. There is a national domestic violence helpline 0808 2000 247 which is run in partnership with Refuge and Women's Aid and provides free, confidential support.'

What about changes in the law?

The Government has recently recommended that women who are charged with murder for killing their partners after years of abuse be charged with manslaughter instead of murder.

Sandra Horley, OBE and chief executive of Refuge, says, 'It's a great step forward that the government is recommending that the partial defence of provocation is abolished. Refuge welcomes any review of the law which takes account of the suffering a woman has endured at the hands of a violent partner over a period of time.

'The law needs to recognise that for many women killing a partner may be the culmination of years of serious physical and mental abuse. If abused women were given more help in the form of refuges, police protection and injunctions, and psychological and emotional support, then they may not become so desperate as to take a life.

Some abused women who have experienced systematic and sustained domestic violence and who have repeatedly tried to get help, may feel driven to kill their partners in order to stop the violence in their lives. In some cases it may be a matter of self preservation. The law needs to recognise the desperate plight faced by victims of long term domestic abuse. We need to toughen the law in domestic violence cases and put an end to a man claiming that he killed in response to his partner having an affair.'

By Louise O'Connell