We can kick out monster of domestic violence for good

May 12 2008 Agenda

Conservative MP Theresa May, the shadow Minister for Women, calls for tougher action against domestic violence.

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I like to think that Britain today is a civilised country. We have electricity, clean water on tap, hospitals, libraries, schools, universities, cinemas, theatres and so much more. Yet behind closed doors there is a deadly monster lurking in our apparently modern and cultured society.

One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. It's a shocking thought - of the women you know, a quarter might be affected. And let's not forget the men either - some 20 per cent of domestic violence victims are male.

And the Government estimates that 750,000 children witness domestic violence each year.

Here in Birmingham domestic violence costs the city's services nearly £100 million every 12 months.

But these shocking figures are only half the story as most domestic violence isn't reported. In thousands of households, victims are suffering from often daily abuse, too frightened to tell anyone or ask for help.

They feel that the authorities can't help them or that reporting the abuse will lead to them being hurt even more badly than before or losing their children. Or maybe they don't want their partner to end up with a criminal record and go to prison, leaving their children without a father or a mother.

For these women, suffering in silence seems to be the only way to live. But in some cases, that can be deadly.

On average, two women a week are killed through domestic violence.

Apart from the distress and emotional and psychological damage, domestic violence also puts enormous strain on the police, the health service, social services and local authority housing. So it really does affect us all and we all need to face up to its existence in our own communities.

As the shadow Minister for Women I am determined to wipe out this despicable blight on modern society.

I'm working on proposals now that would help the next Conservative Government put an end to domestic violence. We're looking at a whole range of options, from better support for victims and their families through to policing and sentencing. But in the meantime I am trying to work with the current Government and back their policies that would help victims of domestic violence.

That's why we supported Section 12 of the Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act 2004 which allowed restraining orders to be extended to any offence, even after an acquittal if the court believes it is necessary to protect a person from harassment.

This would have offered protection to hundreds of domestic violence victims and helped them regain control of their lives.

The Act went through in 2004 and Section 12 was due to be brought into force on July 12 2007, nearly a year ago. But nothing has happened. I have pressed the Government time and time again on this matter - I wrote to Harriet Harman, the Minister for Women, on January 31 and on March 6. She said that there would be an announcement about the implementation of Section 12 shortly. And still nothing.

I find it unbelievable that the Labour Government can be sitting on legislation which has already gone through Parliament and should have come into force nearly a year ago which could help so many victims of domestic violence. The Government claims it is serious about putting a stop to this hideous crime so what is it waiting for?

Any government needs to be on the side of victims. The authorities need to show that they understand the issues and the sensitivities here. Many victims of domestic violence are unaware of the help available to them. Or they are concerned that people won't believe them or that reporting the crime will mean that their children are taken away from them. They are also terrified that the person who is violent towards them will find them and punish them.

All of these issues need to be taken into account when looking at how we can support victims of domestic violence, and prevent it from happening in the first place.

Often the best organisations to help victims are not Government, or big national groups, but smaller, local organisations who are in touch with their local communities. They hear what is going on, they know the victims, or they can spot the potential victims, and they can show that help and support are available and they are not very far away.

As a Conservative I think it is right to support these local, independent groups. They often have the expertise, and therefore the answers, that big government doesn't. In Birmingham you have got great organisations such as Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid, Roshni and WAITS - all doing fantastic work to help local women. Recognising, supporting and including the work of groups like this in any strategy to end domestic violence would be a priority of any proposals I put forward to David Cameron.

But as well as supporting the victims, I want to help put a stop to domestic violence before it even happens. It's a sad fact that surveys show that a significant number of young men and women think it's OK for one partner in a relationship to hit the other. The NSPCC backed a poll by Sugar magazine of 13-19 year-olds and found that 43 per cent thought violence was understandable in some circumstances, and 19 per cent of girls in the Midlands and Scotland admitted they had been hit by their boyfriends.

Giving more support to couples, recognising the importance of couple relationships and the struggles lots of families and new parents face is also vital. David Cameron has already announced our policy to provide new parents with help in those often difficult early years by training more health visitors who can offer support, guidance and advice. Couples under strain are couples who fall apart, and that is when the monster of domestic violence can take over a home.

A lot of people entering into relationships today may have come from broken homes themselves - maybe they lived in a household where domestic violence was a regular occurrence.

We need to help them see that normal, functioning relationships don't have to be like that. Yes, every marriage or relationship has problems but you can get through them without raising your hand against your partner.

I am really pleased that Birmingham Council has called for a massive campaign to educate people in the city about the terrible suffering that domestic violence can cause.

The more people know about it and talk about it, the more likely victims will come forward and seek help. We are a civilised society so let's kick out this monster for good.