• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Calls about children witnessing domestic abuse ‘rise 25%’

Calls about children witnessing domestic abuse ‘rise 25%’
Newsexplored
6th March 2020
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
7
A child's drawingImage copyright Getty Images

Calls to the NSPCC about children witnessing the most serious forms of domestic abuse have jumped 25% in a year, the charity has warned.

The number of reports that were referred to the police or local authorities rose to 6,642 in 2018/19 - up from 5,322 the year before.

The children involved were at “huge risk of harm”, the NSPCC said.

It is calling for the government to include more protections for children in the Domestic Abuse Bill.

The Home Office said children would benefit from “a number of measures” in the bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.

  • Lie-detector tests for domestic abuse offenders
  • Women ‘need better pay and abuse protection’

The BBC spoke to one support worker who said she had met a six-year-old boy who slept wearing shoes so he would be ready to run away from his abusive father.

“He was living with violence. If the attacks were on [his] mum, he’d be the one that would run for help,” said Lisa Briard, who works at Leapfrog, which supports children and their mothers in Wirral.

“He was on high alert. If there was a little bang in the room he’d jump, he’d keep an eye out. He never really relaxed.”

It took six weeks of visiting Leapfrog before he would take his shoes and coat off, Ms Briard said.

“That was a big achievement for him,” she added.

Figures shown to the BBC by the NSPCC suggest more than half (57%) of calls to its helpline about children witnessing serious domestic abuse are referred to local authorities.

data-ad-format="auto">

But children’s services do not currently have a legal obligation to provide support in many circumstances.

Alice’s story: ‘I felt like a possession’

When Alice - who is not using her real name - met her husband abroad it was, she now says, like a “fairytale”.

“We were friends, we fell in love. It was a true love story,” she says.

After 18 months together, the couple moved to the UK and had a daughter. Then things changed.


“I felt like a possession. He would pay for everything, he would do all the accounts and give me a set amount [of money] at the end of the month,” she recalls.

“Over time I just felt like my personality was being stamped out.”

Alice tried to shield her daughter from the abuse, but it still had an impact on her behaviour.

Alice says: “She went from having a sweet, kind little personality to being a bit rebellious and she knew she could play the two parents off one another. Unfortunately that doesn’t make for a very nice child.”

Both Alice and her daughter have now received therapy. “The difference is amazing, it’s like night and day. It’s wonderful seeing her blossom and learning about her feelings,” Alice says.

Emily Hilton, from the NSPCC, said the Domestic Abuse Bill currently fails to explicitly recognise children who witness domestic abuse as victims.

The charity is urging the government to include a statutory duty on local authorities to provide community-based specialist services.

“The bill in its current form fails to protect children from the devastating impact of living with domestic abuse, leaving thousands at continued risk because the help they deserve is not in place,” said Ms Hilton.

She added that the government was “missing a landmark opportunity to transform the way we help young people recover from the trauma of abuse”.

  • Number of women killed at highest level since 2006

The Home Office said it “fully recognises” the “devastating impact domestic abuse has on children and young people”.

“Children will benefit from a number of measures included in the Domestic Abuse Bill and the designated Domestic Abuse Commissioner has been appointed to encourage good practice in, amongst other things, the provision of protection and support for children affected by domestic abuse,” it added.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemsaboutabusecallschildrendomesticwitnessing
UK
6th March 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemsaboutabusecallschildrendomesticwitnessing

More in UK

  • Read More
    ‘Life was a party before Aids arrived in London’

    Views:7 By Sarah LeeBBC News image copyrightGordon Rainsford At the start of the 1980s, gay men in...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: ‘Do one’s duty’ as Queen makes ‘vaccine plea’

    Views:7 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe Queen features on many of the front pages after urging people...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Salmond and Sturgeon: How the best of political double acts fell apart

    Views:7 By Glenn CampbellPolitical editor, BBC Scotland image copyrightPA Media For 10 years Alex Salmond and Nicola...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    India in astonishing Test win over England inside two days

    Views:7 England have been bowled out for less than 200 in five consecutive innings Third Test, Ahmedabad...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Scotland Six Nations clash postponed over Covid outbreak

    Views:7 France are favourites to win the Six Nations after victories against Italy and Ireland Scotland’s Six...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Princess Latifa urges UK police to reopen sister’s kidnap case

    Views:7 By Jane McMullenBBC News image copyrightSUPPLIED image captionPrincess Shamsa fled her father’s estate in the summer...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Covid-19: A-level and GCSE results to be decided by teachers

    Views:7 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightGetty Images image captionThere will be optional...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: Teachers get ‘sweeping powers’ and Sunak’s ‘giveaway’

    Views:7 By BBC NewsStaff image captionMany of the papers focus on new rules to be announced on...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Covid-19: ‘Getting married is the most important thing’

    Views:7 By Kate Scotter and Phil ShepkaBBC News, East image copyrightBushfire Photography image captionIt is hoped all...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Neil Lennon: Celtic manager resigns with side 18 points adrift of Rangers

    Views:7 Celtic manager Neil Lennon has resigned with his side 18 points adrift of Rangers in the...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Newspaper headlines: ‘Faster path to freedom’ and stamp duty ‘to be extended’

    Views:7 By BBC NewsStaff image captionWednesday’s front pages continue to focus on how the UK will emerge...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
  • Read More
    Does Wales have a roadmap out of lockdown?

    Views:7 image copyrightGetty Images image captionThe latest lockdown started in Wales just before Christmas It is “impossible”...

    Newsexplored 6th March 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Super Bowl half-time show: How did The Weeknd do?
    Entertainment8th February 2021
  • Biden’s Covid stimulus plan: It costs $2tn but what’s in it?
    USA24th February 2021
  • Tiger Woods suffers ‘multiple leg injuries’ in Los Angeles car crash
    USA23rd February 2021
  • Nasa’s Perseverance rover in ‘great shape’ after Mars landing
    USA19th February 2021
  • Serena Williams leaves news conference in tears
    USA18th February 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Nottingham Trent University study to assess impact of traffic on hedgehogs
Coronavirus: Supermarkets called up for isolation supplies
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok