Attorney General's Office

Attorney General urges new thinking on domestic violence

The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, is urging all men to stand up against domestic violence "for the women in our lives."

Baroness Scotland said: "Certainly, men can suffer from domestic violence - and reporting it can be especially hard - but the fact is that most repeat victims are women. That doesn't mean that we should only focus on women - we need to get men talking about it, and we need together to help all victims and their children.

"I'm calling on all good men to stand up and be counted in the fight against domestic violence - for the sake of the women in their lives: friends, colleagues and relations.

"I want people not to be ashamed about talking about domestic violence if it is happening to them, and not to be silent when they fear it may be happening to a person about whom they care. This is our chance to change the culture in which violence is accepted and I want to hear the male voice right alongside those of good women and children."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Violence against women and girls is completely unacceptable. I urge all men to help tackle this issue by looking out for signs of violence, encouraging victims to have the confidence to come forward and report these appalling crimes so we can bring the perpetrators to justice.

"Much has already been done to increase protection for victims. One of the commitments in our violence against women and girls strategy is to invest over £5m in 2010/11 for Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and the further roll-out of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences to cover all geographical areas. This will ensure that intervention is early, coordinated and targeted to the needs of individual high-risk victims and their children. As well as this we are planning new powers to exclude perpetrators from victims' homes for up to 28 days giving victims a breathing space to apply for longer term protection."

The Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, said: "More and more measures have been put in place to support victims of domestic violence and bring them justice, but early intervention is always best."

The Attorney is urging men to think about these five things:

Learn more about the signs of DV and what steps can be taken to stop it - it won't always be physical;
If you suspect a friend of inflicting partner violence, DV helplines can offer advice on what to do;
Look after your colleagues. DV doesn't only take place in the home. Many victims are targeted at work - from harassing phone calls and abusive partners arriving at the office unannounced, to actual physical assaults;
In March, National Domestic Violence Month and in November, wear a white ribbon for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women;
Are you an employer? Make information available (for example, workplace policies, information in public places, helpline numbers, and not only in the ladies' loos).
Supporting the Attorney's call to action, the White Ribbon Campaign is a charity working to end men's violence against women.

Chris Green, director of White Ribbon Campaign UK, said:

"The White Ribbon Campaign is made up of men challenging violent behaviour towards women and girls, and challenging a culture which condones a commodification of women and young women.

"WRC UK welcomes this initiative of the Attorney General, and looks forward to the day when government, local authorities, health authorities, and companies all actively campaign to ensure that violence against women and girls is eliminated. We are happy to award White Ribbon authority status to those authorities which can show that they are actively pursuing the elimination of violence against women in their communities."

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For more information, please contact the press office on 0207 271 2484 or email press.office@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:
The Attorney General is the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government, and has responsibility for superintending the prosecuting authorities in England, Wales and (until devolution) Northern Ireland.

The most recent domestic violence speech given by the Attorney General was on 11 March. It can be found under 'news centre' at www.ago.gov.uk

On 25 November 2009 the Government announced its strategy: 'Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls', which signals a new focus on preventing violence from happening.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/violence-against-women-and-girls

There was a 64% decline in the incidence of domestic violence between 1997 and 2008-09 according to the British Crime Survey. In 1997 it accounted for 23% of violent crime; it now accounts for 14%.

Links:
The White Ribbon Campaign UK: men working to end violence against women
www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk

Baroness Scotland is also the Chair of the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence, which aims to assist employers to develop good practice to protect and support victims.
www.caadv.org.uk

Information and advice can be found on the Home Office website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/domestic-violence-leaflet/index.html

Helplines:
English National Domestic Violence: 0808 2000 247
The Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf.

The Helpline can give support, help and information over the telephone, wherever the caller might be in the country. The Helpline is staffed 24 hours a day by fully trained female helpline support workers and volunteers. All calls are completely confidential. Translation facilities for callers whose first language is not English, and a service for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing are available.

Northern Ireland Women's Aid: 0800 917 1414

Scottish Domestic Abuse: 0800 027 1234

Wales Domestic Abuse: 0808 80 10 800

Male Advice & Enquiry: 0808 801 0327

Dyn Wales/Dyn Cymru: 0808 801 0321 (for men experiencing DV)

Forced Marriages Unit: 0207 088 0151

Respect (for male victims of DV): 0808 801 0327

Broken Rainbow (for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender victims): 0300 999 5428