One of the reasons why domestic violence is considered a problem is the vast amount of people it affects. Statistics from the Home Office (2003, pp. 8, 9) shows that domestic violence claims 150 lives each year, accounts for a quarter of all violent crime and has more repeat victims than any other crime (on average 35 assaults are committed before there is contact with the police). It is also highlighted that domestic violence is highly under reported and a ‘hidden’ crime and according to the Crime in England and Wales 2001/2002 report, ‘under 35% of actual domestic violence crime is reported to the police’ (cited in Women’s Aid 2002). Attitudes regarding violence against women have also caused some concern. In a study conducted by the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust 1998 found that ‘1 in 5 young men and 1 in 10 young women think that abuse or violence against women is acceptable’ (cited in Women’s Aid 2002).
In order to address this problem the government have tried a number of initiatives. Last year the Home Office publication ‘Safety and Justice’ identified that the government were going to invest over £61 million to tackle domestic violence (Home Office 2003, p. 5). There policy is based on ‘prevention, protection and justice and support’ (Home Office 2003, p.11). There aim is to increase public profile of domestic violence via education in schools, reducing the historical view of the legitimacy of violence. Campaigns have also been implemented such as White Ribbon Day a worldwide campaign co-ordinated by Womankind and other voluntary agencies (Home Office 2003, p. 17). The media has also played a major role in this aspect for example, the BBC season ‘Hitting Home’ launched in February 2003, featured documentaries, dramas, help lines, surveys, internet sites etc, which are still available today (bbc.co.uk). This has been highly influenced by the feminist discourses bringing out essentially what was thought to be a private matter into the public domain.
The Home Office publication ‘Safety and Justice’ (2003, p. 18) also highlighted the need for increased awareness in particular groups such as the ‘LGBT community, people with disabilities, children, older people and people lacking the mental capacity’ and the best way to reach such groups. Current policy tends to benefit and be directed at ‘white young women’.
Other policies have been introduced to aim to reduce the risk factors associated with domestic violence. One major factor being the link between alcohol and domestic violence. It has been reported that 32% of domestic violence victims said that their attacker had been drinking (Home Office 2003, p. 18). The Licensing Bill is enforced to ensure, ‘that any license incorporates operating conditions with reference to crime and disorder, public safety and nuisance factors’ (Home Office 2003, p. 19). The Government is also committed to alcohol education in schools and has been working with the department of health on an alcohol harm reduction strategy to be implemented in 2004 (Home Office 2003, p. 19).
Such attention to risk factors, such as the involvement of alcohol, have been criticised by some as deferring the blame from the perpetrator and that they will not take responsibility for their own actions (Dallos and Foreman 1993, p. 18).
However the major source of help for women in domestic violence situations is the women’s refuge (Mullender and Hague 2000). These are largely coordinated by the Women’s Aid Federations (Alcock et al. 2004, p. 274). These refuges have come under criticism from movements such as the Black feminist Movement in that they identify that these refuges are largely beneficial for white women and ignore the different issues of domestic violence for black and minority ethnic women (Alcock et al. 2004, p. 274).
New legislations have also been introduced such as the overhaul of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill in 2003, which aims to strengthen the rights of victims and witnesses by rebalancing the power in the Criminal Justice System (crime reduction 2003). Numerous guidelines have also been issued to the police over the years after issues of domestic violence not being taken seriously. Most forces now have domestic violence units or domestic violence co-ordinators (Home Office 2003, p. 25). The Government has also proposed to make common assault an arrestable offence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, ‘giving the police more powers in respect of domestic violence’ (Home Office 2003, p. 26).
To conclude, this essay has highlighted some of the policies undertaken by the government in addressing domestic violence. It has shown how domestic violence became a social problem and the continuing effort mad by the government and outside agencies in addressing this problem. It has also shown that although policy is more directed at young white women measures are being taken to include other groups, highlighting the diversity and scale of this problem.
References
Alcock, C et al. (2004) Introducing Social Policy, Pearson, Essex. Pp. 273-275
Dallos, R and Foreman, S (1993) Domestic Violence, in Dallos et al, Social Problems and The Family, Open University, London, pp. 7-26
Mullender, A and Hague, G (2000) Reducing Domestic Violence: Women Survivors’ View Crime Reduction Research series Number 4, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit, London, Home Office
Muncie, J and McLaughlin, E (2001), Dangerous Places: The Family as a Site of Crime, in The Problem of Crime 2nd Ed., Open University, London, pp.191-238
Radford, L (2001) Domestic Violence, in May, M et al. (2001) Understanding Social Problems, Blackwell, Oxford, pp 70 –84.
BBC (2003) Hitting Home, found at
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Crime Reduction (2003) Legislation, found at URL:
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Home Office (2003) Safety and Justice: The Government’s Proposals on Domestic Violence found at.
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Women’s Aid (2002) Domestic Violence Statistics Fact sheet 2002 found at
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