A study of 300 family court cases reportedly found that 61 per cent of the fathers involved had allegations of domestic violence made against them.
Source: Research for the National Association of Probation Officers, reported in The Observer, 15.12.02
Links: Observer report | NAPO homepage
Date: 2002-Dec
The cost of the domestic homicide of adult women was estimated at 112 million each year.
Source: Sylvia Walby, Economic Costs of Domestic Violence: Interim Report - Key Findings, Women and Equality Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7273 8880)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Dec
Researchers found that all local housing authorities in England use temporary accommodation at least occasionally for homeless households experiencing domestic violence. At the end of March 1999, nine out of ten local authorities were using it for this purpose. The researchers said that local authorities should see refuges as part of the provision available to them rather than viewing them as entirely separate. The government announced a new national 24-hour free helpline to help women and children fleeing domestic violence, and published a policy briefing on the links between homelessness and domestic violence.
Source: Debra Levison and Doreen Kenny, The Provision of Accommodation and Support for Households Experiencing Domestic Violence in England, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (01709 891318) | Press release 11.12.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000) | Homelessness and Domestic Violence, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Summary | Press release | Policy briefing (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Research found that almost a third of domestic violence cases begin or are intensified while a victim is pregnant, and that women trying to end a relationship are among those most at risk of assault.
Source: Press release 23.12.02, Metropolitan Police (020 7230 1212)
Links: Press release | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Dec
Under a new law applying in Scotland from 1 November 2002, men accused of rape and sexual assault can no longer question their alleged victims in court.
Source: Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
The government announced that it will be made easier for newly wed recent immigrants who leave a relationship because of domestic violence to stay in the United Kingdom.
Source: Press release 26.11.02, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A children's charity made recommendations to prevent parents and carers who murder children from escaping justice, including a review of the rules of evidence in criminal proceedings; a nationally agreed protocol for carrying out investigations; a review of the sentencing powers of the courts; greater court control of what expert evidence is used; and a full review of how and why some areas in England and Wales have greater conviction rates for these cases than others.
Source: Press release 1.11.02, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (020 7825 2775)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The Scottish Executive published a draft strategy for reducing the level of domestic abuse.
Source: Draft National Prevention Strategy: Domestic Abuse 2002, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Strategy
Date: 2002-Oct
Campaigners welcomed the proposals on domestic violence in the criminal justice White Paper, but said this must be part of a comprehensive, integrated national and local community strategy against domestic violence involving a range of justice, social and welfare agencies.
Source: Response to the 2002 Criminal Justice White Paper: 'Justice for All', Women's Aid Federation of England (0117 944 4411)
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Oct
The ChildLine charity said that children now seem to be more aware of the need to take action over sexual abuse, with half the children who call it doing so within a month of the abuse starting.
Source: Press release 25.10.02, ChildLine (020 7239 1000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
Research found that fewer men than women suffer from domestic violence, but that some male victims would benefit from support and advice regarding housing and welfare.
Source: David Gadd, Stephen Farrall, Damian Dallimore and Nancy Lombard, Domestic Abuse Against Men in Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
An article argued that 'routine enquiry' of women in healthcare settings about whether they have experienced domestic violence is not justified by current evidence.
Source: Jean Ramsay et al., 'Should health professionals screen women for domestic violence?: Systematic review', British Medical Journal 10.8.02
Links: Article
Date: 2002-Aug
Research showed that many teachers feel ill-prepared to deal with child abuse, and believe they could be missing vital signs of abuse because they lack proper training.
Source: Child Protection and Education, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (020 7825 2775)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers examined cases of serious injury or death suffered by babies at the hands of their parents or carers, and where parental explanations for the injuries were absent or inconsistent. It concluded that many cases of abuse are preventable.
Source: Peter Dale, Richard Green and Ron Fellows, What Really Happened? Child Protection Case Management of Young Children with Serious Injuries and Discrepant Parental Explanations, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (0207 825 2775)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
An obsession with street robbery is letting down victims of much more common and potentially more serious forms of violence, in particular domestic violence, according to a report from a crime reduction charity.
Source: Marcus Roberts, Violent Crime: Reconfiguring the Debate, National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (020 7582 6500)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 6.2
Date: 2002-Jul
The government proposed a legal duty on local education authorities to promote and safeguard the welfare of pupils, including an obligation on teachers to report evidence of child abuse.
Source: The Guardian, 29.6.02
Links: Guardian report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 5.3)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report found failings in police handling of shaken baby murders and assaults, with cases often investigated by a single officer with little or no training.
Source: Phil Wheeler, The Police Investigation of Shaken Baby Syndrome Murders and Assaults in the United Kingdom, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jun