A report examined homelessness in England, as part of a five year project. It said that: 'visible' forms of homelessness, including rough sleeping and statutory homelessness, continued to increase; 22 per cent of all homelessness acceptances in 2012-13 were due to the loss of private sector tenancies; temporary accommodation placements and 'out of district' temporary accommodation placements had increased; and these trends were particularly prevalent in London. The report said that front line homelessness services continued to reduce, and it raised concerns about cuts to legal aid and specialist services for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Source: Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Hal Pawson, Glen Bramley, Steve Wilcox, and Beth Watts, The Homelessness Monitor: England 2013, Crisis
Links: Summary | Crisis press release | Guardian report | Independent report
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined adolescent to parent violence cases reported to the police. It examined victim, offender and incident characteristics from 1892 cases, most of which involved violence against the person or criminal damage in the home. The study found that the majority of offenders were male, and over 75 per cent of victims were female.
Source: Rachel Condry and Caroline Miles, 'Adolescent to parent violence: framing and mapping a hidden problem', Criminology and Criminal Justice, Online first
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the views of children and young people on the impact of substance use on domestic violence and abuse. It discussed the implications for social care practice.
Source: Sarah Galvani, ' Drugs and relationships don't work : children's and young people's views of substance use and intimate relationships', Child Abuse Review, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A research report said that three quarters of girls and young women aged between 11- and 21 were unaware of the signs of domestic violence. While girls showed an awareness of the many issues involved in abusive relationships, their understanding lacked nuance. Without opportunities to develop understanding, young people could be at risk of believing that some unacceptable behaviour was 'just part of a relationship'. Some participants showed a willingness to excuse, forgive or accept behaviour that was rooted in jealousy and lack of trust and were vulnerable to falling into a pattern of accepting abusive behaviour. A range of sources of information and support were called for.
Source: Care Versus Control: Healthy relationships, Girlguiding
Links: Report | Children and Young People report
Date: 2013-Oct
An inspectorate report examined how domestic violence and abuse was addressed by the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. The report said that differences in practice and approach still remained between different Police Service of Northern Ireland officers and districts, despite the PSNI domestic incident policy aimed at fostering a consistent approach. The report noted increased reporting of instances of domestic violence and abuse, but that detection rates had fallen. The report called for victims to be adequately supported and placed at the centre of the criminal justice process.
Source: Domestic Violence and Abuse: A follow-up review of inspection recommendations, Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland
Links: Report | CJINI press release
Date: 2013-Oct
An article examined how African, Caribbean and White British women worked to hide psychological partner abuse. The paper noted that appropriate advice and support could make a difference to women in this situation.
Source: Carol Rivas, Moira Kelly, and Gene Feder, 'Drawing the line: how African, Caribbean and White British women live out psychologically abusive experiences', Violence Against Women, Volume 19 Number 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Oct
An article examined the costs of domestic violence using a life satisfaction approach. The results suggested that the cost of domestic violence could be as much as 10 per cent of national income.
Source: Cristina Santos, 'Costs of domestic violence: a life satisfaction approach', Fiscal Studies, Volume 34 Issue 3, Institute for Fiscal Studies
Links: Abstract | Open University press release
Date: 2013-Sep
An article presented the results of a study that tracked domestic violence cases in England over six years through the criminal justice system, and compared cases involving male and female perpetrators. Gender differences were found relating to the nature of cases, forms of violence recorded, frequency of incidents, and levels of arrest.
Source: Marianne Hester, 'Who does what to whom? Gender and domestic violence perpetrators in English police records', European Journal of Criminology, Volume 10 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Sep
A report examined the effect of legal aid reforms that required victims of domestic abuse to provide prescribed evidence in order to access support. It said that there was evidence that the regulations were restricting access to legal advice and representation. Half of the victims surveyed did not have the prescribed forms of evidence to access family law legal aid. 16.7 per cent of respondents had had to pay over £50 to obtain copies of the required evidence, and 37.5 per cent had had to wait longer than 2 weeks to get copies of their evidence. 60.5 per cent of respondents took no action in relation to their family law problem as a result of not being able to apply for legal aid.
Source: Evidencing Domestic Violence: A barrier to family law legal aid, Rights of Women/Women s Aid England/Welsh Women s Aid
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Aug
A paper examined how changes in unemployment affected the incidence of domestic abuse. 'Strong evidence' was found (in contrast to the conventional wisdom) that male and female unemployment had opposite effects on domestic abuse: an increase in male unemployment decreased the incidence of intimate partner violence, while an increase in female unemployment increased domestic abuse.
Source: Dan Anderberg, Helmut Rainer, Jonathan Wadsworth, and Tanya Wilson, Unemployment and Domestic Violence: Theory and evidence, DP1230, Centre for Economic Performance (London School of Economics)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jul
A report examined domestic violence cases where the victim refused to engage with, or withdrew from, the criminal justice process. It considered why victims refused to engage; measures taken to try to involve victims in this process and address their safety; the most effective way to ensure a successful conviction; and further steps that could be taken to improve conviction outcomes and victim safety.
Source: Domestic Violence, Non-Engagement or Withdrawal of Victims, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Jun
A report examined the implementation of a scheme providing a specific easement from job-seeking conditions for jobseeker s allowance claimants who are victims of actual or threatened domestic violence.
Source: ICF GHK Consulting Ltd, Domestic Violence: Implementation of JSA DV Easement and DDV Concession – Small scale qualitative research, Research Report 843, Department for Work and Pensions
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined how a sample of men accomplished desistance from abusive behaviour. Even men committed to desistance might require programmes to support them over a period of several years. Desistance was best understood as a process and not an outcome. The men's experiences underlined the need for interventions to be substantially more desistance-focused.
Source: David Morran, 'Desisting from domestic abuse: influences, patterns and processes in the lives of formerly abusive men', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 52 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined the 'Making Safe' scheme, a multi-agency initiative designed to provide a co-ordinated and integrated response to domestic violence by focusing on both victims and perpetrators. A key feature of the intervention was that it enabled victims to remain in their own homes, provided it was considered safe to do so, and re-housed perpetrators. The study highlighted the increased opportunities for victims and their families to engage in recovery work while remaining in the family home.
Source: Alan Clarke and Sarah Wydall, '"Making Safe": a coordinated community response to empowering victims and tackling perpetrators of domestic violence', Social Policy and Society, Volume 12 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
A report examined the coalition government's pledge to prevent violence against women and girls. Although there was good work in some areas of government, in other key areas the pledge was 'virtually meaningless'.
Source: Holly Dustin and Holly Shepherd, Deeds or Words? Analysis of Westminster government action to prevent violence against women and girls, End Violence Against Women
Links: Report | EVAW press release | Durham University press release | BHA press release | NAHT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-May
A study found that over half of young people aged 13-14 had some direct experiences of domestic abuse, whether as victims, witnesses, or perpetrators.
Source: Claire Fox, Mary-Louise Corr, David Gadd, and Ian Butler, From Boys to Men: Phase One Key Findings, From Boys to Men Project
Links: Report | Manchester University press release
See also: Claire Fox, Mary-Louise Corr, David Gadd, and Ian Butler, 'Young teenagers' experiences of domestic abuse', Journal of Youth Studies, Online first
Date: 2013-Mar
A report said that false allegations of rape and domestic violence might be rarer than previously thought. In only a very small number of cases was there sufficient evidence, and sufficient public interest, to prosecute a person suspected of making a false allegation of rape or domestic violence.
Source: Alison Levitt and Crown Prosecution Service Equality and Diversity Unit, Charging Perverting the Course of Justice and Wasting Police Time in Cases Involving Allegedly False Rape and Domestic Violence Allegations, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Report | CPS press release | Hansard | EVAW press release | Rape Crisis press release | Daily Mail report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2013-Mar
The coalition government published a revised action plan for delivering its strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
Source: A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls: Action Plan 2013, Home Office
Links: Action plan | Hansard | Home Office press release | EVAW press release | Labour Party press release
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined two recent coalition government proposals for 'victim-focused' crime prevention – the domestic violence disclosure scheme, and plans to criminalize stalking behaviour. These supposedly 'preventative' proposals were in fact responsive and problematic, as their implementation relied upon the existence of victims. Rather than effectively preventing abuse, victims' voices were instead being used to enhance and expand legislation. Criminal justice policies alone were unable to prevent violence against women, and more engagement needed to occur outside of the criminal justice arena.
Source: Marian Duggan, 'Using victims' voices to prevent violence against women: a critique', British Journal of Community Justice, Volume 10 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb