An article examined the perpetrators of abuse among older women living in the community in Europe. 28.1 per cent of older women across all countries had experienced some kind of violence and abuse, in the previous 12 months, by someone who was close to them.
Source: Liesbeth De Donder, Gert Lang, Minna-Liisa Luoma, Bridget Penhale, Jose Ferreira Alves, Ilona Tamutiene, Ana Santos, Mira Koivusilta, Edith Enzenhofer, Sirkka Perttu, Tiina Savola, and Dominique Verte, 'Perpetrators of abuse against older women: a multi-national study in Europe', Journal of Adult Protection, Volume 13 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
The coalition government began consultation on the definition of domestic violence to be used by all agencies and all parts of government. It included the questions of whether the definition of domestic violence should include younger victims below 18 years of age, including boys; and whether coercive control should also be reflected in the definition.
Source: Cross-Government Definition of Domestic Violence: A Consultation, Home Office
Links: Consultation document | Hansard | Home Office press release | ACPO press release | Labour Party press release | Community Care report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the impact of domestic abuse on the health and lives of older women. The consequences of domestic abuse for older women were far-reaching, significantly affecting the long-term health and emotional well-being of those affected. There was little data available regarding older women and domestic abuse within the particular context of health.
Source: Julie McGarry and Christine Simpson, 'Domestic abuse and older women: exploring the opportunities for service development and care delivery', Journal of Adult Protection, Volume 13 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
The government began consultation on whether forcing someone to marry should be made a criminal offence or whether the existing arrangements provided adequate protection.
Source: Forced Marriage Consultation, Home Office
Links: Consultation document | NFM press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the nature and implications of the proposed legal aid cuts in family law cases raising issues of domestic abuse.
Source: Rosemary Hunter, 'Doing violence to family law', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 33 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A report examined the key barriers and issues for migrant women seeking safety and protection in the United Kingdom.
Source: Silenced Voices Speak: Strategies for protecting migrant women from violence and abuse, Rights of Women
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Dec
The coalition government published a report on progress in implementing its action plan on ending violence against women and girls.
Source: Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG): Action Plan Progress Review, Government Equalities Office
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the effect of a recent Supreme Court decision on the definition of domestic violence. The Court had rejected the view that domestic violence was restricted to cases where physical force had been used against the victim, and had held that it should be interpreted to include the use of emotional, psychological, or financial abuse.
Source: Jonathan Herring, 'The meaning of domestic violence: Yemshaw v London Borough of Hounslow [2011] UKSC 3', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 33 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the effectiveness of a programme of training and support in primary healthcare practices designed to increase identification of women experiencing domestic violence and their referral to specialist advocacy services. The programme improved both referral and identification rates.
Source: Gene Feder, Roxane Agnew Davies, Kathleen Baird, Danielle Dunne, Sandra Eldridge, Chris Griffiths, Alison Gregory, Annie Howell, Medina Johnson, Jean Ramsay, Clare Rutterford, and Debbie Sharp, ' Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) of women experiencing domestic violence with a primary care training and support programme: a cluster randomised controlled trial', The Lancet 13 October 2011 (online first)
Links: Abstract | Bristol University press release | UWE press release
Date: 2011-Oct
The coalition government began consultation on proposals to give people the power to find out from the police if a new partner had a history of domestic violence.
Source: Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme: A Consultation, Home Office
Links: Consultation document | Impact assessment | Home Office press release | ACPO press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
A report said that women who had experienced domestic violence should have access to legal advice for a wide range of issues – including many of the areas of law that the coalition government was proposing to remove from the scope of legal aid.
Source: Legal Aid Is a Lifeline: Women speak out on the legal aid reforms, National Federation of Women's Institutes
Links: Report | NFWI press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined how boys and girls in secondary schools viewed cross-gender and same-gender bullying. Boy-to-boy bullying was considered to be the least problematic: a boy physically harming a girl, even if in defence against the girl's bullying behaviour, was considered to be the most unacceptable.
Source: Catherine O'Brien, 'Young people's comparisons of cross-gender and same-gender bullying in British secondary schools', Educational Research, Volume 53 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined women, the night-time economy, and alcohol consumption. Women experienced 'palpable fear' concerning unprovoked violence towards them by (male) users of the night-time economy.
Source: Laura Sheard, '"Anything could have happened": women, the night-time economy, alcohol and drink spiking', Sociology, Volume 45 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined the interface between the police and child protection services in responding to domestic violence incidents. Notifications by the police triggered a new social work intervention in only 5 per cent of cases. 40 per cent of families notified had had no previous contact with child protection services in that area: but those cases most likely to receive social work assessment or intervention were those where the case was already open. Social workers also found that notifications conveyed little information on children's experiences of domestic violence.
Source: Nicky Stanley, Pam Miller, Helen Richardson Foster, and Gill Thomson, 'Children s experiences of domestic violence: developing an integrated response from police and child protection services', Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Volume 26 Number 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
An article examined the potential value of civil claims for rape. Notwithstanding its gendered limitations, tort law offered a means by which to recognize the wrong of rape and provide redress for the harm caused.
Source: Nikki Godden, 'Claims in tort for rape: a valuable remedy or damaging strategy?', King's Law Journal, Volume 22 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Aug
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on forced marriage. It accepted that 'much more' needed to be done to ensure a consistent and joined-up approach to the problem.
Source: Forced Marriage: The Government Response to the Eighth Report from the Home Affairs Committee, Cm 8151, Home Office, TSO
Links: Response
Notes: MPs report (May 2011)
Date: 2011-Jul
The Director of Public Prosecutions issued guidance on perverting the course of justice in cases involving rape and/or domestic violence allegations. He said that rape and domestic violence victims should be confident in reporting abuse without fear of prosecution if they were later pressured into retracting the allegation: but anyone who maliciously invented a false allegation of rape or domestic violence was 'still very much at risk' of prosecution.
Source: Perverting the Course of Justice: Charging in cases involving rape and/or domestic violence allegations, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Guidance | CPS press release
Date: 2011-Jul
A briefing paper examined the extent of forced marriage and its impact on the mental health of its victims.
Source: Manjeet Kaur Singh, Forced Marriage and Mental Health, Better Health Briefing Paper 24, Race Equality Foundation
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the viability of creating a specific criminal offence for forced marriage. Many of those surveyed questioned whether criminalization would be a better approach than investing in prevention, protection of victims, and better support services.
Source: Aisha Gill, Exploring the Viability of Creating a Specific Offence for Forced Marriage in England and Wales: Report findings, University of Roehampton
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
Researchers examined evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multi-agency risk assessment conferences for domestic violence. They considered how the model operated within the wider response to domestic violence; variation in existing practice among conferences; and potential areas for future development.
Source: Nerissa Steel, Laura Blakeborough, and Sian Nicholas, Supporting High-Risk Victims of Domestic Violence: A review of multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs), Research Report 55, Home Office
Links: Report | Summary | Research document
Notes: Multi-agency risk assessment conferences are meetings where statutory and voluntary agency representatives share information about high-risk victims of domestic abuse in order to produce a co-ordinated action plan to increase victim safety.
Date: 2011-Jul
A literature review found that there were 'clear links' between expressions and enactments of masculinity and sport-related violence against women.
Source: Catherine Palmer, Violence Against Women and Sport: A literature review, End Violence Against Women
Links: Literature review
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the type of assistance provided by local authorities and other specialist agencies to adults who were neither pregnant nor had any dependent children living with them and who had to leave their homes because they were fleeing domestic violence.
Source: Gemma Burgess, Anna Clarke, and Fiona Lyall Grant, Domestic Violence: Assistance for Adults Without Dependent Children – Final report, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
A report called for the prevention of violence against women and girls to be embedded in the education system. Headteachers should lead a 'whole school approach' on the issue, ensuring that sexist language and behaviour were consistently challenged, and that a culture of respect was created.
Source: A Different World is Possible: A call for long-term and targeted action to prevent violence against women and girls, End Violence Against Women
Links: Report | EVAW press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Jun
A briefing paper examined the situation of people with temporary immigration status who suffered domestic violence.
Source: Melanie Gower, Immigration: Domestic Violence, Standard Note SN/HA/4644, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2011-May
A study examined the feasibility of standardizing national legislation in the European Union on violence against women, violence against children, and sexual orientation violence.
Source: Feasibility Study to Assess the Possibilities, Opportunities and Needs to Standardise National Legislation on Violence Against Women, Violence Against Children and Sexual Orientation Violence, European Commission
Date: 2011-Apr
The Council of Europe formally approved a convention on preventing and combating violence against women the first binding text in Europe to focus on all forms of violence against women.
Source: Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, Council of Europe
Links: Convention | Explanatory report
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined domestic violence perpetrator programmes within the probation service. There had been a recent proliferation of somewhat standardized models of intervention, and consideration was given to what individualized approaches might require.
Source: David Morran, Paul Wolf-Light, Moira Andrew, and Rory Macrae, 'Re-education or recovery? Re-thinking some aspects of domestic violence perpetrator programmes', Probation Journal, Volume 58 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A project examined the impact of serious youth violence, gangs, and serious group offending on women and girls; and the response to it by organizations representing black and minority-ethnic women, organizations representing women as a whole, and the wider third sector. Women and girls experienced sexual violence, manipulation, and intimidation through their association with family members, loved ones, and peer groups.
Source: Carlene Firmin, This Is It. This Is My Life...: Female Voice in Violence Project – Final report, Race on the Agenda
Links: Report | ROTA press release | Catch22 press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A study examined the stability and sustainability of voluntary sector services dealing with violence against women. The main concerns were related to financial issues, and the fact that the sector might be 'highly vulnerable' to public sector spending cuts because of its heavy reliance on statutory funding.
Source: Lucy Heady, Angela Kail, and Clare Yeowart, Understanding the Stability and Sustainability of the Violence Against Women Voluntary Sector, Government Equalities Office
Links: Report | Consultation responses | Evaluation of special funds
Date: 2011-Mar
A new book examined the policy changes that had led to rehabilitation programmes for male perpetrators of intimate partner violence within the criminal justice system.
Source: Erica Bowen, The Rehabilitation of Partner-Violent Men, Wiley
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the social work response to families notified by the police (following domestic violence incidents) to children's services in two English authorities. Structures for assessment and intervention contributed to a 'stop-start' pattern of social work – one that seemed ill-suited to building the trust and engagement needed to deal with the issue of domestic violence.
Source: Nicky Stanley, Pam Miller, Helen Richardson Foster, and Gill Thomson, 'A stop start response: social services' interventions with children and families notified following domestic violence incidents', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 41 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined local multi-agency responses to domestic violence, in particular how the introduction of local crime and disorder reduction partnerships in the late 1990s had affected service provision. The process had resulted in the dominance of the statutory sector, a marginalization of voluntary agencies, and a partial alienation of women's groups.
Source: Peter Harvie and Tony Manzi, 'Interpreting multi-agency partnerships: ideology, discourse and domestic violence', Social and Legal Studies, Volume 20 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
The government published an action plan containing a series of detailed measures designed to tackle violence against women and girls – including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking.
Source: Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Action Plan, Home Office
Links: Action plan | Home Office press release | Labour Party press release
Date: 2011-Mar
A study examined violence against women aged 60 and over at the hands of existing and/or former intimate partners in 6 European countries – Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Source: Barbara Nagele, Urte Bohm, Thomas Gorgen, and Olga Toth, Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women, European Commission
Date: 2011-Mar
The Court of Appeal increased the sentences of three offenders who had sexually attacked women during burglaries in homes that the women were entitled to regard as 'safe havens'. Their original sentences had been referred by the Solicitor General to the court on the grounds that they appeared unduly lenient.
Source: Press release 3 March 2011, Attorney General's Office
Links: AGO press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Mar
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill designed to increase access to justice for victims of domestic abuse, and to enable police and prosecutors to provide a more robust response to breached civil protection orders.
Source: Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, TSO | Scottish Parliament Debate 16 March 2011, Official Report, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | Official Report | Glasgow University press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The government published its response to an independent review into how rape complaints were handled by public authorities in England and Wales. It said that the report s recommendations would form the foundation of its future work in the area.
Source: The Government Response to the Stern Review: An independent review into how rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales, Home Office
Links: Response
Notes: Stern report (March 2010)
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined how social workers worked with fathers who had committed domestic abuse. Fathers (especially non-resident fathers) were too often not assessed as a risk – or resource – to the child. They were often in contact with their children: but assessments or programmes were rarely offered that forced them to face up to their abusive behaviour.
Source: Cathy Ashley (ed.), Working with Risky Fathers, Family Rights Group
Links: FRG website | Guardian report | Community Care report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2011-Feb
A survey highlighted the case for legal aid as an essential tool for women seeking protection for themselves and their children from violence. Access to legal advice and representation should be improved, rather than being cut as the government proposed.
Source: Women's Access to Justice: A Research Report, Rights of Women
Date: 2011-Feb
A report by a committee of MSPs supported the general principles of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: but it opposed a proposal to remove the means-testing of anyone applying for civil legal aid to pursue a protective order in a domestic abuse case.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, 1st Report 2011, SP Paper 556, Scottish Parliament Justice Committee
Links: Report
Notes: The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill was introduced in May 2010. It was designed to increase access to justice for victims of domestic abuse, and to enable police and prosecutors to provide a more robust response to breached civil protection orders.
Date: 2011-Jan
The Supreme Court ruled that the term 'domestic violence' was not limited in law to physical violence: it included other forms of violent conduct such as threatening or intimidating behaviour and any other form of abuse that, directly or indirectly, might give rise to the risk of harm.
Source: Yemshaw v London Borough of Hounslow, UKSC 3 (2011), United Kingdom Supreme Court
Links: Judgement | Supreme Court press release | Womensgrid report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report
Notes: The Court was ruling in the context of Section 177(1) of the Housing Act 1996, which stated that it was not reasonable for a person to continue to occupy accommodation if it was probable that this would lead to domestic violence or other violence against them or other members of their household.
Date: 2011-Jan
The final text was approved of a draft Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women – the first binding text in Europe to focus on all forms of violence against women.
Source: Draft Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe
Links: Draft convention
Notes: The draft convention was due to be considered by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in March 2011.
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the organizational and legal context in which parties involved in claims relating to sexual harassment operated, based on an analysis of sexual harassment cases heard by employment tribunals between 1995 and 2005.
Source: Graeme Lockwood, Patrice Rosenthal, and Alexandra Budjnaovcanin, 'A quantitative and qualitative analysis of sexual harassment claims 1995-2005', Industrial Relations Journal, Volume 42 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
An article reported the first-ever national study of the needs of disabled women experiencing domestic violence. Support services frequently overlooked or responded inappropriately to disabled women in this situation.
Source: Gill Hague, Ravi Thiara, and Audrey Mullender, 'Disabled women, domestic violence and social care: the risk of isolation, vulnerability and neglect', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 41 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined domestic violence against women from minority-ethnic and Roma backgrounds in the United Kingdom and Hungary. Stereotyping and racism often contributed to women not being able to access adequate protection.
Source: Yesim Yaprak Yildiz, Fruzsina Baumann, and Sumita Dutta, Empowering Women or Perpetuating Victimhood: Minority ethnic and Roma women's experiences of domestic violence policy and service provision, IMECE Turkish Speaking Women's Group/London Training and Employment Network/Regional Social Welfare Resource Centre
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan