On 23rd July 2024 the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council published the first National Policing Statement 2024 about Violence Against Women and Girls.
The very first sentence in this significant report describes violence against women and girls (VAWG) – including domestic abuse – as having reached ‘epidemic levels’ in the UK. It refers to the data that informed the Statement as ‘staggering’. It goes on to say: “At least 1 in every 12 women will be victims of VAWG per year (2 million victims) and we expect the exact number to be higher”. One in twelve. It is time we heard their voices and challenged that reality. Here is one of those voices.
Elaine’s Story
Elaine (not her real name) sought help from her GP after a disturbing incident that occurred in her home. Without any warning, she and one of her children were physically attacked by her husband, one morning. The Police were called, and her husband was removed from the property. Since then, he has not been allowed to return to the property.
Elaine went to see her GP and collapsed in the waiting area. She could not make sense of what had happened and was frightened for the future. Being with her GP, she felt listened to for the first time:
“He listened and was with me for a time– he gave me lovely analogies and knew how I felt . He didn’t tell me what to do – he supported me in my own choices and give me a list of things to I could do.”
Elaine agreed that the GP could put her in touch with West Mercia Women’s Aid. Once she started to talk to us about her relationship, then she realised that she had been treading on eggshells for years – always doing whatever she could to avoid annoying her husband. She always put his needs above her own and those of the children, and his moods dominated her life at home – what she wore, who she talked to. And only now did she realise that her children felt like that too.
She is now working with our support to rebuild her self esteem and start to plan for a safe and happy life as a lone parent with her children.
This case study was obtained as part of our partnership with the IRIS project. Find out more here
