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.
Julie’s Story
It was rather a whirlwind romance – Julie’s partner showered her with gifts and compliments from the very start and wanted them to be together as much as possible. She soon realised that he had virtually moved in with her and her two children – that every part of her life was being taken over by someone who was head over heels in love with her. It was lovely to begin with – but it quickly turned to jealous and possessive behaviour and then from that to violence and intimidation. He would accuse her of seeing her ex-boyfriend, and use threats and violence to control her – grabbing her by the arms and lashing out in anger. On one occasion he pushed her so hard that she hit her head against a wall. On another, he stole her car keys and crashed her car into a tree.
Julie knew that she needed to do something to protect herself and called the Police, who investigated and charged her partner with a number of offences. He was bailed on condition that he didn’t approach her or her home address, but he broke those conditions and turned up at her house with members of his family – shouting, threatening and trying to assault her.
“Even when he knew that the Police were going to arrest him again, he didn’t stop. It was like I belonged to him and he had the right to do whatever he pleased to make sure that I knew that and that I did what he wanted me to do. I couldn’t stay at our home anymore. I filled the car with some clothes and the kids and I went to stay with my Mum.”
But no matter where she was, Julie felt that she was being watched. When she went back to the house to get some belongings, he turned up with some young men wearing ski masks and carrying knives. She knew then that she could never return home and feel safe again. She asked for help in finding somewhere else to live, and her new property was installed with alarms and cameras to give her added protection.
She hasn’t had any contact from him in a while, and is hoping that he has finally given up. Her new address has been a target for vandalism and she has seen him driving up and down her street, but she hasn’t had any direct contact from him.
“This year so far has been absolute hell – I am hoping and praying that the worst is over and that, over time, the kids and I can recover and just go back to being a normal little family again.
See the full One in Twelve series here