Last night’s Panorama: Domestic Abuse: Caught on Camera was a harrowing lifting of the lid on the simmering tensions some women and children live permanently within. Using real-life footage shot by police officers, the programme told the story of Dawn (pictured, below) who lived with a violent and controlling partner for more than ten years before he was eventually jailed for assaulting her.
The government is currently making a decision as to the extent the law on controlling behaviour should go. An announcement is due imminently on whether ‘coercive control’ and the elements making up controlling behaviour should be a specific criminal offence.
pam works closely with Merseyside Police on their Domestic Abuse Action Plan – allowing the force to fulfil its duties in terms of the Home Secretary’s priority to tackle domestic abuse, to show their progress and to monitor force performance against the action plan. But most importantly to protect vulnerable people and to target offenders.
- One in 10 prosecutions now involves domestic violence
- 100,000 people in England are believed to be at high risk of serious harm or murder from domestic abuse
- Nearly 80 women last year were killed by their partner or ex-partner
Sources: Office for National Statistics England and Wales, Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse England and Wales
pam is also working with police forces on exciting new innovations that will genuinely transform the way police forces and their partner agencies tackle domestic abuse. This will work to provide an improved experience for victims and vulnerable people as well as practical tools to ensure that offenders are brought to justice and that victims needs are served. pam is hoping play its part in reducing this all too prevalent and horrific crime.
The documentary is a tough watch but with a third of all reported assaults with injury being as a result of domestic violence it’s something we should all be aware of. Recent changes to the law around domestic abuse and the new domestic violence disclosure scheme, Clare’s Law, means we all have a part to play, it’s no longer a crime neighbours and friends can close their eyes to.
You can find the documentary on the BBC iplayer.