Domestic Violence

[nfn]

In England the law has changed. The victim no longer has to report the abuse. ANYONE ie. a friend, neighbour or family member can make the complaint to the police and press charges. A very recent change in the law. If you know someone this might benefit please pass this information on

[Oneeyedvic]

Hi there - just curious as to your source of this story - I can't seem to find anything about a recent change in the law from sites like www.refuge.org.uk to the bbc'* ******* home. A google search has not come up with anything either.

[nfn]

OEV, my source is a social worker, managing a women's shelter. She passed this information to me because a close friend was being systematically beaten and my friend refused to report the violence to anyone but me (including her own mother). I talked to my SW friend as I was concerned for the safety of not only my other friend but also her children and was given the above information. I PRESSED CHARGES and although my friend has been asked to give evidence, she has NEVER been made to feel she has to (I was with her for every interview and examination), in fact my friend is still not pressing charges but has agreed to co-operate with the police whilst I continue to press charges.

[dove]

My abuser was reported through my parents,they thought he was gr8.

But I must say to you nfn although you are fighting for your friend, she may not be ready, any sighting of her boyfriend and she will be helpless once more, they are soooo manipulative,they dont even have to say any thing.

But I do wish you and your friend every good luck in the world.

If it does go to crown court, do expected to be let down by the system, remember theres always room for appeal on the defendants side, and god only knows why, but it does seem to sway in their defence.

Wish I had had a friend like you x

[nfn]

dove, the police are pressing charges but we don't have a date for court yet. my friend has faced her attacker several times since he was removed and she is showing resolve and bravery i cannot begin to describe. I am so proud of her for the way she is coping and she feels she needs to put him behind her and get on with her life. Then suddenly she announced that although she doesn't want anyone else to go through what she went though she still doesn't want to press charges (as he's the children's father). Now the Police and Social Services are supporting me to follow through the chargers. I AM PRESSING CHARGES

[dove]

does your mate want to press charges, does she still let him see the children? Are you still mates, by god girl you need as much support as she does at the moment, wish I could talk to u on a one to one.

MY HEART IS SO WITH YOU, X

Iwill subscribe to this thread and if there is any thing at all I can help you with, be assured I will.

[dove]

I would love to talk to your friend cos although what she has been through is awful and then some, please believe me, no one knows who i am but by god I have been through it, and would love to help someone else x

[kempie]

Just to clarify a point, the law has not changed (although it may well in 2006); the DPP have introduced new guidelines on how domestic violence cases are to be prosecuted in court - link.

At least this is a step in the right direction for all victims of this kind of abuse.

[nfn]

kempie, thank you for your post. I am living the changes in the law and am taking this b@stard through the courts

[jacey]

Well done nfn, you're a good friend:-)

[Gnisy]

I'd say it's about time. but this poses a problem because for the abuser to be charged there has to be a crime that has happened and it has to be reported. The latter is always harder to work on. The problem with laws being black and white ( you either did it or you did not ) is that humans aren't so willingly monochrome.

An abused victim maybe unwilling to press charges against their abuser because a) it's a lover, b) it's a family relative, c) it's her/his words against them who in most cases have a credible reputation. The first thing we can do for the victim is to get them to safe place, away from the torture and pain. Subsequent legal actions should be done with the victim's consent, otherwise it won't hold water in court and the abuser walks free.

Wishing nfn the best of luck with the charges. I admire your courage and resilience in this case.