No Defence for Abuse Strategy
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Advice and Support If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse and need help or support you can MC: GIEEDFH through your welfare service, via the Police or from specialist organisations, whose details are provided below, who exist to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse. If you need help in an emergency, if you fear for your safety or that of someone else you should always call 999 or the relevant emergency number if overseas. National Domestic Violence Helpline www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk - 0808 2000 247 The Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf. For advice in Northern Ireland: 0800 9117 14 4, Scotland: 0800 027 1234 or Wales: 0808 80 10 800. Refuge www.refuge.org.uk - 0808 2000 247 No matter what your experience – domestic violence, sexual violence, ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage, 89>& O\THU [YHjJRPUN VY TVKLYU ZSH]LY` b BLM\NL HYL [OLYL [V Z\WWVY[ `V\( BLM\NL Y\U H YHUNL VM ZWLJPHSPZ[ services to help survivors access safety and rebuild their lives. Women’s Aid www.womensaid.org.uk - 0808 2000 247 GVTLUfZ 3PK PZ [OL UH[PVUHS JOHYP[` ^VYRPUN [V LUK KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL HNHPUZ[ ^VTLU HUK JOPSKYLU( DOL` LTWV^LY Z\Y]P]VYZ I` RLLWPUN [OLPY ]VPJLZ H[ [OL OLHY[ VM [OLPY ^VYR& ^VYRPUN ^P[O HUK MVY ^VTLU HUK JOPSKYLU I` SPZ[LUPUN [V them and responding to their needs. SSAFA the Armed Forces charity www.ssafa.org.uk – 0800 731 4880 SSAFA provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving, or has ever served, and their families including those experiencing domestic abuse. Their Stepping Stone Homes are a safe place to stay for women and their children experiencing domestic abuse. Men’s Advice Line www.mensadviceline.org.uk - 0808 801 0327 >LUfZ 3K]PJL =PUL PZ H JVUgKLU[PHS OLSWSPUL MVY TLU L_WLYPLUJPUN KVTLZ[PJ ]PVSLUJL MYVT H WHY[ULY VY L_'WHY[ULY VY from other family members. Mankind Initiative www.mankind.org.uk - 01823 334244 DOPZ JVUgKLU[PHS OLSWSPUL PZ H]HPSHISL MVY HSS TLU HJYVZZ [OL E< Z\iLYPUN MYVT KVTLZ[PJ ]PVSLUJL VY KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL by [OLPY J\YYLU[ VY MVYTLY ^PML VY WHY[ULY #PUJS\KPUN ZHTL'ZL_ WHY[ULY$( Galop www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse - 0800 999 5428 9HSVW ViLYZ LTV[PVUHS HUK WYHJ[PJHS Z\WWVY[ MVY =94D% WLVWSL L_WLYPLUJPUN KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL( Respect www.respect.uk.net - 0808 802 4040 The Respect Phoneline is for anyone who is concerned about their own behaviour towards their partner (male, MLTHSL& PU OL[LYVZL_\HS VY ZHTL'ZL_ YLSH[PVUZOPWZ$( 2 No Defence for Abuse Foreword Domestic abuse can, and does, happen to anyone. It is indiscriminate of age, gender, race, profession VY ZVJPHS IHJRNYV\UK( ;U [OL E< HYV\UK VUL PU .>?;< D< /;<;C9; 4H7N MV\Y ^VTLU HUK VUL PU ZP_ TLU ^PSS IL HiLJ[LK I` General Sir Nick Carter domestic abuse in their lifetime, and the NSPCC YLWVY[Z [OH[ HYV\UK VUL PU g]L JOPSKYLU OH]L ILLU L_WVZLK [V KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL( 6LMLUJL YLhLJ[Z society and so, whilst we have no evidence to Z\NNLZ[ [OH[ KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL PZ TVYL VY SLZZ WYVSPgJ within the Defence community, it is reasonable to HZZ\TL [OH[ V\Y WLVWSL HYL HiLJ[LK [V H[ SLHZ[ [OL same extent. First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones Whatever the number of those impacted by domestic abuse, it is too many; no one should live in fear. So we must play our part to change this. That Z[HY[Z I` [HSRPUN VWLUS` HUK YLTV]PUN [OL Z[PNTH ZVTL[PTLZ HZZVJPH[LK ^P[O ZLLRPUN OLSW VY JHSSPUN out abuse. DOPZ gYZ[ 6LMLUJL 6VTLZ[PJ 3I\ZL C[YH[LN`& .>?;< D< H>; 1;C;F7A 4H7N JV]LYPUN [OL UL_[ g]L `LHYZ& ^PSS SVVR [V JVVYKPUH[L General Mark Carleton-Smith LiVY[Z HPTLK H[ YLK\JPUN [OL YH[L HUK PTWHJ[ of domestic abuse and increase the safety and ^LSSILPUN VM HSS [OVZL HiLJ[LK( GL ^PSS KL]LSVW a culture of support and play our part to support the criminal justice system where appropriate, but also provide pathways that aim to rehabilitate perpetrators and put a permanent end to abusive ILOH]PV\YZ( GL ^PSS ^VYR HJYVZZ VYNHUPZH[PVUHS HUK .>?;< D< H>; -?F 4H7N departmental boundaries to ensure the quality and Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier accessibility of services that are readily available so that anyone experiencing domestic abuse has prompt access to help and support regardless of their location or position as serving person, family member or civilian employee. We will do more to IYLHR KV^U [OL PU]PZPISL ^HSS [OH[ KL[LYZ ]PJ[PTZ MYVT HZRPUN MVY OLSW( GL T\Z[ OH]L Z`Z[LTZ PU place that allow us to respond and support as soon Chief of Defence People HZ P[ PZ ULLKLK HUK [V TH_PT\T LiLJ[( Lieutenant General Richard Nugee Through delivering this strategy it is our aim that anyone experiencing any form of domestic abuse will reach out. There is help available. You will be supported. DOLYL PZ UV Q\Z[PgJH[PVU& UV WSHJL HTVUNZ[ V\Y community and no defence for abuse. Permanent Secretary Stephen Lovegrove 4 No Defence for Abuse Our Responsibility As an employer, Defence has a moral and legal duty What does this strategy aim to VM JHYL MVY V\Y WLYZVUULS( 4\[ ^L HSZV YLJVNUPZL achieve? a responsibility that extends beyond that, as articulated in The Armed Forces Covenant, that The aim of this strategy is to: those who serve or have served, and their families, should be treated fairly. We should create and Reduce the prevalence and impact maintain an environment that does not tolerate of domestic abuse and increase the domestic abuse and raises awareness of Defence’s domestic abuse and related policies as well as the safety and wellbeing of all those sources of help available to those experiencing, 7N;9H;: 8L, or exposed to, domestic abuse within the Defence • raising awareness of domestic abuse across the community. An employer that demonstrates that Defence community P[ PZ H^HYL VM KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL HUK HJRUV^SLKNLZ that it may be an issue faced by its people, and • creating a culture where domestic abuse is not WYV]PKLZ Z\WWVY[ [OH[ LUZ\YLZ Z[Hi HYL H^HYL VM [OL tolerated and where victims feel safe to report help available, can help to reduce fear that often HI\ZL HUK ZLLR Z\WWVY[ WYL]LU[Z [OL Z\Y]P]VY [V ZLLR OLSW HUK Z\WWVY[( • educating Defence leaders to recognise and [HJRSL KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL PU H YVI\Z[ THUULY( The Armed Forces Families’ Strategy highlights that • WYV]PKPUN V\Y WLVWSL ^P[O [OL ZRPSSZ& RUV^SLKNL optimal Operational Capability relies on recognising and protocols to further improve our response to the Service Person as part of a wider family unit domestic abuse whose trust must be secured and maintained. It also YLSPLZ VU LUHISPUN H ^VYRMVYJL [OH[ PZ WO`ZPJHSS`& • ensure that the voice and experience of children mentally and emotionally healthy. HUK HK\S[Z HiLJ[LK I` KVTLZ[PJ HI\ZL PUMVYTZ and shapes the provision of pathways of support There is no room for discretion; we must act to • providing victims of domestic abuse with support our people. access to pathways of support and appropriate interventions This strategy, which sits alongside the Armed Forces Families’ Strategy and Defence People Mental • providing rehabilitation pathways for perpetrators Health and Wellbeing Strategy, is written for all wherever possible 6LMLUJL ALVWSL ' BLN\SHY HUK BLZLY]L ALYZVUULS& • supporting the criminal justice process, CLY]PJL MHTPSPLZ& HUK 6LMLUJL JP]PSPHUZ ' WYHJ[PJHS especially where MOD or Service police have action and support will be provided to these groups jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute PU KPiLYPUN ^H`Z [V YLhLJ[ KPiLYLU[ LTWSV`TLU[ • proactively engaging with civilian specialist models and demands. agencies to support survivors and address perpetrator behaviour to prevent future abuse • ensuring that the safety of survivors is paramount • WYV]PKPUN H ZHML ^VYRPUN LU]PYVUTLU[ No Defence for Abuse 5 Understanding Domestic Abuse 6VTLZ[PJ HI\ZL PZ KLgULK I` [OL 9V]LYUTLU[ HZ of depression and show emotional distress. “any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, DOL ^H` [OH[ JOPSKYLU JHU IL HiLJ[LK KLWLUKZ coercive, or threatening behaviour, violence or on a wide range of factors including: age and abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, developmental stage, gender, ethnicity, position or have been, intimate partners or family members within the family, their access to safety and regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can L_PZ[LUJL VM Z\WWVY[ UL[^VYRZ( encompass, but is not limited to psychological, WO`ZPJHS& ZL_\HS& gUHUJPHS VY LTV[PVUHS HI\ZLd( It is also important to recognise that domestic abuse may also result in adult safeguarding issues, Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed HUK HK\S[Z ^OV OH]L WYL'L_PZ[PUN HKKP[PVUHS JHYL [V THRL H WLYZVU Z\IVYKPUH[L HUK)VY KLWLUKLU[ and support needs being particularly vulnerable. by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour. Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.