Category Archives: Domestic Violence

Another tragic case of missed opportunities – Refuge responds to domestic homicide review into death of Eystna Blunnie

A domestic homicide review into the death of 19 year old Eystna Blunnie has identified a number of missed opportunities to protect her. (BBC News)

Sandra Horley CBE, chief executive of national domestic violence charity, Refuge, says:

“Eystna Blunnie was murdered by her ex-partner in Essex in 2012 – yet another tragic addition to the horrific death toll taken by domestic violence.

The Domestic Homicide Review into her death makes for disturbing reading. A huge range of agencies were aware of the danger Eystna was in during the months and weeks leading up to her death, including Essex Police, probation, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and a number health services, including midwives, GP surgeries and hospitals. She was clearly a terrified woman who had reached out for help on a number of occasions.

Eystna’s partner had a previous history of domestic violence and was known to the police. However, following an incident during which he choked Eystna and threatened to kill her, the CPS decided not to charge him – a decision it subsequently recognised as being wrong. The review also highlighted “inconsistencies” in the risk assessment processes of Essex Police, poor communication between agencies and a “lack of awareness” regarding adult safeguarding responsibilities.

This review paints a shocking picture of a system in disarray. And it is not the first time that Essex Police has been criticised for its response to victims of domestic violence. In recent years, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has highlighted failings in the way this force responded to Maria Stubbings, who was killed in 2008, Jeanette Goodwin, and Christine and Shania Chambers – who were all killed in 2011.

Sadly, these stories are not unusual. Domestic violence kills two women every week in England and Wales – and in too many of these cases, state agencies fail to provide vulnerable women and children with support and protection. State failure is a national problem – a problem of systemic proportions. That’s why Refuge is calling on the Government to open a public inquiry into the response of the police and other state agencies to victims of domestic violence.

How many more women and children need to die before we see real change? How many more times must we hear that ‘lessons will be learned’? How many more reports, reviews and recommendations will it take to save lives?

We need action, now. Please sign our petition calling for a public inquiry and make a difference now.”

Press Release at http://refuge.org.uk/2014/07/10/another-tragic-case-of-missed-opportunities-refuge-responds-to-domestic-homicide-review-into-death-of-eystna-blunnie/

July 15, 2014

17 July 2014 19:30 ~ Women of Hope – Women’s Action Network – London

Women Action Network (WAN) is pleased to invite you to a moving play which portray the courage and innately hopeful and collective voices of women victims of domestic violence.

Inspired by testimonies of women who have transcended domestic violence, Women of Hope is a pioneering piece of verbatim music theatre that explores these women’s incredible journey.

Written and directed by Renu Arora
Music composed by Amal Lad, Richard Norris and Ranu Arora

17 July at 7.30pm
at Amnesty International UK, Human Rights Action Centre,
17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA

Payments at the door:
£10 waged £5 students, seniors, women in refuge and protected accommodation and unemployed

With support of:
Arts Council England, Tower Hamlets Council, ASHA and Latin American Women’s Aid and WAN

Check http://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/womens-action-network/women-hope

July 7, 2014

9 July 2014 9:30 ~ Prevention Platform launch – AVA – London

@ Amnesty International The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EA

FREE (£30 fee for non-attendance) – PLEASE BOOK via link below(*)

Join AVA to launch the ‘Prevention Platform’ – an innovative free on-line toolkit funded by Comic Relief – to promote the role of education to stop violence against women and girls. We will introduce you to the key components of the toolkit including an e-learning module on safeguarding, a database of useful education resources, an interactive map of projects around the country and guidance on how to deliver a comprehensive programme to stop violence against women and girls.

The Prevention Platform aims to get everybody talking, learning and acting to stop violence against women and girls. It is time we work together to ensure that children and young people across the UK are safe and supported to create their own respectful relationships.

Cost: Free but with a £30 charge for non-attendance

Who: School Staff, YOT Staff, Youth Workers, Head Teachers and Governors, Unions, Ofsted Inspectors, Commissoners and Poicy Makers, Organisations working to end Violence Against Women and Girls.

When: Registration at 9.30am for a 10am start. The event finishes at 1pm.

Refreshments will be provided.

(*) Book online at http://www.avaproject.org.uk/our-training–events/our-events/prevention-platform-launch.aspx

July 2, 2014

CPS announces progress in tackling domestic violence at Women’s Aid Conference – Women’s Aid

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders is due to announce major progress for the CPS in working with domestic violence cases at the opening of the Women’s Aid National 40th Birthday Conference today [Wednesday 2 July]. Women’s Aid will be welcoming the CPS success, while also warning that more positive action must be taken both locally and nationally by all relevant agencies if the country is to be prepared to meet the needs of women experiencing domestic violence.

The Women’s Aid annual National Conference is the only opportunity for domestic violence professionals to come together with the police, NHS, and social care to discuss the enormous challenges facing women and children experiencing domestic violence and the services that support them. Delegates will be considering the future needs of domestic violence survivors and how these can be met in a rapidly changing environment with increasingly limited resources.

Women’s Aid is highlighting that:

    • Two women every week are killed by a partner or ex-partner [1], and a third of all female suicide attempts can be attributed to domestic violence [2]
    • The police receive an emergency call relating to domestic violence every 30 seconds [3]
    • Nearly half (48%) of domestic violence support providers are providing some services without dedicated funding [4]
    • Nearly a third (30%) of services receiving local authority funding expected less funding this year than last – the second year in a row such cuts have been seen [5]
    • In one day last year, more than 155 women with 103 children were turned away from the first refuge they approached [6]

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid said:

“The Women’s Aid National Conference is the only opportunity for all professionals working on domestic violence to come together and prepare jointly for the future. We must take action now if we are to be ready for the challenges of significantly smaller budgets, and increasingly technologically sophisticated abuse. The need to tackle domestic violence is well-recognised: Women’s Aid will be leading this conference to develop strategy to eliminate violence under difficult circumstances for our members and statutory services.”

Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, said:

“Domestic violence destroys lives and in the past the criminal justice system let down the victims of these terrible crimes. For example, just over a decade ago, less than half the domestic violence cases that we prosecuted ended in convictions. We have worked hard to change that – we trained specialist prosecutors and now build stronger cases and provide a better service to victims – and we are seeing results.

“Most recently we revised our guidance for prosecutors to highlight the potential impact of domestic abuse on victims from all walks of life, at different stages in their lives, to make sure we offer them all the support they need. We are currently consulting on this guidance and would welcome any views by July 9.”

Thursday’s programme concludes the two-day conference with events for Women’s Aid members only. The programme includes a session for survivors and services to question representatives of the Criminal Justice System, including HMIC for domestic violence Zoe Billingham, on their performance in responding to domestic violence.
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Notes:

    [1] Office of National Statistics (February 2014) Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences, 2012/13 Release.
    [2] Stark, E. & Flitcraft, A, Women at risk: Domestic violence and women’s health Sage Publications, 1996
    [3] HMIC (March 2014) Improving the police response to domestic abuse
    [4] Women’s Aid Women’s Aid Annual Survey, Survey 1, 2013
    [5] ibid
    [6] ibid

July 2, 2014

The Law Society backs legal challenge by Rights of Women to restore access to legal aid for victims of domestic violence

The Law Society is supporting a challenge brought by the Public Law Project on behalf of Rights of Women, over the lawfulness of Government changes to legal aid which are preventing victims of domestic abuse from getting legal aid for family cases, even when it is clear there has been violence, or there is an ongoing risk of violence. Rights of Women argue that this is not what parliament intended.

Legal aid changes, introduced by the Government in April 2013 include regulations which set out what evidence victims of domestic violence have to provide. This evidence can be extremely difficult for many people to get and in many cases is subject to a 24 month time limit – although perpetrators may remain a life long threat to their victims.

Legal aid is a lifeline for victims of abuse, enabling them to escape from abusive relationships, protect their children, and manage their financial situations. Access to justice is vital in these cases – the statistics are stark; two women are killed each week by a current or former partner and 500 recent victims of domestic violence commit suicide every year.

Emma Scott, Director of Rights of Women, said: “Without legal aid women affected by domestic violence feel unable to access the kinds of legal remedies which enable them to safely exit violent relationships. In our most recent survey, half of all women who were ineligible for legal aid because they did not have the required evidence of domestic violence said that they took no legal action as a result, leaving them at risk of further violence and even death. This legal action is taken on behalf of those women in order to hold the government to account on their promise to continue to make family law legal aid available to victims of domestic violence.”

Law Society President Nicholas Fluck said: “The LASPO legal aid cuts have resulted in radical consequences for access to justice with the worst impact affecting the poorest and most vulnerable sectors of society. It is vital that survivors of domestic abuse can bring evidence to satisfy the broader statutory meaning of domestic violence, not the over-strict tests required by the regulations as they now stand. Survivors should not be excluded from accessing legal aid for family law disputes against an abusive ex partner or relative.”
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Notes

    Counsel in this case are Zoe Leventhal and Nathalie Lieven of Landmark Chambers

    The Public Law Project (PLP)
    PLP is an independent, national legal charity which aims to improve access to justice for those whose access is restricted by poverty, discrimination or other similar barriers. To fulfil its objectives PLP undertakes research, policy initiatives, casework and training across the range of public law remedies.

    Rights of Women
    Rights of Women is a registered charity that provides free legal advice to women and engages on a policy level concerning access to justice and violence against women issues. We provide training on legal issues to statutory and third sector professionals, write legal publications designed to assist individual women, and those supporting them, through the law and provide three legal advice lines offering legal advice to women on immigration and asylum issues, sexual violence and criminal law, and family law (including domestic violence, divorce, contact disputes). Our advice lines are staffed by qualified practising women solicitors and barristers. More information about our work can be found at www.rightsofwomen.org.uk

    About the Law Society
    The Law Society is the independent professional body, established for solicitors in 1825, that works globally to support and represent its members, promoting the highest professional standards and the rule of law.

June 10, 2014