Family Solicitors

Charity Welsh Women’s Aid has said there has been a 20% increase in the amount of support given to women who are victims of domestic abuse in Wales.

BBC News reports that data show that on Valentine’s Day 2014, a total of 1,548 women and children sought help from local domestic abuse services in Wales as a result of abuse in a relationship.

The charity says the 50,000 women seek help every year because of abuse in a relationship or from a former partner – and the charity is calling for more support to protect women from domestic violence.

In 2014, the charity's All-Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline gave advice on domestic violence to a total of 27,972 callers.

Chief executive of Welsh Women’s Aid, Eleri Butler, said:

“We need to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate it so that future generations of women, children and young people grow up in safe, equal, violence-free relationships.”

In December 2014, Home Secretary Theresa May announced new legislation to tackle controlling or coercive behaviour in a relationship – Mrs May said that controlling and abusive behaviour with the family “shattered lives” and the new law was intended to protect people from psychological abuse within a relationship.

Controlling behaviour may involve prohibiting a partner or family member from leaving the home without a chaperone – or seeing friends or family members independently. Controlling access to finances or preventing a loved one from setting up their own bank account is also considered as controlling behaviour in a relationship.

Domestic abuse can not only involve women victims, but men, children and teenagers and the elderly can all be victims of domestic abuse.

Children or young adults may also be abusive towards others in a family unit, including siblings, adult relatives and parents. Research has found that single mothers over the age of 40 are most at risk of abusive behaviour from a teenage son – but single fathers have also been victims of abuse from their teenage children, including physical abuse.

When the new law was announced in December, Theresa May said:

"Coercive control can be tantamount to torture. In many cases, dominance over the victim develops and escalates over the years until the perpetrator has complete control.

“Putting a foot wrong can result in violent outbursts, with victims living in fear for their lives.”

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is one of the UK’s leading firms of specialist domestic violence solicitors – and can advise victims of domestic abuse on how to tackle domestic violence issues under the law.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors – and runs a domestic violence hotline offering legal help with domestic abuse.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on domestic violence and family law under UK law and Islamic law.

For expert and sympathetic legal advice on domestic abuse issues, call the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors Helpline in confidence on 07920 077054.