Good news on crime-decline in Domestic Violence
Discussion
I read something very promising at the weekend.
On official crime statistics domestic violence has halved in the past ten years.
Whether this is due to better behaviour by men or women being more likely to leave abusive partners I suspect the latter.
Full Economist article below.
Have you stopped beating your wife?
Apr 14th 2005
From The Economist print edition
The unheralded decline of violence against women
“RELAX, enjoy your drink. No one in this pub can tell you're a wife beater.” The accusatory message, printed on beer mats and distributed last month by London's Metropolitan Police, suggests that domestic violence is so widespread that a drinker is likely to be perpetrating it. But fewer men will have choked on their beer than might have been the case ten years ago. According to the British Crime Survey, domestic violence has declined much more rapidly than violence against strangers, and is now less than half as common as it was in the mid-1990s (see chart).
This achievement has not been touted by the police, who are sensitive to past charges of underplaying violence in the home. Nor will you hear about it from women's organisations or politicians. The government has asserted that domestic violence is far too common, and is currently introducing tough new laws to tackle it. From July, the courts will be able to impose restraining orders on suspected abusers even when they are acquitted of assaults.
Closer attention from the forces of law and order is one likely reason for the decline in domestic violence. Over the past few years, coppers have abandoned what Simon Letchford, of the Metropolitan police, calls the “tea and sympathy approach” to abuse. These days, says Mr Letchford, the police treat violent partners in much the same way as the American authorities treated Al Capone: “If we can't get him for beating up his wife, what else can we get him for?” Prosecutors can often take their pick, since men who harm their partners commonly mistreat others. A survey of victims in 2001 found that 37% of those who suffered serious injury knew their persecutor to have a criminal record.
But the most likely explanation for the decline in domestic violence has to do with changes in British society. During the past decade, women have become more economically independent and have started to behave in such a way that their chances of falling victim to a violent partner are greatly reduced.
The most obvious change is that there are fewer wives to beat. The number of married couples in England and Wales fell by 900,000 between 1991 and 2001, according to the census. Cohabiting couples increased in number by the same amount, from 1.1m to 2m. Couples are delaying marriage—the average first-time bride is two and a half years older than a decade ago—and living together for longer beforehand. That matters because, in about half of all cases, domestic violence takes longer than a year to emerge. When it does, women find it easier to dissolve a cohabiting relationship than to divorce.
Although open-minded police officers insist that every woman is a potential victim of violence, some are at greater risk than others. Home Office statistics show that women under 30 are most in danger—largely, it seems, because young men are more violent than middle-aged men. The poor also face higher risks, as do mothers of young children. Emma Williamson of Women's Aid says that abuse often begins or worsens during pregnancy, when a man's sense of control is jolted.
Youth and pregnancy used to coincide. But the average age at maternity has risen along with the average age of marriage. In the ten years prior to 2003, the number of births to women under 30 fell by 27%. Many women are embarking on motherhood at a less dangerous time.
The decline of domestic violence is not evident to those who run shelters for battered women, who report full beds and continually ringing telephones. But it may be that demand for such services has always outstripped supply, especially in London. And Jill Radford, who teaches at the University of Teesside, says that the population of shelters seems to be ageing slightly. The young, it seems, are better at taking care of themselves.
The waning of marriage and stable relationships among the young has been blamed for a variety of social ills, from single motherhood to the irresponsible behaviour of young men. But non-commitment does have its advantages.
On official crime statistics domestic violence has halved in the past ten years.
Whether this is due to better behaviour by men or women being more likely to leave abusive partners I suspect the latter.
Full Economist article below.
Have you stopped beating your wife?
Apr 14th 2005
From The Economist print edition
The unheralded decline of violence against women
“RELAX, enjoy your drink. No one in this pub can tell you're a wife beater.” The accusatory message, printed on beer mats and distributed last month by London's Metropolitan Police, suggests that domestic violence is so widespread that a drinker is likely to be perpetrating it. But fewer men will have choked on their beer than might have been the case ten years ago. According to the British Crime Survey, domestic violence has declined much more rapidly than violence against strangers, and is now less than half as common as it was in the mid-1990s (see chart).
This achievement has not been touted by the police, who are sensitive to past charges of underplaying violence in the home. Nor will you hear about it from women's organisations or politicians. The government has asserted that domestic violence is far too common, and is currently introducing tough new laws to tackle it. From July, the courts will be able to impose restraining orders on suspected abusers even when they are acquitted of assaults.
Closer attention from the forces of law and order is one likely reason for the decline in domestic violence. Over the past few years, coppers have abandoned what Simon Letchford, of the Metropolitan police, calls the “tea and sympathy approach” to abuse. These days, says Mr Letchford, the police treat violent partners in much the same way as the American authorities treated Al Capone: “If we can't get him for beating up his wife, what else can we get him for?” Prosecutors can often take their pick, since men who harm their partners commonly mistreat others. A survey of victims in 2001 found that 37% of those who suffered serious injury knew their persecutor to have a criminal record.
But the most likely explanation for the decline in domestic violence has to do with changes in British society. During the past decade, women have become more economically independent and have started to behave in such a way that their chances of falling victim to a violent partner are greatly reduced.
The most obvious change is that there are fewer wives to beat. The number of married couples in England and Wales fell by 900,000 between 1991 and 2001, according to the census. Cohabiting couples increased in number by the same amount, from 1.1m to 2m. Couples are delaying marriage—the average first-time bride is two and a half years older than a decade ago—and living together for longer beforehand. That matters because, in about half of all cases, domestic violence takes longer than a year to emerge. When it does, women find it easier to dissolve a cohabiting relationship than to divorce.
Although open-minded police officers insist that every woman is a potential victim of violence, some are at greater risk than others. Home Office statistics show that women under 30 are most in danger—largely, it seems, because young men are more violent than middle-aged men. The poor also face higher risks, as do mothers of young children. Emma Williamson of Women's Aid says that abuse often begins or worsens during pregnancy, when a man's sense of control is jolted.
Youth and pregnancy used to coincide. But the average age at maternity has risen along with the average age of marriage. In the ten years prior to 2003, the number of births to women under 30 fell by 27%. Many women are embarking on motherhood at a less dangerous time.
The decline of domestic violence is not evident to those who run shelters for battered women, who report full beds and continually ringing telephones. But it may be that demand for such services has always outstripped supply, especially in London. And Jill Radford, who teaches at the University of Teesside, says that the population of shelters seems to be ageing slightly. The young, it seems, are better at taking care of themselves.
The waning of marriage and stable relationships among the young has been blamed for a variety of social ills, from single motherhood to the irresponsible behaviour of young men. But non-commitment does have its advantages.
Still doesn't excuse the large rise in gun crime and violent robbery that Labour have presided over. It's good news that domestic violence has decreased, but there are just as pressing matters to be dealt with that could be potentially more dangerous - ie Nottingham turning into South Central LA.
Twincam16 said:
Still doesn't excuse the large rise in gun crime and violent robbery that Labour have presided over. It's good news that domestic violence has decreased, but there are just as pressing matters to be dealt with that could be potentially more dangerous - ie Nottingham turning into South Central LA.
Agreed, but we should celebrate good news when it comes
JagLover said:
JagLover said:
Agreed, but we should celebrate good news when it comes
The above article still makes for depressing reading though.
Oh it is a depressing subject.
The fact that a woman becoming pregnant is a trigger for violence from some men makes my skin crawl.
Yeah, their wife should smack 'em one for that
Sorry, sick joke but couldn't resist
JagLover said:
The fact that a woman becoming pregnant is a trigger for violence from some men makes my skin crawl.
Definitely. It's interesting how they think a longer period of co-habitation before marriage is affecting the figures.
I was debating this with someone the other day as most of my friends are approaching marrying age (i.e. 24-26) A couple of my friends still believe that living together before marriage is 'not the done thing'.
I was telling them that they're crazy. You dont tend to really learn your partner until you live with them. In the case of these figures, it certainly seems the case that thankfully many women (and men) get out of difficult domestic situations, without the added stress and worry of a divorce.
Perhaps I ought to introduce these figures into my argument next time it crops up at the pub.
Plotloss said:
Although open-minded police officers insist that every woman is a potential victim of violence
Erm, everyone is a potential victim of violence.
Gender makes absolutely no difference at all.
Exactly. And while we're on the subject, what's with all this 'potential' rubbish? There is potential for anything to happen doesn't mean that it will though.
_VTEC_ said:
Exactly. And while we're on the subject, what's with all this 'potential' rubbish? There is potential for anything to happen doesn't mean that it will though.
In the context of when it was said in the article, it was policeman saying that despite young/poor women being most at risk it is something that could potentially affect all women.
Plotloss said:
Although open-minded police officers insist that every woman is a potential victim of violence
Erm, everyone is a potential victim of violence.
Gender makes absolutely no difference at all.
"Statistics show that globally one in three women will be beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. One in four women in the UK will be victims of violence in their lifetimes. Statistics prove that women are disproportionately affected by gender based violence and in the majority of circumstances, the effects of this violence are much more severe."
Plotloss said:
So based on that men cant be victims of violence?
I am not saying that women arent but men are too and that it is a real problem and one that goes largely unnoticed.
What is sauce for the goose...
Come on now Plotloss, there are some men who are victims of domestic violence but it is a much smaller problem than violence against women.
cosmoschick said:
"Statistics show that globally one in three women will be beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. One in four women in the UK will be victims of violence in their lifetimes. Statistics prove that women are disproportionately affected by gender based violence and in the majority of circumstances, the effects of this violence are much more severe."
Or is it that the numbers of husband beating is not known as they are not all reported.
I know a guy who’s wife used to have massive mood swings certain time of the month and quite often became violent even attacked him with a frying pan for coming home late once. He never reported it
cosmoschick said:
So based on that men cant be victims of violence?
My reference doesn't imply that at all.
So what bearing does it have then?
I said that men should be equally included in the article you stated something about 1 in 4 women being beaten.
I dont see the link to be honest.
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