Domestic abuse is defined as mental, physical and/or sexual abuse by a partner or ex-partner. In most cases domestic abuse is perpetrated by men against women and may impact on children. Domestic abuse may often be serious and in some cases can be life threatening. Domestic abuse includes emotional, psychological and financial abuse. It cuts across social, racial and cultural boundaries. It occurs irrespective of age or ability and regardless of class, race or sexuality. For example - older women have reported domestic abuse; many ethnic groups such as Asian, Polish and Chinese women report incidents; domestic abuse may also occur within lesbian relationships.

Impacts on women

Domestic abuse can begin with a single incident or a change in behaviour by a partner or ex-partner, which makes you feel afraid. it may include violence or threats of violence. As it continues you may experience low self esteem or self worth and/or your mental health may be affected. For example, many women experience depression, anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a direct consequence of living with a perpetrator of domestic abuse.

Usually domestic abuse involves an ongoing pattern of violence and abuse. Descriptions of incidents of abuse include the use of tactics of control which may involve isolation from family, friends and/or social network, humiliation, degradation, physical violence and/or sexual violence. these behaviours may be features within the pattern of coercive control developed by the perpetrator to extend their dominance. Typically the perpetrator abdicates all responsibility for the abuse and attributes blame to the woman. It is a situation of repeated victimisation in which the woman is vulnerable precisely because, in the majority of cases, she shares or has shared her home with her abuser and may have or have had feelings of loyalty or love towards him.

Evidence suggests that domestic abuse escalates in frequency and intensity over time and may increase at specific times in a woman's life, e.g. when she is pregnant, when she is about to leave or shortly after she has left the abusive relationship.

Extent of the problem

• 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse from their partner in her lifetime. (stats from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hors276.pdf)

• There were 49,655 incidents of domestic abuse in Scotland recorded in 2007/2008 (stats from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/TrendDomesticAbuse)

• 54% of these incidents involved repeat victimisation

• Women were the victims in 85% of the reported incidents of domestic abuse

• In 53% of the homicide cases in Scotland over the past 10 years, where a woman aged 16-69 years was a victim, the main accused was the woman in question's partner.

Impacts on Children

Emotional abuse of children is a consequence of witnessing the abuse of their mother. In 90% of reported incidents of domestic abuse children are present in the same room or in the next room6. The safety and well being of any child is closely linked to that of the adult victim. No matter what the context, any harm to the victim has an impact on the child.

Exposure to domestic abuse can impact on a child’s health and wellbeing. The effects can be wide ranging. Some children may experience physical symptoms such as bed-wetting. Some may be ‘jumpy’ or angry; experience behavioural difficulties even at nursery stage and many have difficulties concentrating, affecting their performance at school.

Other Impacts

In some ethnic minority populations, children and young people are significantly affected by forced marriage with 30% of reported cases affecting minors. Given the hidden nature of forced marriage it is difficult to capture an accurate picture in Scotland, or indeed in West Lothian. However we know the devastating consequences on those affected such as:

• becoming estranged from their families and wider communities;

• losing out on educational opportunities as they are taken prematurely from school;

• presenting a high rate of self harm and suicide rates (info from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/nationals/forced-marriage-unit/)

Teenage mothers seem to be particularly likely to experience domestic abuse. A small American study found that 70% of teenage mothers at one hospital were in a relationship with a violent partner.

There are links between domestic abuse and all forms of child abuse.

Children affected by Domestic Abuse in West Lothian

Due to the hidden nature of domestic abuse there is a high number of unreported incidents. As a result the number of children who are living in a household where domestic abuse is present, in West Lothian, is unknown. However, in 2008-2009 where incidents were reported to the police, 1483 children were involved.

In response to the high numbers of children experiencing domestic abuse West Lothian Council set up the Domestic Abuse Service (DAS) to supplement the existing multi agency response to domestic abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Service (DAS)

The Domestic Abuse Service was set up in February 2007 to provide a specialised service to women and children who are experiencing, or have experienced, domestic abuse. The service was primarily offered to children. The majority of children referred to DAS come through West Lothian’s domestic abuse multi agency screening group, specific agency referrals or self referrals.

The DAS team comprises of three full time children’s workers, one of whom is shared with West Lothian Women’s Aid (WLWA); and two full time women’s workers, one with a remit to work with women from minority populations and the other working with women having substance misuse issues.

We offer a variety of services including individual and group work, provide support, advocacy and advice.

We work closely with our partner agencies and consider ourselves part of a multi agency response to domestic abuse within West Lothian.