October 2024 marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic Abuse has far reaching consequences, affecting not just the survivors but also children who may witness who may witness or grow up in an environment where abuse is prevalent. The goal of this month is to raise awareness and educate the public about the various forms of domestic abuse and their impact.
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is a broad term covering a wide range of behaviours and can encompass any of the following, but are not limited to:-
- Physical abuse;
- Emotional abuse;
- Humiliation;
- Threatening, belittling and name calling;
- Isolation;
- Sexual abuse;
- Financial abuse;
- Gaslighting; and
- Coercive and controlling behaviour.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 acknowledges that domestic abuse, in any of the above forms, can be a single incident or a series of events.
How our family law team can support you
As family lawyers, we frequently handle divorce, finance, separation and children’s matters involving allegations of domestic abuse. This is unsurprising, given that the police recorded 889,918 domestic abuse-related crimes in the year ending March 2023 (excluding Devon and Cornwall).
We understand that leaving an abusive relationship can be incredibly difficult for various reasons. We can help by advising on protective injunctions such as:
- Non-Molestation Orders – Legal orders designed to protect survivors from harm by preventing the abuser from approaching or contacting them. These orders are typically granted for 6 to 12 months.
- Occupation Orders – These prevent perpetrators from residing in the same home as the survivor, generally granted for up to 6 months.
Breaching these court orders is a criminal offence that warrants immediate police intervention.
For more information or advice on domestic abuse and protective orders, please contact our Family Team at 0191 384 2441. Alternatively, you can reach out to Catherine Lowther at cel@swinburnemaddison.co.uk or Ellie Straughan at els@swinburnemaddison.co.uk.
