In order to raise public awareness of
the insidious growth of Domestic Violence
within family units and single sex partnerships
I have been instrumental in organising
and chairing Domestic Violence seminars
and workshops to assist in the recognition
of the numerous ways in which perpetrators
can carry out acts which would be considered
to be acts of Domestic Violence against
individuals.
These events have been aimed at those
who are employed within the fields of
education, Social Services personnel working
with both the elderly and young people,
members of the magistracy and other areas
of the Judiciary, health services, Citizens
Advice advisors, Police officers of all
ranks, Housing authorities, Local Authority
officers and Council members plus the
Authorities which provide the Refuges
and survivors of Domestic Violence who
are willing to share their sobering and
sometimes frightening experiences. Managers
within industry have also attended to
that they can identify potential situations
of Domestic Violence occurring within
their workforce resulting in potential
absenteeism and loss of production.
In addition to the above categories I
have personally been invited to speak
at public events within my own neighbourhood
where it has been obvious to me that residents
of what is considered to be a safe and
respectable community would not even contemplate
that acts of Domestic Violence could occur
behind closed doors so near to them. Their
apparent discomfort indicated that “professional”
people would not conduct themselves in
such a distasteful manner. Statistics
prove otherwise.
BPW members throughout the UK have also
been invited to attend seminars which
I have organised again with high ranking
Police Officers participating together
with other professional personnel who
are directly engaged in dealing with perpetrators
of abuse as well as the victims of such
abuse. The BPW International President
was visiting the UK on one such occasion
and we were very privileged to have Chonchanok
Viravan join us.
A very positive outcome of the BPW seminars
is that our members have become involved
with the Domestic Violence Refuges within
their areas helping to provide them with
the basic necessities for women who arrive
at the Refuge with only children clinging
to their hands. Their situation has caused
them to flee with only the clothes they
stand up in, no toys for the children
and a very sad situation of the children
having to leave their friends, school
and pets.
It is emphasized on these occasions that
it is not only women who suffer from Domestic
Violence but to a lesser degree men can
also be victims. Domestic Violence is
not a respecter of sex, age, professional
standing or mental capacity and the affects
on the family particularly the children
can be catastrophic.
These events have provided the essential
platform to make everyone aware that it
is not just the black eye or other visible
injury that could be the result of acts
of Domestic Violence but to consider the
situations where women can be subjected
to being gradually isolated from family
and friends, all means of communication
being denied to them including the children
being taken to school by the perpetrator,
constantly being told that their appearance
is unkempt and that their whole persona
does not compare one iota to other women
resulting in their loss of self-respect
plus the situation of being kept short
of money.
The high calibre of the speakers I have
been able to engage for the seminars have
been able to provide startling facts and
figures which have assisted those working
directly with the public in being able
to identify situations of Domestic Violence
within the very early stages of abuse.
I have been working with the Domestic
Violence Co-ordinator of the Local Authority
who has now become a valued member of
BPW to devise an information pack for
schools to assist the teaching/administrative
staff to recognise behaviour in young
people which could be the result of abuse
of a family member at home and to be able
to deal with the situation as appropriate.
This work is vital as children experiencing
such situations may well accept this as
normal family behaviour and would develop
into adulthood within the same abusive
vein.
I carry out all the roles described above
as a volunteer with no pecuniary reward.
My personal reward is knowing that more
people are becoming aware of the very
real situation of Domestic Violence and
can assist in whatever way possible to
help not only the victim but the perpetrator
come to terms with what is happening.
Within Public Life I have been a Magistrate
for 10 years and am very involved with
the Domestic Violence courts as well as
the Family Court where many of the cases
brought before us deal with children and
young people witnessing abuse of all forms.
Again this is a voluntary role within
the community.
Within the role of Magistrate I am very
much aware of the types of programme which
can be made available within a Community
Penalty for those convicted of Domestic
Violence. However these are always subject
to Government finances being made available
and places available on the programme.
Many of the perpetrators face a custodial
sentence of varying lengths.
My original “introduction”
to the very sad abusive situations was
as a Special Constabulary Officer commencing
my voluntary service in 1966 on the death
of my father. I became the first female
Special Constabulary Officer to be promoted
to the senior ranks and was very fortunate
to attend a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
where I had the honour of being presented.
My service within the Dorset Police Special
Constabulary continued for some 20 years.
I currently chair Age Concern Ferndown
& District where Social Day Centres
are regularly run by volunteers for the
elderly which again provides an opportunity
for me to talk with our clients to ensure
they are not being subjected to any forms
of abuse.
