ENDING THE STIGMA Male Victims of Domestic Abuse

Humberside Police

Community Advisory Group Meeting

Bridlington Spa: Thursday 29th July 2021

“Domestic Abuse: Men Are Victims Too” Ian McNicholl:

Ambassador, Men Reaching Out

OUTCOMES

Influence of Statistics

(“Two Women Per Week”)*

2020: 33 Male 81 Female

2019: 30 Male 105 Female

2018: 24 Male 90 Female

2017: 29 Male 88 Female

2016: 37 Male 96 Female

2015: 32 Male 102 Female

*Source: ONS *Homicide Review(s) @ 31st March 2020 produced February 2021

INFLUENCE OF

GENDERED STRATEGIES

“Ending Violence Against Women &

Girls”

The White Ribbon Campaign:

(“End Male Violence against Women and Girls”)

Hull is a “White Ribbon” City

“Clare’s Law”

(adopted for “Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme”)

EAST YORKSHIRE (FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 000090/21)

2020 843 Male

2,119 Female

2019: 585 Male

1,596 Female

2018: 575 Male

1,516 Female

2017: 470 Male

1,323 Female

EAST RIDING COUNCIL (FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 113010)

“Provide details of the reason(s) for presenting

(i.e. Relationship Breakdown, Eviction etc.) as

"Homeless" during the period 1st January 2020

to 31st December 2020”

Total 95

Domestic Abuse 9

Male 3

Female 6

EAST RIDING COUNCIL

Domestic Violence & Abuse Partnership (DVAP) (FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 113010)

“The total number of males and females who

were referred into the DVAP Service during the

period 1st January 2018 to 31st December

September 2020 broken down by Calendar

Year”

2020 280 (Male 9)

2019 319 (Male 11)

2018 258 (Male 14)

Disclosure to Pharmacies:

“Ask For ANI”

If you or someone you know is a victim of

domestic abuse, would you know which

agency to go to for support? (Male)

1.6% of males aged 16-24

and 25-50 knew where to go

for help.

Zero % of males aged 50+

knew where to go for help.

98.4% of males interviewed

had no understanding of

where to go for help and

support.

Question 1 (Male):

“If you were hit, punched or verbally abused by your

partner, would you report this to the police?”

Actual responses from men who were interviewed:

“No, wouldn’t

report it, part of

my marriage

vows isn’t it?”

“Course I

wouldn’t

report it -

I’m a

bloke”

“Don’t think

any man

would report

it –

I wouldn’t” “Too

embarrassed”

“I would

deal with

the matter

myself”

“You’ve

gotta be

joking, who

would take

me

seriously?

Question 1: Follow up survey (Male)

If you were hit, punched or verbally abused by your

partner, would you report this to the police?

Actual responses from men who were interviewed:

“She

would

use the

kids

against

me and

then what

would I

do?”

“I have

friends

who are

police they

would

laugh so I

would not

contact

them.” “She

glassed

me for

talking to

another

woman.”

“It’s not

worth the

hassle.”

“Women

are

always

believed.

”

“I’ve ended

up in

hospital 3

times,

people

don’t

believe

me.”

If you or someone you know is a victim of

domestic abuse, would you know which agency

to go to for support? (Female)

100% of females aged 16-24

knew where to go for help.

96% of females interviewed had

an understanding of where to go

for help.

4% of females interviewed had

no understanding of where to go

for help and support.

Females had a polar opposite

level of awareness when

undertaking a comparison to

males.

Question 1: Follow up survey (Females)

If you were hit, punched or verbally abused by your

partner, would you report this to the police?

Actual responses from females who were interviewed:

“Yes and I

would

make him

suffer.”

“Yes but I

would be

careful and

I would not

press

charges.”

“No it’s my

fault for

annoying

him.”

“It’s me!!

I do the

hitting.”

“He

would

not dare

he

knows I

rule the

house!”

“Yes and I

would use

everything

against

him, he’d

never see

his kids

again.”

Overall Picture (Disclosure)

• Male victims (49%) are more than three times as likely than

females (19%) not to tell anyone they are a victim.

• 31.6% of male victims (53.3% female) will tell their family.

• 28% (43% female) will tell a friend/neighbour.

• 13.6% (11% female) will tell work colleague.

• 10.7% (20.8% female) will tell a health professional

• 15% (18% female) will tell the police.

• Male victims (59%) of partner abuse are far more likely (female

victims 40%) to perceive that what happened to them was not

domestic abuse.

• In 2017/18, 11% of male victims of partner abuse (7.2% women)

had tried to take their own lives ONS domestic abuse: findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales: year ending

March 2018 (https://bit.ly/2FY8UYc) Table 14-15

Abuse Has No Prejudice

THE IMPACT OF AWARENESS

POST RESCUE

THE IMPACT

“Causing GBH with Intent”

“Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (x4)”

Unmarked to permanent scarring

Able Bodied to Registered Disabled

Home Owner to Homeless

(18 Months Salvation Army Hostel)

Financially secure to verge of Bankruptcy

(Debt Free in October 2015)

“QUESTIONS?”