Thursfields welcomes national domestic abuse inquiry

Thursfields Family Lawyer’s have welcomed the launch of the Government consultation on domestic abuse.

MP Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, announcing the inquiry, said: “Domestic violence and abuse destroys lives, wrecks families, damages children’s futures and undermines women’s equality.”

Hollie Styles, who deals with all elements of family work at Thursfields, pointed out that the most recent statistics showed that 242 women were killed by a partner or an ex-partner over the past three years, almost seven a month.

Yvette Cooper added: “Domestic violence and abuse are among the most prevalent crimes we face with nearly two million victims a year – and it is also one of the most damaging. The scale of the problem and the damage it causes for the next generation makes this a national crisis.”

The inquiry is asking people to help it determine what more needs to be done by Government, the police, local communities, public and private sector organisations and the criminal justice system.

Hollie Styles said: “The term ‘domestic abuse’ is often thought of as a taboo subject. What do you think of when someone says ‘domestic abuse’? Do you think of a woman lying in a hospital bed with a bloodied face, crying or unconscious? Do you think of your neighbour who can’t access their own money for shopping and basic supplies? Or a child that is withdrawn from the group of friends and who seems to always be in trouble at home?”

She said that domestic abuse takes so many different forms, and is so diverse, that sometimes those surrounding the victims are simply unaware as to the true picture. Even worse, the abusers know exactly how to control their victims and how to deceive the outside world.

“Over the last 12 months the Government has used teen friendly adverts promoting healthy relationships and trying to stress what characteristics are not acceptable when in a private intimate relationship. This is only the tip of the iceberg for sufferers of domestic abuse” she said.

Now the government has launched a consultation which is aimed at changing the ways in which domestic abuse is recognised, defined and handled.

Hollie added: “This is long overdue with many victims and children being affected each year, and the number of deaths due to domestic abuse on the rise.”

She pointed out that the figures quoted for deaths and victims of domestic abuse were only those that have been published and that a considerable amount of domestic abuse still goes unreported, unrecognised or is not being tackled by professionals.

Hollie Styles and the family team at Thursfields, has a wealth of experience in helping victims of domestic abuse break the cycle and start to rebuild their lives free of fear.

She said: “There are people who can help adults and their children to have a more normal life without the abuser remaining in control. There are a variety of orders which are available to those in situations in which they are fearful such as Non-Molestation Orders or Occupation Orders. Sometimes these are the starting blocks that lead to further assistance, financial or otherwise, which the victims so desperately need.”

Hollie was nominated for the prestigious Family CILEX of the year award in the Family Law Awards held in London in 2017, and locally in the Worcestershire Women of the Year Award for her commitment to helping families get it right following separation or abuse.

If you would like more information on how to break the cycle and need some support in securing orders to protect you and your child, then please contact Hollie for a free 30 minutes consultation on 01299 827517 or e-mail hstyles@thursfields.co.uk

Thursfields Family Law team are available at any of our offices and surrounding areas; Birmingham, Halesowen, Kidderminster, Solihull, or Worcester.