[Professor’s name appears here]
[Date appears here]
Domestic Violence (DV) issue in Britain: An Introduction
Following a long history of domestic violence in Britain, the issue is high on the public agenda that has affected significantly both on economic and personal expense to the British society (Walby, 2004). Throughout the last several years, the women’s rights activists realized several legislation meant to curb the menace of domestic violence in the country.
Moreover, domestic violence in Britain has realized social and political connotations that are usually carried out through patriarchal values. Furthermore, it has caused the appearance of a strong criminal discussion concerning domestic violence, and it has significantly hushed which feminist discussions that have normally created domestic violence issue. Hence, the “issue” of domestic violence has now become a part of political outline. As a result of which the issue has lost into a wider violence outline wherein it is hard to distinguish between personal and public acts of violent behaviors. It is quite evident the role of the British government (Home Office, 2010), which at present finds the issue within different violent activities that may or may not be possibly done in the scope of interpersonal communications. Hence, the specific nature of the issue of domestic violence is lost.
The issue of domestic violence in Britain shows duplicity of the feminist agenda that has significantly been affected by the patriarchal society and the consequent oppression of women by men in the domestic framework. In fact, it is the private character of domestic violence on women that have affected both the victims and the perpetrators. Throughout this ongoing process, the role played by the victim of a domestic violence has all the time increasingly symbolized through various government legislation and policies. Accordingly, these legislation and policies carry critical implications if implemented earnestly in the British Society.
An Analysis
For the last three decades there are several key modifications in the public policy agenda regarding DV in Britain motivated and in reaction to support and activism by the women’s activism (Harwin 556-568). In the domestic public agenda developments, the British criminal justice system, especially the law-enforcing agencies has been greatly engaged in solving the problem of domestic violence. A number of government and NGOs have embarked upon studies on DV and created policy recommendations.
Throughout the period 1997-2010, a major focus on domestic violence legislation was to take steps rooted on deterrence, safety and fairness and the offering of caring for the victims at local and countrywide levels. Remarkably, in creating the policies, the British government dealt with domestic violence in a gender-neutral manner.
Domestic Violence Policies
In fact, since the 1990s the main policies pursued by successive British Government were to deal with domestic violence at the national level and local level to apply policies and to provide services to the victims. It was in line with the UN recommendations and reflected policy growth and execution in other fields too. Local level dealing of domestic violence was mandatory as stated by British Home Office in 1995. Moreover, in the creation of DV forum law enforcement agencies, social services, healthcare agencies, and legal and voluntary services collaborated to deal with the menace of domestic violence.
The forums introduced outlined measures to a successful deal with the domestic violence in the country. Whilst a number of social researchers believed the forums would embark upon a thorough nationwide strategy on domestic violence in the country, the British government supported locally-motivated and non-governmental programs (Home Office, 1999), instead of undertaking a principal cause in fighting the domestic violence in the country. However, the British government contribution was the creation of an outline concerning implementation of criminal justice steps and reduction of crime in the society.
Moreover, new guidelines for local domains were issued in the year 2000 to deal with domestic violence (Home Office, 2000). The British Government held extensive discussion with various activist groups concerning domestic violence and argued for more pragmatic steps victims as well as survivors of domestic violence. The government publication (Home Office, 2003) provided comprehensive details of the domestic violence in the country, its effects on the victims and the wider expenses it entailed to the society. The government introduced several strategies for successfully dealing with a domestic violence rooted on three major aspects namely 1) Prevention, 2) Safeguards and 3) Provision of justice to the victims. Moreover, the publication suggested various governmental and non-governmental changes in the management of domestic violence in Britain and Wales. As well, it recommended various new undertaking consisting of multi-organization assessments of domestic violence homicides, making frequent assault an apprehensible crime, providing the victims the position of susceptible/anxious witnesses, enlisting of DV criminals, and professional DV judges (Home Office, 2003). The government publication, contrary to the mainstream public data, recognized not only the gender-based victimization in DV, however, female involvement too (George & Darwood, 2003).
In the 2005, The British Home Office published a nationwide study on domestic violence that was a noticeable shift in the government policy. It noted the modification of constitutional and voluntary organizations and stated that the British Government has been fully involved with the domestic violence in the country (Home Office, 2005:3). The Report proposed 17 obligations in the endorsement and the development of public services and to practically react to domestic violence. Moreover, the study discussed the domestic violence in the country mainly focusing on the lowering of domestic violence rates and the associated killings, the incidents of DV reported to the law enforcement agencies, and providing assistance to the victims. In addition, performance metrics was pointed out to evaluate the progress in the core areas of domestic violence. At the same, annual assessments and progress were made public for 2006-9 period. Despite the fact, this step could be considered as a major step in the national planning for a domestic violence, the approach of the British Government was censured. The British Government board criticized the implementation process policy which it considered excessively concentrated on criminal justice reactions to the detriment of efficient deterrence and involvement. It required a more motivation on DV against women and greater stress on its deterrence (Select Committee on Home Affairs, 2008).
Later, a consultation paper was issued by the British that concentrated more comprehensively on the true nature of violence against women, as well as the girls, with emphasis on the effects of violence on people’s lives. Moreover, the paper put forward several proposals regarding deterrence, assistance to victims and the measures to provide justice to the victims of domestic violence (Home Office 2009b).
However, after in 2010, the takeover of new British Government, it set up a new board that censured the earlier government for espousing top-down method in dealing with the domestic violence in the country. It demanded more localized measures for deterrence, due support to the victims, collaboration and the risk elimination of risk. Hence, the approach signaled a revisit to the old approach in 2005. As well, the board focused strongly on gender-based violence in the society concerning honor-based violence and genital damage (Home Office, 2010). Moreover, the board recognized that people could be victims of DV and the effects of family abuse.
As well, In March 2011, the British Home Office published a new action plan to check domestic violence in the country. It required establishment of instant and longer term goals for various British government bureaus. It also asked for the creation of prevention model. Moreover, it should not only focus on the adults but also to protect young children from gender-based DV in the households, educational institutions as well as detrimental objects on the websites. The new action plan was financed by a 28 million fund to support for care services for victims and the deterrence of violence in the country.
Conclusion
The issue of DV in Britain is high on the public agenda and has affected significantly both on economic and personal expense to the British society (Walby, 2004).
The issue of domestic violence in Britain shows duplicity of the feminist agenda that has significantly been affected by the patriarchal society and the consequent oppression of women by men in the domestic framework. In fact, it is the private character of domestic violence on women that have affected both the victims and the perpetrators. Throughout this ongoing process, the role played by the victim of a domestic violence has all the time increasingly symbolized through various government legislation and policies. Accordingly, these legislation and policies carry critical implications if implemented earnestly in the British Society.
Works Cited
George, M.J. & Darwood, D.J. (2003). Safety and Justice. London: Dewar Research.
Harwin, N. Putting a Stop to Domestic Violence in the United Kingdom: Challenges and Opportunities. Violence Against Women, 12(6). 2006. Print.
Home Office. Living Without Fear: An Integrated Approach To Tackling violence against Women. London: Home Office. 1999. Print.
Home Office. Domestic Violence: Break the Chain Multi-Agency Guidance for Addressing Domestic Violence. London: Home Office.2000. Print.
Home Office. Safety and Justice. The Government's Proposal on Domestic Violence. London: Home Office. 2003. Print.
Home Office. Domestic Violence, a National Report. London: Home Office. 2005. Print.
Home Office. National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan. London: Home Office. 2005. Print.
Home Office (2009a) National Domestic violence Delivery Plan 2008-09 Annual Progress Report. London: Home Office.
Home Office. Together we can end violence against women and girls: A consultation paper. London: Home Office. 2009b. Print.
Home Office. Call to End Violence to Women and Girls. London: Home Office. 2010. Print.
Home Office. Call to End Violence to Women and Girls: An Action Plan. London: Home Office. 2011. Print.
Walby, S. The Cost of Domestic Violence London Department for Trade and Industry. 2004. Print.
