Domestic abuse cases increasing

Thursday 24 February 2022

Cases of domestic abuse reported in the Bailiwick have risen over the past two years.

A report from Citizens Advice Guernsey shows 104 cases of domestic abuse were investigated locally during 2020 and 2021.

Peaks of reported incidents were seen after both the 2020 and 2021 covid lockdowns.

Citizens Advice said: “People couldn’t come to see us during the lockdown and perhaps did not telephone us with their partner nearby.”

Pictured: Lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 were followed by more reports of domestic abuse. 

Annie Ashmead, Deputy Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Guernsey, said the pandemic had an impact on the increasing number of cases.

“What we can see clearly is that the two lockdowns supressed the reporting of cases to Citizens Advice Guernsey, resulting in two distinct peaks in the data once the island opened up,” she said.

“The lockdowns were difficult for everyone, but those spikes reveal that some islanders suffered more than most.”

Guernsey Police said: "We will always deal robustly with domestic abuse and will continue to comprehensively investigate any such reports made.

“We have a number of specially trained officers experienced in dealing with domestic abuse and also have specific policies, such as our policy of positive arrest, to help us tackle what is often a very complex issue.

“We are pleased to be able to work alongside a number of third sector organisations to ensure we can achieve our main goal when it comes to domestic abuse - protecting and supporting the victims.”

Pictured: Guernsey Police has officers trained to deal with cases of domestic abuse.

The report shows that the majority of cases of domestic abuse were physical, followed by mental abuse, which is identified in the report as coercive or controlling behaviour without physical violence.

Women and children are particularly affected by physical and domestic abuse, although 24% of cases involved victims who were men. 

Kerry Ciotti, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Guernsey, said the problem of repeat offenders is a growing issue. Repeat offenders doubled between 2014 and 2020. 

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference figures show an upward trend of repeating offenders

"Part of the problem is how we think and deal with domestic abuse… we always talk about what the victim is doing and we leave the perpetrator out of the conversation,” said Mrs Ciotti.

The Sarnia Programme works with perpetrators who have behaved abusively towards a current or previous partner. Mrs Ciotti said it was a "valuable tool, but we understand that there is currently a waiting list".

Mrs Ciotti suggested the Bailiwick would benefit from a perpetrator helpline, such as the Respect Phoneline available in the UK.

“The Respect phoneline offers a more immediate and accessible form of support for perpetrators of domestic abuse," she said.

“Perhaps a Bailiwick or Channel Islands helpline would help to slow or even reverse this growing problem, which continues to ruin lives while costing the Bailiwick an eight-figure sum each year."

Pictured: It is estimated that domestic abuse is costly to the Bailiwick financially as well as in human terms. 

Domestic abuse has been estimated to cost the island around £31million a year, which includes costs to health and social services and criminal justice agencies as well as lost economic output and civil legal costs.

Mrs Ashmead said: “The States’ Domestic Abuse Strategy highlights the lasting damage to physical and mental health and emotional well-being with financial and social consequences.

“However you look at it, domestic abuse is something that impacts our whole community.”