Website for victims of domestic violence from property sale

Hi Fergus

I applaud you wanting to do something about battered wives. But don't forget the men who suffer similar abuse in relationships too. No person should have to suffer abuse and feel not able to spaek out and find the resources they need.

Dear Fergus,
I think the public might support you on this one.

Do however be careful with moving too many powers away from the courts and handing them to the police. Do think of the way local council officers can respond in a reactive way towards landlords. Such an approach could inappropriately be used by the police too.
The police were not interested when £6900 of vandalism was caused by a tenant, or his friends who regained possession (burglary), of my property. But the police were more concerned about his threatening tones to me when we were discussing earlier the deductions from his deposit.
All parties in a relationship should feel safe but not to be judged on the whim of the police. The police have adequate powers to "relocate" people by use of their existing powers under the Bail Act. People who have been assaulted have the ability to apply to the courts the same/next day for Exclusion Orders and may be powers of arrest attached too, and have been able to do so for numerous years.

I agree with Pete. Potentially, and this is difficult to quantify because of shame and the male unwillingness to report violence against them, there are more male sufferers of domestic abuse than females. Don't forget that bullying and threatening coercion can also be classed as abuse and much more liable to be done by a female than a male. A point that I also think about with charity advertisements for saving young girls that the young boys are also at risk and there are few charities for them. So surely you should be concentrating on eradicating and alleviating all domestic abuse irrespective of the sex of the victim.

In continuation, be careful in wanting powers moved to police/fire brigade as it will probably result in fewer interventions. Police are very, very reluctant to intervene in family matters even to enact court orders when the ex-partner, and most particularly ex-wives who still have a major advantage in law, break them. My son has custody of his children and several times his ex-wife has refused to return them meaning a visit to court and even though he has a court order for their return the police have refused to attend. In law it is much more advantageous to be female than male.

Hmmm. "There is no boundary relating to Race or Nationality." It seems there is when it comes down to gender where you are concerned. "This is cheaper on the public purse. There is generally no requirement for the Local Authority to house a single man." There should be!