Domestic Abuse News Roundup: w/c 21st February 2022

🧴 The forensic spray aimed at keeping women safe

For the first time, a perpetrator in the UK has been sentenced to jail for domestic violence after being sprayed with SmartWaters, a forensic spray which only shows under ultraviolet light. The technology is being introduced by the police to trace down the perpetrators, in an attempt to help the victims factually prove to the authorities the presence of a violent relationship.

While the innovation could be useful in the fight against domestic abuse, critics are raising concerns over police forces promoting commercial solutions instead of implementing better prevention policies. Doubts have also been sparked around the spray’s practicality in real life and how safe it is for victims to use it.

👨‍👧‍👦 Child domestic violence is increasing

Domestic violence against children in Kent has gone up by 286% compared to last year. NSPCC revealed new data showing there were 3,949 referrals on domestic abuse just in one year when the figure from 2020 was only 1,023.

Back in January, for the first time in the UK, children were officially recognized as victims of domestic violence and included as part of the Domestic Abuse Act. Still, there are doubts about the lack of preventive measures to keep the children safe.

Children are the most vulnerable group affected by domestic abuse, which can derail their childhood and impact adulthood. It is crucial that child victims get an adequate government-funded support system across the country.

⚠️ Guns are back in the hands of abusers

According to the police data, more than 150 gun possession licenses were returned to people who had already faced accusations of domestic violence.

The Police reported that of 164 returned licenses the weapon owners were charged with domestic abuse, but the charges were later dropped, as is often the case.

Women’s Aid’s chief executive Farah Nazeer has described the numbers as “inexcusable tolerance” and has called on immediate actions of banning the returning licenses of weapon possession. “Even if the perpetrator hasn’t ever used the gun against their partner, just possessing the weapon, its presence in the house, is a form of intimidation and control.”

Sources: BBC News, Kent Online

Your weekly roundup of domestic abuse news was curated by our volunteer Ekaterina Balueva ✨