Manchester pupils give their voice to Christmas domestic abuse campaign

Pupils at Newall Green High School have taken part in the launch of a Christmas domestic abuse campaign focusing on children and young people.

The teenagers, with Detective Superintendent Phil Owen of Greater Manchester Police and Councillor Suzanne Richards, Manchester City Council's spokesperson on women's issues helped to launch the Greater Manchester-wide campaign at the school on Thursday (November 25). Women's Aid have been running workshops about positive relationships in high schools in Manchester, including Newall Green and one of the organisations youth workers, Jo Lane, was also at the launch.
National statistics show that children are in the same room or an adjoining room during 75% of domestic abuse attacks.
 
The number of domestic abuse cases reported to Greater Manchester Police peak at certain times of the year. One of the main peaks is during the festive period with the highest number of cases reported on New Year's Day. Last year police attended more than 1130 incidents of domestic abuse in December. In January 2010 there were almost 1200 cases reported with 119 on New Year's Day.

To raise awareness of this peak and to encourage victims and perpetrators to seek help, agencies across Greater Manchester are coming together for a second time - this time to support a Christmas campaign.

During the summer, Greater Manchester Police, Manchester City Council and the nine other Greater Manchester local authorities, the public health network, Greater Manchester domestic abuse helpline and voluntary organisations all came together to work on a campaign to encourage the reporting of domestic abuse during the World Cup. The campaign, which was launched by Rowetta of Happy Mondays and X Factor fame, was such a success that the organisations have come together again. 

During the Christmas period the 'End the Fear ' campaign will include a focus on young people.

Detective Superintendent Phil Owen of Greater Manchester Police's Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Unit said: "Unfortunately, at this time of year, we do tend to see an increase in the number of domestic abuse crimes reported to us. This is due to people drinking large amounts of alcohol along with the financial stresses and the fact families are spending more time together.

"Domestic abuse is not acceptable at any time of year and often, it is not only the victim themselves that is suffering but their children, who witness or hear the abuse happening. Working with our partners, we want to urge victims to come forward now and report it, if not for themselves for the sake of their children.

"Specially trained domestic abuse officers are in place to support them throughout the process and there is also a wide variety of other organisations out there that can offer support and advice.

"Furthermore, I would ask friends, family and neighbours to phone the police if they hear or witness and incident or believe someone they know is suffering. You could help make a family have a much happier Christmas by breaking the chain and putting a stop to domestic abuse before it goes too far."

Manchester City Council spokesperson on women's issues, Councillor Suzanne Richards said: "Christmas is the time of year when children should be thinking about their Christmas lists and eating too many sweets. But not for the 750,000 children a year who witness domestic violence, or suffer abuse at the hands of those committing domestic abuse. For some children, the often forgotten victims of domestic abuse, its not all fun and games."

"The reality is Christmas can be a difficult time for families. People are thrown together for much longer periods of time than normal, levels of stress, alcohol use and indebtedness are all increased. If you live in an abusive family already this can often spill over into more violence and abuse. Through this campaign I hope more families come forward and seek help before they reach this crisis point."

Independent Choices, Chief Officer, Sam Priestley, said:"We very much encourage the public of Greater Manchester to not suffer Domestic abuse in silence this Christmas. There is support available in all ten boroughs of the region and people are safer when they know their choices and options. Our Helpline is opening for extra hours over this period and opening times can be found on our website. No-one has the right to abuse or intimidate someone else. After over 33 years of running the Greater Manchester domestic abuse Helpline, at no time more than now have we seen such strong and united working across agencies to promote one message, that we can end the fear of Domestic abuse in Greater Manchester.'

Helen Perry, Director, Manchester Women's Aid said:"Manchester Women's Aid have been supporting people who are experiencing the affects of domestic abuse for over 30 years - we are working with schools to educate young people around healthy and positive relationships with the aim of educating young people to recognise early warning signs of an abusive relationship and controlling behaviour and to know where they can go to for help and support."

For more information about the services available to help stop domestic abuse, visit:

http://www.endthefear.co.ukor/ call the Greater Manchester Domestic abuse Helpline 0161 636 7525. Those responsible can also get help to stop by contacting the Respect Phoneline:0845 122 8609.

Key National Statistics:

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime with women at greater risk of repeat victimisation and serious injury

A victim can suffer from 35 attacks before the abuse is reported to the police

In the UK on average 2 women per week are killed by a current or former male partner

Domestic Abuse accounts for 15 per cent of all violent incidents

89 per cent of those suffering 4 or more incidents are women

One incident of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute