A senior figure at Angus Women’s Aid has said the organisation’s Arbroath base has been inundated with pleas for help from women seeking to escape abusive relationships over the festive period.
Anne Brown added that referrals had increased dramatically compared with the corresponding period last year and that they had even received calls from women in danger on Christmas Eve something which previously was “virtually unheard of.”
However, Ms Brown also said she was “amazed and terrified” to hear of a case which called at Arbroath Sheriff Court in which Sheriff Norrie Stein said he was “losing trust and faith” in the evidence of alleged victims.
She said, “This is always a busy time, as tensions run high over Christmas and New Year, but it’s been far worse this year than last.
“Usually, women with children will put a brave face on over the festive period so it’s very unusual for us to be approached on Christmas Eve.”
She added, “Alcohol can often escalate the level of violence in a relationship and is far more widely available at this time of year, especially in the home.
“I would like any woman who finds herself in an abusive relationship to know that we can help them and to hear comments of this kind from a sheriff is, frankly, alarming.”
Sheriff Stein was speaking after Arbroath man Shaun Burry (39) appeared from custody and admitted a Boxing Day assault on his partner of 17 years.
When asked by depute fiscal Hazel Anderson if he would consider attaching a special condition to Burry’s bail preventing him from contacting his victim, Sheriff Stein said that he was concerned that the woman had never previously reported any cases of violence to the authorities.
This was despite her having told police that Burry had been “violent” towards her “from the beginning of their relationship.”
Ms Brown said, “In a way I’m actually heartened to hear this because after 17 years, this woman has been brave enough to speak out and the police and fiscal have taken notice.”
She added that in many abusive relationships a woman’s partner can exert control over her by convincing her that she will not be taken seriously by the authorities if she makes any complaints against him.
In some cases, she said, studies have shown that abused women display the same kind of behaviour as hostage victims, leading to the term “intimate terrorism” being coined by academics.
Ms Brown said, “If you are constantly being told you’re useless, you’ll start to believe it.”
Any woman who requires support can call the organisation’s support line on 01241 439457.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Janine.