Domestic Abuse at Christmas Time

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Domestic Abuse at Christmas Time

19 Dec 2007

At the time of year most linked with peace and goodwill, many women and children across Wales will be experiencing domestic abuse. Figures show that calls to the Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline increase during the festive period, as tensions at home sometimes boil over into abuse.

Whilst domestic abuse may get worse at Christmas in all likelihood it has already been going on for months and even possibly years. Often people are keen to excuse domestic abuse on the grounds of external influencing factors; ‘he lost his job’, ‘he got drunk’, ‘his football team lost’ etc and this reasoning is extended to Christmas too. However, domestic abuse is not a one-off incident; more usually it's a pattern of systematic and sustained abusive and controlling behaviour through which the abuser seeks power over their victim. Domestic violence occurs across communities and society, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth and geography.

Elen Pierce, the Director of Welsh Women's Aid, says: "Even when everything is going well, Christmas can still be a difficult time for families. People who might not spend more than a few hours everyday in each other’s company are suddenly thrown together for long days on end. The festive period is also a time when levels of stress, alcohol use and indebtedness are all increased. If you live in an abusive family, the tensions arising from these issues can reach fever pitch and sometimes spill over into violence and abuse.

"However, it would be a mistake to assume that domestic abuse is merely a one-off incident sparked by the stresses of Christmas alone. The fact is that on average a woman will be assaulted by her partner or ex partner 35 times before reporting it to the police. Domestic abuse is a pattern of systematic and sustained abusive and controlling behaviour through which the abuser seeks to exert power over their victim.

Welsh Women's Aid believes that no one should live in fear. Domestic abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual or financial and is often not recognised or is misunderstood. The earlier someone is able to engage support, the sooner they can begin the process of changing their life. The free, bi-lingual Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 80 10 800. The service is completely confidential and offers excellent support and advice.