Children kept awake by sounds of domestic violence

One in twelve children has been kept awake at night listening to domestic violence according to a survey¹ of 11 to 16 year olds by the NSPCC.

The finding is released today (23 June 2009) to highlight the NSPCC handing  a public petition² to Children’s Minister, Dawn Primarolo for better protection of children who live with domestic violence.

As a child, Joanne³ grew up in a home with domestic violence. Now aged twenty-one, she is backing the NSPCC’s petition and says: “I was eight years old when my mum’s boyfriend started coming home drunk late at night and beating her up. I would hide trembling under my duvet listening to mum begging him to stop.

“I was lucky that the police referred me to an NSPCC domestic violence support group for children, but most child victims don’t get the help they need.”

NSPCC head of policy and public affairs, Diana Sutton said: “Tonight there will be helpless children lying awake listening to parents punching, kicking and hurting each other. These children’s nightmares begin even before they fall asleep and they will continue to suffer the physical and emotional trauma of the night at school tomorrow.

“Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at greater risk of developing physical, emotional and behavioural problems that can affect their whole lives.  The UK Government still treats domestic violence as largely an adult problem when clearly children are victims too⁷ . ”

Other research shows that half of adults who suffered domestic violence were living with children under 16⁴.  In nine out of ten incidents the children are either in the same or next room when the violence takes place⁵ .

Nearly twenty-five thousand members of the public have signed the NSPCC’s petition, which calls on the Government to:
• address the severe shortage of therapy and refuges designed for children’s needs.
• train police, social services and other professionals who handle incidents of domestic violence to deal with the impact on any children in the family.
• teach every child in school about domestic violence, how to get help if they are suffering and how to have respectful personal relationships.

Ends

NSPCC media office on 0207 825 2904, out of hours mobile on 07976 206 625
Photograph available showing sixteen year old Sophie Kean handing the Minister for Children, Dawn Primarolo a damaged doll’s house. The doll’s house contains a public petition urging the Government to see domestic violence from a child's point of view.

 Notes to editors:
1 GfK Custom Research surveyed 1075 eleven to sixteen year olds in schools in Britain (not including Northern Ireland) on behalf of the NSPCC about their experiences of domestic violence.
Eight per cent (one in twelve) said they have lain awake at night listening an argument or fight between adults in their household which sounded like one of the adults is getting hit, kicked, slapped, punched or physically hurt or about to get physically hurt.
2 The NSPCC domestic violence campaign covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Further detail about the campaign  relevant to each jurisdiction can be found at www.nspcc.org.uk/dvcampaign.

3Joanne’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
 
4 Latest figures available: Mirrless-Black, C. (1999) Domestic Violence: Findings from the British Crime Survey self-completion questionnaire. Home Office Research Study 191. London: Home Office.

5 Latest figures available: Hughes, H (1992). Impact of spouse abuse on children of battered women. Violence Update, August 1:9-11.

The NSPCC is the UK’s leading children charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC’s purpose is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. The NSPCC runs  projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.