The Rights Of Man

ACPO REPORT IGNORES MALE VICTIMS BUT IS IT THEIR FAULT?

What is so worryingly predictable (issues of common law aside) about the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recommendations to the Home Office was the lack of mention about male victims of domestic violence.

The proposals (5th down and beware may slow your computer) formed the ACPO response to the violence against Women and Girls strategy, a long-running Government consultation that completely and purposely ignores male victims of domestic violence and rape because those people don't matter. New powers were asked for such as a 'right to know' about violent men when a woman takes a new partner and a new criminal offence based on a body of evidence rather than a specific crime.

 Of course, any new powers will have to be applied to both female and male perpetrators and whilst the response only referred to women, what was noticeable was the gender neutral quotes given by Chief Constable Brian Moore who is in charge of this area for ACPO. The Guardian, Telegraph, BBC, Daily Mail (with debate) and others in their usual 'balanced' way only spun it about being against male perpetrators but Brian Moore seemed careful to avoid gender stereotyping too much (he does just mention women in the Telegraph). The politicians were happy of course just to mention female victims.

One wonders though that if the Government had asked ACPO to look at this not under the guise of Violence Against Women and CHildren but just under violence against people ina domestic relationship, whether the report would have mentioned men or would have been gender neutral. The impression is that with glacial recognition that men can also be victims, it may be the case that it would have been. Perhaps I am being too optimistic...

Pity of course, the Equalities Commission have no shame in just talking about female victims.

RESEARCH SHOWING WOMEN THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED IS CHALLENGEABLE

In September, the media reported research which allegedly showed that female perpetrators were three times as likely to be arrested than male perpetrators. This certainly seems odd as one of the many complaints is that the police arrest the man when there is a dispute over culpability as that is the easier option.

The research Who Does What To Whom from Professor Marianne Hester was certainly worth interrogating to see if this possibly could be true especially as it had received media attention and seemed to go against the grain. Of course, Bristol University's PR team wanted to create the most waves (press release).

Three things strike you as you read the report.

Firstly, that women are more likely to be used by a woman than a man (the Guardian spin this as self-defence). The figure is 24% to 11%.

Secondly, whilst the research is meant to compare 32 male and 32 female perpetrators, there is no discussion on the actual severity of the crimes. For an arrest the police would make an independent judgement and if an arrest needed to be made they would make it. However, there is no real indication on the severity of the crime to make a statement that women were more likely to be arrested for the same crime which would then prove some bias.

The last point and it is one made eloquently by Ally Fogg on The Guardian's Comment is Free site. Obviously he is well versed in police procedure as he makes the point that even when no arrests are made, the police still have to record a primary aggressor on their 'visit' sheet. There would be 'no questions asked' it is easier for the police officer to just put down the man. It means that Hester's figures may be distorted because of this as it would look like a man is less likely to be arrested than a woman, but that is based on the figures where the police will by default put the man down as a primary aggressor where no arrest has been made.

Again with all this and similarly with the gender pay gap issues, like for like issues have to be compared. Looking at the figures and not what lies beneath them leads to people with agendas being able to spin what they like. It is simply not credible to say that men are three time sless likely to be arrested for a DV crime than a woman.

CHILDLINE FIGURES ON FEMALE SEXUAL ABUSE MAY GIVE SOME BALANCE TO THE WAY MEN ARE PORTRAYED?

No-one likes reading about the issues of child abuse but at least the figures from Childline / NSPCC, which is run by the NSPCC, might stop the sole demonisation of men when it comes to this subject.

Childline's figures released yesterday showed that the number of calls from children stating they had been sexually abused by a women had doubled since 2004/05 and that now 1 in 4 calls where the gender could be identified showed that the abuser was female, a figure the NSPCC states is still too low because of under-reporting. Boys are more likley to sexually abused by a woman than a man. The BBC and the Press Association do a good job of covering the subject here and here.

In many respects this report show results similarish aspects to the previous NSPCC research which talked about physical violence in that the figures between men and women are closer than you would think given the propaganda and the general perception that only men commit these crimes.

The issue about who commits sexual abuse and physical abuse against children is also like the issue of domestic violence against male adults. It has been underground for years and the stereotypes that only men are involved in such crimes has become ingrained in popular culture.

Perhaps, male teachers will no longer be treated with such suspicion, that only men are depicted in popular culture as abusers and perhaps we can now see such awful crimes in a gender-neutral fashion where both the victims and perpetrators can be seen as from different genders and not just portrayed as men. Maybe we can have equality?

Google News

REMEMBER MOVEMBER MONTH

Before anyone forgets its Movember Month. Great web-site here

EQUALITIES COMMISSION GUIDANCE DARES NOT ADVOCATE SERVICES FOR MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

In guidance published last month to public authorities about interpreting equalities legislation and local service provision, much of the guidance used the example of domestic violence.

This is clearly based on a decision made by Dorset Council on closing a female refuge so they can pay for a service for men and women. A decision that should not have happened because it isn't right to take services away from female victims but more funding for male victims should be found.

The guidance reiterates throughout that there is no problem in funding services based on gender groups if there is need. It states that far more women suffer from domestic abuse than men, defining the term 'far more' is difficult but the last split based on Home Office figures was 60%/65% female 40%/35% male. Not usure that constitutes far more.

However, the issue raised is that the document throughout talks about the need for services for female victims and that local authorities and public bodies should ensure they have such services but purposely does not utter the words "you must also ensure you provide domestic violence services for male victims."

There is a reference (page 3) that the legislation allows services for female victims "separate from services for male victims".

But what services are there for male victims within local council's - precious little, if any.

And when it says that there is a need for more services for female victims, why doesn't it simply also state "But you must ensure male victims within your community are catered for."

Why are the needs of male victims not mentioned by the Equalities Commission?

STORIES ROUND-UP

As things have been a bit hit and miss on the site for the last few months, please find below a selection of stories and issues that have not been covered in any detail but should have been.

Daily Mail: Paedophile Fears Driving Male Teachers From Primary Schools

Scottish Sun: Domestic Violence Against Men Rises At Time Of Old Firm Matches

Conservative Home: All Women Short-Lists Break All Notions Of Fairness

BBC: Asian Abused Men's Living Hell

BBC: Are Women Paying For Sexism Laws?

BBC: Women Who Abuse Children

Daily Mail: Erin Pizzey - Why I Loathe Feminism

Independent: Prescott Tells Harman To Stop Going On About Women's Rights

Times: Men In Boardrooms Have been A Disaster

Daily Mail: Falsely Accused Victim Wins £25,000 Compensation

Lib Dems: Domestic Violence Convictions Against Women Trebles

Daily Mail: False Accusers Must Go To Jail

Wigan Today: Labour Party All Women Shortlists in Wigan