In a report delivered to Suffolk County Council's Public Protection Scrutiny Committee, it is revealed that 20% of Domestic Violence victims are men, up from 17% the year before. This is broadly consistent with the national figure of 24%. Between April 2006 and March 2007, 1060 men were victims in the county.
The story is covered here (link) and the report to the committee here (link). Suffolk CC also have a small section on a domestic violence web-site for men (link).
The issues facing Suffolk CC are no different to any other county, however, at least Suffolk County Councillors recognise that men are victims and have at least acknowledged it. This is so unlike most other local authorities (see recent post on Bristol City Council).
Suffolk CC's response to the Men's Aid request for a list of services is here (link). The challenge is for Suffolk CC to now actively provide services to help men rather than gender neutral or for women. Whilst they make great play that their domestic violence literature is gender neutral and they have a web-site and use events, there is nothing on refuges for men or specialist support.
Still, Suffolk CC is far better than the majority.
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