Captive & Controlled: The hidden scandal of domestic abuse in rural areas

A damning report by the National Rural Crime Network has found that many victims living in rural areas are being failed by the system. The Countryside Alliance, who are part of the National Rural Crime Network, welcomed this landmark report on domestic abuse and will work with the NRCN, police, government and other agencies to deliver on the recommnedations. This research examines a difficult problem and it has uncovered a deeply hidden and disturbing side to rural life. This report bears the souls and scars of domestic abuse victims, who all too often are lost to support, policing and criminal justice services.

The reports reveals a shocking picture of domestic abuse in rural Britain with hidden victims – isolated, unsupported and unprotected – who are being failed by the system, services and those around them. Its findings are stark, disturbing and lead to an urgent call for action from government, the police, society and us all.

Among the ten key conclusions:

• Domestic abuse lasts, on average, 25% longer in most rural areas – the report finds that exiting abuse is harder, takes longer and is more complex for rural victims as there are significant additional barriers in rural communities compared to urban areas.

• Rurality and isolation are used as a weapon by abusers - we now have clear evidence that abusers specifically move victims to rural settings to further isolate them, or systematically use the isolation to their advantage should they already be there. It not only facilitates abusers controlling their victims whilst in the relationship but makes it harder for victims to escape that abuse. Physical isolation is the arguably the best weapon an abuser has; and has a profound impact on making the victim feel quite literally captive.

• Close-knit rural communities facilitate abuse - strong community spirit is one of the joys of rural life, but it can be equally powerful in keeping domestic abuse hidden and in facilitating abuse – not knowingly, not willingly, but by virtue of the way communities are in rural Britain.

• The policing response is largely inadequate - whilst the service provided by the police is improving, feedback from victims shows the response in rural areas is not as good as that in urban areas. Some of this is due to a lack of female police officers being available in rural areas, as well as fewer officers with appropriate domestic abuse training. And the further the victim from a visible police presence (i.e. building) the less likely they are to call the police.

• Support services are scarce – less available, less visible and less effective - victims were clear that domestic abuse support services are much harder to find and much harder to engage with than in an urban setting. These services are also less effective in supporting rural victims and survivors once they manage to make contact.

All ten conclusions, and the full research which led to them, can be found at www.ruralabuse.co.uk.

Many of their harrowing stories can be found in the full report in their own words, including:

"You think that the community in villages like the one I lived in would be a source of support but in reality, no-one wants to get involved in another person's personal life… because he played for the village cricket team he had the support of everyone and this made me feel even more isolated."

"I found it so hard to find anyone in the village to talk to. They are all perfectly nice people on the surface, but after he shouted at me in the pub that night it was like everyone took a step back from me."

"My partner used to deliberately drive off to work with the kids car seats in his car which meant I could not go anywhere safely because I was stuck in the cottage with the kids… it was just another way he isolated me and kept me from interacting with anyone else"

"Once I came in and he had wrapped up a new phone for me… when I opened it up it had all been set up for me but all the pictures from my old phone and my friend's numbers weren't on there. Like none of them. When I asked for my old phone to transfer them over he said he had destroyed it because everything I needed was on the new phone… it was like he had removed my former life – just wiped it clean."

"You don't really have a choice – the police are at least an hour away and if it happens on a Friday or Saturday night, which it always did, they are busy dealing with other things. I never really considered calling the police – what's the point? By that time, I had been hit, slapped or punched anyway."

To pledge your support to the report and tackling domestic abuse in rural areas please sign here.

If you need help and would like to talk to someone please contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline website or call the Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247.