Articles | Campaign over abuse warning signs

Campaign over abuse warning signs

Published: Tuesday, 5 August 2008, 11:37AM

A campaign to help women recognise the early warning signs of domestic abuse at the hands of their partners has been launched.

The charity Refuge says two women are killed every week by a current or former partner in England and Wales and the charity has urged women not to ignore controlling or obsessive behaviour because it could turn abusive.

Launching the campaign, Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett, whose character Jo Sugden is currently the victim of domestic violence said: "Just playing the role has taken a huge emotional toll on my life, but it is nothing compared to the pain, fear and torment experienced by the thousands of women Refuge supports every day.

"I have no doubt this campaign will give strength to many women who may be experiencing abuse now, or who may do so in the future, to reach out and get help."

Sandra Horley, the chief executive of Refuge said: "It's all too easy for women to excuse their partner's possessive and jealous behaviour - but in so doing they run the risk of the abuse increasing in frequency and severity over time.

"By understanding the signs early a woman is forewarned and forearmed."

Among the early warning signs Refuge urged women to look out for were: the man cutting his partner off from family and friends and try to isolate her; humiliating or insulting her in front of others; constantly criticising her and telling her she could not cope without him.

Half of the women surveyed by Refuge said they had experienced at least one of the warning signs.

More than eight out of ten women interviewed for research commissioned by Refuge said they received no information about domestic violence when they were at school, though nearly all said they would have liked to have done so.