1 week Ago
This is something she has done for the last ten years. This year’s list of 95 women tragically included Alison McLaughlin from Greenock. Whilst the data shows that a woman is murdered every three days in the UK, campaigners believe the true number is higher.
As a practising social worker, many years ago, my main concern was the dreadful impact of domestic violence on children. The internet was barely a thing, no one had a mobile phone and coercive control and stalking probably took place but were not known to be high risk factors. As a ward councillor I have liaised with support organisations on behalf of local women experiencing abuse.
Research into the cases of women murdered by their partners and former partners between 2012 and 2015, carried out by Jane Monckton-Smith from the University of Gloucestershire, shows that domestic abuse leading to murder followed a recognisable pattern, which I will attempt to summarise in this column. In total, 372 murders were studied. Every woman reading this who recognises herself (or her mother, daughter, sister, auntie, cousin, neighbour, pal) as being in a relationship which could lead to serious injury or worse should get out of the relationship and not look back.
If you or someone you know is affected, please get out before it is too late. The research talks about 'intimate partner femicide' - basically women and girls who are murdered by their current or ex intimate partners. Whilst men account for most murder victims, in intimate relationship murders, the victims are overwhelmingly female – about 82 per cent.
Domestic abuse characterised by patterns of stalking and/or coercive control can lead to murder. Controlling behaviour has been criminalised (Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018), in part because research showed this behaviour was present in the lead up to many intimate relationship murders. Eight stages have been identified in the escalation to intimate partner femicide.
pre-relationship. In this phase the past history of the perpetrator is key to predicting future abuse. In other words a perpetrator is likely to have subjected other women and girls to controlling patterns, domestic abuse or stalking.
Clare’s Law (Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland) enables anyone to ask the police about a person’s history of domestic abuse. Early relationship. In the relationships which ended in murder, the early phase was characterised by “love bombing”.
The romance developed very fast and the perpetrator wanted early commitment. Possessive language might be used – “you’re mine” and “we will be together forever”. Anyone with doubts needs to use Clare’s Law.
Relationship. Abuse is present either in the form of violence, including sexual violence, or in controlling patterns and stalking. In some of the cases which led to murder the relationship phase was as short as three to six weeks and in others up to 50 years.
If a perpetrator is physically stalking his partner, he will also be stalking her online. Gifting a new phone is possibly the best way of him knowing where she is and what she is doing at all times. Ask for Angela is the national scheme for anyone who feels vulnerable to get help in bars and other venues.
Some local authorities have made Ask for Angela part of licensing measures. I will ask that this be considered in Inverclyde. Trigger event/s: Overwhelmingly the reasons given by men for killing their partners come down to separation/withdrawal of commitment.
Escalation. This phase involves an increase in the frequency, severity or variety of abuse, control or stalking (especially monitoring and tracking). Change in thinking.
This stage is believed to occur towards the end of the escalation phase when the perpetrator thinks that his loss of control and/or status is permanent. The perpetrator believes if he can’t have her, no one should have her. Murder may come into his thinking.
Planning. Some perpetrators developed written plans. Others conducted internet searches about methods of killing.
Some had successfully isolated their victims for example by organising a holiday. Others had arranged all their finances and papers – often when the plan was murder/suicide. As long as the stalking continues, the risks remain high.
Homicide. Some murders featured extreme violence where others involved attempts at concealment including the 'sex game went wrong' defence or staged suicide. If this is happening to you or someone you know, please seek help today.
You can contact Womens Aid Greenock on 01475 888505. My surgeries are in Craigend, Auchmountain and Broomhill on the first Friday of the month – come along for a chat..
