Domestic violence policy is a 'war on men' claims Tory

Published on Fri Dec 17 10:23:47 GMT 2010

A TORY councillor has vowed not to campaign for his party until it reverses a policy designed to combat domestic violence.

Portsmouth City Councillor James Williams (pictured) announced he will not work for the Tories outside his own Nelson ward unless it withdraws the new 'Go' orders.


The orders give senior police officers on-the-spot rights to remove men suspected of committing acts of domestic abuse from their homes for 48 hours. Courts can then extend that to two weeks.


The policy was designed by the last Labour government, but is now being piloted in three areas of the UK by Home Secretary Theresa May. There is no equivalent policy aimed at women. Cllr Williams says the orders challenge freedom and are part of a feminist war on men.


'As an elected Conservative councillor, I am ashamed Theresa May has chosen to adopt totalitarian methods in the ongoing war against men by the feminist movement,' he said.


'I shall not take part in any election campaign for the Conservatives outside my own ward until this vile sexist legislation is removed.'


He added: 'This is a Stalinist policy and goes against everything I believe in as a Conservative.


'I am in the party because I believe in freedom and fairness, and this policy is the opposite.


'Domestic violence, both physical and emotional, is a very serious problem, but this policy gives police the power to act as judge and jury, kicking men out of their homes.


'What if a woman alleges domestic abuse even if none has happened? It's unfair that this policy will deprive men from seeing their children even if they've done nothing wrong.'


Nicki Youern, chief exec of YOU, which runs Portsmouth's women's refuge, said: 'It's a little early to make definite judgments on this policy.


'We don't know what effect it will have and it is only being piloted at the moment. But it may help to protect vulnerable women and children from violence.'


Councillor Donna Jones, chairwoman of Portsmouth North Conservative party, said: 'He has told us his position and we have accepted it.'

Mens Policy Forum

Two members of MensAid NI, attended a Mens Policy Forum at the NICVA offices. This was a very informative meeting and a chance to network with other groups.

Our knowledge of Family Law issues and constant campaigning for equality of male victims of domestic abuse went down well. We are taking on a case where a man has suffered extreme Domestic Abuse, severe failings of Social Services and has been prevented contact with his children.

Our next meeting is in April, where ideas will be put forward in reference Mens Health week in June.

Cost of domestic violence

Womens Aid have put these financial costings on their webiste. What they havent stated is that if these are the true costs of DA, then this includes males within these costs, as being the victim.

Yet millions are pumped into assisting women, pennies pumped into assisting men.



What is the cost of domestic violence?

The estimated total cost of domestic violence to society in monetary terms is £23 billion per annum. This figure includes an estimated £3.1 billion as the cost to the state and £1.3 billion as the cost to employers and human suffering cost of £17 billion. (Walby 2004). The estimated total cost is based on the following:
• The cost to the criminal justice system is £1 billion per annum. (This represents one quarter of the criminal justice budget for violent crime including the cost of homicide to adult women annually of £112 million).
• The cost of physical healthcare treatment resulting from domestic violence, (including hospital, GP, ambulance, prescriptions) is £1,220,247,000, i.e. 3% of total NHS budget.
• The cost of treating mental illness and distress due to domestic violence is £176,000,000.
• The cost to the social services is £0.25 billion.
• Housing costs are estimated at £0.16 billion.
• The cost of civil legal services due to domestic violence is £0.3billion.
The statistics collated by Walby above are recognised as an under-estimate because public services don't collect information on the extent to which their services are used as a result of domestic violence. The research doesn't include costs to those areas for which it was difficult to collect any baseline information - for example cost to social services work with vulnerable adults, cost to education services, the human cost to children (including moving schools and the impact this has on their education), and it excludes the cost of therapeutic and other support within the voluntary sector.
The cost of domestic homicide is estimated by the Home Office at over one million pounds: a total of £1, 097, 330 for each death, or £112 million per year