When the new domestic violence court hears its first case at Bury Magistrates on March 1 this year it will be a major step forward in the fight against an escalating crime.

During 2008/9, there were more than 70,000 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by Greater Manchester Police. Research indicates that even this figure vastly underestimates the scale as only a minority of cases are reported.

Women are much more likely than men to be the victims of multiple incidents of abuse and of sexual violence; 54 per cent of rapes are committed by a woman’s current or former partner, and on average two women a week are killed by a male partner – present or past.

The latest local court is part of a national Home Office network of courts, each one featuring magistrates specially trained in dealing with domestic violence, and specialist prosecutors, legal advisors and police officers.

There will be separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so that victims don’t come into contact with their attackers. Cases will be clustered each Monday, fast-tracked through the system to limit the likelihood of further incidents, and there will be tailored support and advice from independent domestic violence advisors.

A multi-agency approach at the core of these courts has already proved successful, with police, prosecutors, court staff, the probation service and specialist support services all working together.

Their combined expertise means they can identify, track and risk assess domestic violence cases, support victims and share information in order to bring more offenders to justice.

NHS Bury health improvement specialist Olivia Taylor and Bury Council domestic violence strategy co-ordinator Jaria Hussain-LaLa explained: “Preventing domestic violence in Bury is priority.

“We hope that the introduction of this specialist court will show the public that we take domestic violence very seriously in Bury. We want victims to feel supported in coming forward and accessing the support available to them. We want people to live lives free from abuse and feel safe.”

Sam Priestley from Manchester-based organisation Independent Choices, which provides support and help for women who have experienced domestic abuse, welcomed the court.

“Women need and deserve local choices and specialist responses when they have suffered domestic abuse,” she said.

“Domestic abuse itself is complex and it can take up to 35 incidents on average before a victim contacts the justice system. We are encouraged to know that the new Bury court will be able to respond effectively to the needs of survivors and their families.”

Case study - Carol's story

Carol was only 23, tiny and with the face of a child, when she arrived on the doorstep of Bolton’s women’s refuge Fortalice.

She clutched a binbag of clothes in one hand and her one year-old son in the other as her two other children, aged seven and four, stood forlornly behind her.

It was dark, after 10pm, and the woman who answered the door saw the little shape heading the sad group and asked, 'Is your mother with you?'.

“I am the mother”, said Carol. The woman answered: “Oh, love, come in”, and with Carol and the woman both crying they all went inside, to safety.

What led Carol to that poignant moment was a catalogue of abuse that started as a 16 year-old – pregnant by her 26 year-old boyfriend – and continued until she was a married mother of three young children and could take it no longer.

“My husband started being violent when I was pregnant with our second child,” says Carol.

“He was very controlling and had a short temper. It was made worse by drinking, but he didn’t need to drink to beat me.

“I wasn’t allowed to have any friends. I could only go to my mother’s when he was out on a Saturday or Sunday. If I went anywhere else and he found out, he would beat me black and blue.”

Fists and feet were her husband’s favoured method of keeping Carol cowed. “One day he hurt me so badly that I ended up in hospital,” she said.

“I was pregnant and started bleeding so they kept me in for a week. I told the doctor I had fallen downstairs.”

Perhaps even worse than the regular beatings was the fact that Carol’s children lived in a constant state of fear.

“They had to stop playing, go to bed early, get out of the way all the time because of his moods. My eldest daughter was only seven and she used to hold the baby to her so he couldn’t see their dad hitting me.”

The catalyst for Carol came when, during a particularly violent beating, her husband pushed her through a glass table and then stood over her with a shard in his hand threatening to stab her.

“I was at my lowest then,” she recalled. “I knew he would either kill me or I would take my own life.

“Social services would take my kids, but at least they’d be safe.”

One day, telling her husband she was going out to buy washing powder, she went to a phone box and rang the Samaritans. They told her about her about Fortalice – “I didn’t even know it existed,” says Carol.

“They gave me the address and advised me to return home, be calm, act as normal as possible and try to arrange to leave when my husband was at work.”

Carol went home and behaved normally, but says her 'heart was banging in her chest'. Her husband was on the night shift, so she waited until his bus passed her window taking him to work then rang a friend to help her.

“I put a change of clothing for each of the children into a bin bag. Then – I don’t know why – I put three little ornaments into the bag as well,” she recalled.

Having made her momentous move, Carol felt safe in her new environment. “That first Christmas at Fortalice was wonderful,” she says.

“The children had presents and they were able to be children there. The women were very supportive and the staff and volunteers were just amazing.”

Today, Carol is back at the refuge – now called Lewis House and a £2.5 million modern complex of 22 well-equipped flats which opened its doors 18 months ago.

Carol is a trained counsellor now, helping other women to put their lives back together again. “I wouldn’t have survived without Fortalice,” she states, simply, “and I want other women to know that they don’t have to stay living with violence.

“They have a choice – for themselves and their children.”

Spotting the signs of abuse

  • In yourself, escalating violence, a jealous and controlling partner who may be abusive and aggressive towards your children
  • In others, absence from work or social events, fear of their partner, references to partner’s anger, personality changes, repeated unexplained injuries
  • There are hidden areas of abuse, include text stalking, cyber harassment, psychological abuse like name-calling, sexual abuse and economic abuse including not allowing you to spend money on yourself or your children and refusing to contribute

Getting help

  • Agree a code word or action with friends and family for a dangerous situation. Find out about available rights and services so you know who can help in an emergency.
  • Put together a list of phone numbers including friends, relatives, helplines and local police and keep the list with you. Try to save money for travel costs and keep keys, money, documents and clothes packed for a quick getaway. Plan what you would do and where you would go.

Helplines

  • Women’s Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0161 636 7525
  • 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline – 0800 2000 247
  • Police Domestic Violence Officers: 0161 856 3703 North Manchester, 0161 856 3541 Central Manchester, 0161 856 6053 South Manchester
  • Non-urgent advice from helpline@independentchoices.org.uk
  • Manchester Rape Crisis – 0161 273 4500
  • St Mary’s Sexual Assault Centre – 0161 276 6515
  • Fortalice Bolton Women’s Aid Refuge – 01204 701846, support centre – 01204 525648
  • WHAG (Women’s Housing Action Group) in Bury – 0161 797 3043
  • Saheli Asian Women Advice – 0161 945 4187
  • Jewish Women Aid Helpline – 0800 591 203
  • Broken Rainbow (supports lesbian, gay and bisexual people) – 0845 064 6800
  • Forced Marriage Unit – 020 7008 0135
  • Chinese Women’s Centre – 0161 237 5908
  • Helpline for male victims of domestic abuse - 0845 064 6800
  • Respect phoneline for perpetrators of domestic abuse – 0845 122 8609