Woman in dispare“Never feel ashamed to admit your fears to others. Don’t pretend everything is fine”

 

The way out is to speak out.

 

Confront Hidden Crime 2009
STATEMENT

The Government defines domestic violence as “Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.”

Domestic Abuse is the misuse of power and the exercise to control one person over another.
One in four women are abused.
It is not known the extent to which children are abused…
Such abuse often happens ‘behind closed doors’.
The perpetrators of abuse are often those whom outsiders would least suspect.
Vile, vicious and vindictive in private, the perpetrators of abuse use their excessive charm in public.
They often appear to be the epitome of respectability
They are plausible. Their lies are convincing.
Abusers are frequently remorseful, saying that ‘it will never happen again‘. It always does.

Women (mothers and children) who have the courage to escape abuse , thus become another Government statistic: the ‘single’ mother, who is vilified and stigmatised by society.
Yet, the focus of Government attention should be on the abuser.

The Confront Hidden Crime website is designed to be a portal, to assist women and their children, who are in an abusive domestic situation. Links have been provided to enable abused women and their children to be re-directed to appropriate areas, for assistance.

Research indicates that:
“As the result of a dysfunctional childhood, some husbands/partners become jealous and possessive, and fearful of abandonment. Domestic abuse is about men taking control. If the wife/partner threatens to leave, it can trigger a dangerous reaction. Possessiveness and jealousy are not good attributes.”

Please note that this site is not an inter-active site, merely a guide to existing sources of help.

About Us

If one has been brought up to be trusting, and accept that most people tell the truth, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact, that some relationships are based on secrets, lies and deception. The perpetrators of abuse cross all social barriers.

As a result of personal family experience, the Confront Hidden Crime campaign was initiated by Jan Cornish, in 2004, to raise awareness of ‘Hidden Crime’ (ie domestic abuse and child exploitation, in all its forms).

Domestic abuse is one of the most cowardly and despicable crimes, as is child exploitation. No one should live in daily fear of another person.

Since 2004, social influencers, opinion formers and public figures have been invited to lend their weight to address this hidden issue in society, so that women and their children, caught in the trap of abusive relationships, are not stigmatised, economically disadvantaged and treated as irresponsible and feckless individuals, lacking strength of character, and a willingness to try and make relationships work.

It is a mistake to think that abused women are submissive victims. It takes great strength of character for a woman to stay within an abusive relationship, and survive day to day, adapting and coping with the inconsistent and violent behaviour of her abuser. And, it takes enormous courage to break away from an abusive husband/partner and the surrendering of aspirations, in so many areas of life.

The most important consideration, for most women, is the welfare and safety of their children.

Abuse, within a domestic environment, is not always directed at adults, and this can often leave a woman torn between reporting matters to the appropriate authorities and sacrificing an established way of life. ‘Hidden Crime’ within the home is often a family secret. Unless dealt with, secrets, lies, deception and abuse will go on to poison future generations. This cycle of abuse must be stopped.

Child exploitation must not be tolerated. Accessing and downloading illegal images of children is also a criminal offence. The voyeur has the ability and the choice to avoid situations, in which he is tempted, unless he has mental illness. The individual is responsible for his own behaviour.

As quoted by Dame Mary Walsh NSPCC, “Every time a photo of an abused child is viewed, it perpetrates abuse. The voyeurs are equally as bad.”

The protection of a child is often behind a relationship breakdown, as is Domestic Abuse.

Never feel ashamed to admit your fear to others. Don’t pretend everything is fine…

“THE WAY OUT IS TO SPEAK OUT”