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Battered Wives

Volume 941: debated on Monday 12 December 1977

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asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest information and statistics he has available on the extent of wife-beating; and what advice he has given to chief constables about the handling of such cases.

Information about the extent of domestic violence is especially difficult to obtain since most incidents will never come to public notice, and even where cases are reported the statistics do not record a separate offence of domestic violence. I understand that the Lord Chancellor's Department collects statistics covering the provision of injunctions and the use of the power of arrest under the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976. Circulars were issued to chief officers of police about domestic violence in January 1976 and May 1977 of which copies were placed in the Library of the House. Discussions are taking place about the feasibility of the provision of further statistical information by the police.