Support for ‘This is Abuse’ campaign (From Dorset Echo)

Support for ‘This is Abuse’ campaign

4:00pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News

BACKING: Police and crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is backing a government campaign to raise awareness of abuse in teenage relationships.

The ‘This is Abuse’ campaign aims to prevent teenagers from becoming victims of abusive relationships.

It encourages teenagers to re-think their views of acceptable violence, abuse or controlling behaviour in relationships and directs them to places for help and advice.

Mr Underhill said: “Many teenagers don’t realise that domestic abuse can include intimidating and controlling behaviour and often don’t approach adults for help.

“Domestic abuse can be in many forms – not just physical harm, but intimidation through controlling behaviour, harassment and threats.

He added: “It is difficult for young people who are not used to being in a relationship to recognise that the way their partner is behaving towards them is actual abuse and is not acceptable.”

Every minute in the UK, the police are called to help with relationship abuse.

One Home Office study found that 25 per cent of girls and 18 per cent of boys had been physically abused and 75 per cent of girls and 50 per cent of boys had suffered emotional abuse. The study also found that sexual violence happened to one in three girls and one in six boys.

Mr Underhill added: “What we would like people to do is talk to us or if they can’t talk to us, then talk to someone.

“Abuse is something you do not have to put up with.”

For help contact Dorset Police on 101 or the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247.