Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is defined as any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.
If a person is charged with an offence against their partner or child, the Court will see this as an aggravating feature- in other words, it is seen as being more serious if you have assaulted your husband/wife or girlfriend/boyfriend
Often in these cases, the alleged victim has not made a statement to the police, or has made a complaint “in the heat of the moment” but then wants to retract (withdraw) their statement and does not want their partner to be prosecuted. Despite this, it is the Crown Prosecution Service policy to take cases to trial even where there is no statement from the “victim”, and will even apply for a witness summons to make them attend for the trial.
When allegations like this are made, it has a massive impact on family life because the person accused is often prohibited from staying at their home address or having any contact with the alleged victim.