Latest news with #intimatepartnerviolence
ABC News
6 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Domestic violence victim-survivors share early warning signs of abuse
Told they couldn't go out with friends. Stopped from giving male friends a hug. Called crazy and gaslit when their partner did something wrong. They are just some of the early signs of intimate partner violence shared by victim-survivors in recent research from The University of Melbourne. The study explored timelines of abuse in relationships, including early warning signs, which research fellow and co-author Elizabeth McLindon says usually involved psychological and emotional abuse by the perpetrator, such as isolating and controlling behaviours. "Feeling as though there were subtle rules perhaps around who you could see and how much time you could spend with them," Dr McLindon, also from The Royal Women's Hospital, says for example. She says the authors interviewed 815 women, 75 per cent of whom had a male partner, given they are "disproportionately the victim-survivors of intimate partner violence". "It is a gendered crime as well as a gendered social issue," Dr McLindon says. The report mapped different types of abuse over time and identified behavioural patterns, which can help women, along with health workers and others in their lives, recognise early red flags and intervene before violence escalates, she says. "The psychological, emotional and physical health of women who are in relationships where there is abuse is worse than women who are not. "And those health impacts last long after the relationship is over." We spoke with victim-survivors independent of the research, including some from Advocates for Change with Engender Equality, based in Tasmania/Lutruwita, about the early warning signs they identified retrospectively since escaping violence. Some names and details have been changed to protect the identity of contributors. The experiences below may be distressing for readers. Looking back there were signs from early in the relationship, like him being jealous, controlling how long I should wear my hair, or him driving off dangerously during an argument. I used to think the first time he was physically abusive was the first time he was abusive. But I now realise that I had been scared of him and his reactions many times before that, and that was a huge red flag. — Rachel, 40s, Tasmania He was always wanting to be in control of where I was. He would be turning up at locations like where I was working, or if I was out with a girlfriend. He was always wanting to be with me. At the start you think it's amazing this person is so into you and wanting to spend every moment of the day with you. Really, they were early signs of love bombing, isolation and control. — Charlotte, 50s, Tasmania Source: The University of Melbourne study It's always easier in hindsight with these things, because it's so subtle. It can appear benign. Those early signs can come across as caring gestures, or concern, or even love. There was constant messages and phone calls. I just thought it was over-excitement about the relationship. I thought it would settle down with time. But it became obsessive and escalated to full-on stalking. — Hannah, 50s, Melbourne/Naarm I met him on a night out and the relationship escalated very quickly. It was quicker than I felt comfortable with, but he didn't respond well to me putting the brakes on in any way, and responded by sulking and withdrawing. He told me many lies, which led me to believe that he was a really similar person to me. He mirrored things that I told him about me. It soon became clear that many of these things were gross exaggerations, at the very least. He was extremely jealous of my male friends. If I spoke about them or ex-partners, he would be competitive, often making up things about himself to make himself sound better than them. — Carrie, 40s, Tasmania One time, I noticed that he was not happy that I was having a conversation with a man that was working for us. He fired him the next day. He didn't like it if I was not at home when he came home from work. His demeanour would change dramatically, and it would take days for him to get over it. In social settings, he would always talk over the top of me and shape the conversation around himself. I could feel myself disappearing into the background whenever he was around. It was impossible to have a rational discussion with him about anything to do with our relationship. He was always the victim somehow. He could never bring himself to say sorry, no matter how big or small the issue. He was threatened whenever I had some form of personal success and was totally incapable of acknowledging my efforts or being happy for me. — Susie, 50s, Tasmania He was so attentive. Rushing into saying "I love you". The grand gestures. Every Tuesday he would bring me a gift. He started rewarding me with treats and food. Looking back that was a thing for him to control my weight, to get me fat. My self-confidence plummeted. There was extreme jealousy. He'd make it seem like because he loved me so much, he didn't want me to be around anybody else. — Sarah, 40s, Tasmania There was pressure soon into the relationship for exclusive commitment. Wanting me to move in with him soon after we became a couple. He'd constantly check on me, turning up at my place without prior notice and daily interrogations: where I'd been, who I saw. Couching his behaviours under the guise of being so in love he wanted to spend most of his time with me. His psychological abuse was a form of manipulation where he assigned responsibility on me to make him happy — to dress as he suggested and to converse on topics he was interested in only. — Deborah, 60s, Tasmania We'd like to thank all the victim-survivors who generously shared their experiences with us. Examples provided at the beginning of this article from The University of Melbourne research have been shared with permission from the study's authors.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- CTV News
Multiple charges laid against 19-year-old in IPV incident: OPP
An Ontario Provincial Police vehicle is parked outside a collision reporting centre. South Bruce OPP have laid multiple charges against a 19-year-old in an intimate partner violence (IPV) incident. On Saturday, police were called to an IPV report in Arran-Elderslie. Through investigation, officers said a dispute between a couple led to an assault, where a handgun was pulled. Police were able to arrest the accused after a struggle. The gun was seized, then later determined to be an imitation gun. The 19-year-old Arran-Elderslie individual is now facing charges for assault, three counts of uttering threats to cause death, two counts of failure to comply with a release order, assault with intent to resist arrest, pointing a firearm, and possession of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose. The accused was held for a bail hearing and then put into custody. If you are a victim of IPV, the South Bruce OPP urge you to call Victim Services Bruce Grey at 1-866-376-9852.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Peel police seek Montreal man wanted in intimate partner violence investigation
A Montreal man wanted in connection with an intimate partner violence investigation is believed to have access to firearms and is considered dangerous, Peel police say. A woman contacted police on Thursday after allegedly receiving multiple communications from the man throughout the day. Police said she feared for her safety. As a result, police are looking for 28-year-old Jaedyn Mills from du St.-Laurent, Montreal. He is wanted for uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, criminal harassment and failure to comply with a release order. 'Investigators have reason to believe that Jaedyn Mills has access to firearms and should be considered armed and dangerous. If seen, members of the public are asked to dial 911 and to not approach,' police said in a news release on Saturday, adding that they are also concerned for his well-being. Mills is described as five-foot-11, 165 pounds with a light complexion, brown eyes, dreads with gold tips, and unshaven, and he has tattoos 'rip Maurice Anthony mills 64' on his right forearm and 'MAKAVELI' on his left forearm. Police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 905-453-2121 ext. 4990 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
CTV News
17-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Intimate partner violence calls surge in Greater Sudbury
Calls related to intimate partner violence in Greater Sudbury have increased by 63 per cent since 2023, police reported this week. Greater Sudbury Police say they are receiving an average of 50 to 65 calls a week related to intimate partner violence, a substantial increase compared to last year. And statistics show Sudbury police responded to 2,857 IPV calls in 2024, a 38 per cent increase from 2023 and 63 per cent increase compared to 2022. IPV stats Statistics show Sudbury police responded to 2,857 IPV calls in 2024, a 38 per cent increase from 2023 and 63 per cent increase compared to 2022. (File) Police are working with community partners to address IPV and help victims who want to leave abusive relationships. 'We might be informing the community better, so maybe those victims that were hesitant before are now proactive in reporting these incidents to police,' said Det. Sgt. Adam Demers, IPV coordinator for Sudbury police. Marlene Gorman, executive director of YWCA Sudbury, said she's not surprised that IPV reports are increasing. Gorman said Genevra House gets about 28 calls a week from women leaving abusive partners, and quite often the 32-bed shelter is at capacity. 'Our shelter is full every day,' Gorman said, adding it's disheartening when staff have to turn away women and their children because the shelter is full. Sudbury IPV Greater Sudbury Police say they are receiving an average of 50 to 65 calls a week related to intimate partner violence, a substantial increase compared to last year. (Photo from video) 'We know we're failing women who need us at their most vulnerable time,' she said. Gorman said it's not more shelters that are needed, it's more affordable housing. There's often an increase in demand for help at this time of year, she said, when the school year ends. Plan to leave abusive relationships 'Sometimes moms will wait until their children have completed school,' Gorman said. 'Around this time, they're looking at a plan to leave an abusive partner so they're not taking their children out of school and disrupting them in that way.' There's also often an increase around the holidays or just after the holidays. In an email the CTV News, Sudbury & Area Victim Services (SAVS) said it has seen an increase in referrals related to family violence and intimate partner violence occurrences. 'We know we're failing women who need us at their most vulnerable time.' — Marlene Gorman, executive director of YWCA Sudbury 'On average, SAVS is receiving between 20-45 new referrals per week through police, community agency referral or self-referral,' the email said. SAVS works with victims and survivors of IPV to do safety planning and connect them to services and support. Demers said police who work with the IPV unit are trauma-informed and victim-based. Part of the process is to continue contact with victims through follow-ups. 'We do have a lot of recidivism, the breaches, the calling, the harassing phone calls,' he said. 'By reaching out to (the victims), we get that information, but we're also getting their feedback on the process as well, which we share with our community partners.' It's that connection with community partners that Demers said helps victims feel more comfortable about reaching out to the police. 'It creates a bigger team and obviously the team works better if we have those relationships,' he said. 'All those partners working with us -- actually with the community -- maybe takes the edge off going to police.' He said IPV investigations start with police. From there, police reach out to community partners for assistance. That could be housing, supplies, shelter or safety. Community partners also step up when IPV cases lead to criminal charges. Another way Sudbury police is addressing the increase in IPV cases is through a one-year pilot project. Starting at the end of June, four police officers will be specifically designated to IPV cases. In Ontario, 95 communities have declared IPV an epidemic. There continues to be a push to have the province make a similar declaration.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ohio's innovative approach to protecting domestic violence survivors
A domestic violence awareness ribbon. (Stock photo from Getty Images.) People who are convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic abuse or subject to a qualifying protective order aren't allowed to have firearms according to federal law, but actually separating them from their guns is another matter. Often, abusers can deny having or refuse to surrender their firearms, and in states that have not passed their own versions of the federal ban — which, among other limitations, does not itself mandate how or when subjects should relinquish guns they already have in their possession — the process can be even more precarious. Ohio is one of the states that hang in the balance. Judges in Ohio have the discretion to require the surrender of firearms because of a civil protection order — a temporary order to remove guns from a potentially dangerous person — but there is no legal statute requiring the relinquishment of firearms following an order. In Ohio, more than 188,000 people are victims of intimate partner violence annually, and the state loses $1.2 billion every year because of the pervasive violence, according to a 2025 report by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. But Ohio is not unique; access to firearms is a key factor in the lethality of intimate partner violence. Research studies estimate that, in instances where a domestic abuser has access to a gun, a victim is five times more likely to die, and the rate of intimate partner firearm homicides in the United States is substantially higher than in other similar-income countries. The Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence through the Supreme Court of Ohio noticed that because of the disconnect in federal and state law, there was a gap in potential abusers surrendering their firearms. The committee came up with an unusual solution: paperwork. Members argued that the lack of legal follow-up after the issuance of protection orders could be remedied by the state's 10-F Form, implemented in 2021. When law enforcement goes to serve a protection order, they use the form to ask a subject if they have access to firearms, securing them if so, keeping them in storage, or noting whether they deny having access to weapons at all. Then the form gets placed in a court's docket, leaving a paper trail if there's a violation later. 'This really is a tool that can be used as a way to clarify, does someone have weapons, and if this person is lying, it could be the basis of another charge or a violation of that protection order,' said Alexandria Ruden, a member of the advisory committee and a supervising attorney with Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Ruden, who has worked in domestic violence law for four decades, emphasized that shootings are among the most common ways victims are killed. She and her colleagues have participated in training sessions on the 10-F Form across Ohio. But she explained that there are roadblocks to successful implementation, like having a place to store weapons after they have been seized. Though Ruden emphasized the practicality of the form, she said the need for a state statute is crucial to truly protect victims. 'If we were able to codify federal law regarding qualifying protection orders, and the qualifying misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, then the implementation of this form would be much easier to work with,' Ruden said. The difference in state approaches can have significant consequences for victims. 'The place you live, not only the state but the county that you live in, can dictate what protections under the law that you have, and how safe you will be,' said Dr. April Zeoli, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health who has researched the relationship between firearm access and intimate partner violence. 'We see these differences when it comes to domestic violence protection order firearm restrictions,' Zeoli told me. 'States that have these restrictions see decreases in domestic violence partner homicide compared to states that don't, and that is very frustrating.' Different states are implementing strategies to address intimate partner gun violence. In 2017, Washington became the first state to alert domestic violence survivors when an abuser tries to buy a gun. Other recent efforts have focused on securing financial support for those at risk, like Colorado's voter-approved gun tax to fund services for domestic violence victims. Earlier this year, Illinois passed a law clarifying the surrender process, requiring law enforcement to quickly seize firearms from people with protection orders against them. In Louisiana, even as federal laws have weakened, local leaders are still committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of abusers. Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Lieutenant Valerie Martinez-Jordan spearheaded an innovative firearm divestiture program that has since spread across the deep-red state. (Read my colleague Alma Beauvais's story for more.) These varied approaches are innovative, but as in Ohio, they are not being implemented without challenges. Some of the Trump administration's recent budget cuts have targeted domestic violence services. The actions on the federal level will have residual effects for organizations throughout the country. Still, the state actions show momentum for addressing the relationship between firearm violence and domestic violence. The 10-F form is just one example of recent efforts that are focused on less punitive approaches. Ruden, who has worked in intimate partner violence law since the Domestic Violence Act was enacted in 1979, told me that she looks forward to the day that she's 'out of a job,' but that there's a lot of work left to do. Often, she said, creating policies to counter intimate partner violence is a process that takes two steps back after taking a step forward. Still, these innovations represent hope. 'I am hopeful even now that what we are able to do with this particular piece is to focus on getting law enforcement to ask' about guns when a protection order is served, Ruden said. ''Do you have weapons?' or 'Let me take your weapons.'' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
