Spike in number of men in Cheshire reporting domestic abuse
Domestic abuse charity ManKind has released figures that show a quarter of people who report domestic abuse in Cheshire are men.
The charity said that the numbers were ‘shocking but welcome’ and showed that men feel increasingly able to come forward and report abuse.
A freedom of information request submitted by the charity showed that 2,533 men reported being a victim of domestic abuse to Cheshire Constabulary in 2017. 9,696 total domestic abuse cases were reported to police, with 26% of the victims being men.
The figure is four times higher than the number of men who reported domestic abuse in 2012, alongside an increase in domestic abuse reports overall.
Domestic abuse can be violent, controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour. It includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse.
Across England and Wales, 1 in 4 of domestic abuse cases reported were men.
Mark Brooks, chairman of the ManKind Initiative, said: “These figures are both shocking yet welcome. They show the level of domestic abuse against men and the growing confidence they have in coming forward. Friends, family and work colleagues are also playing a key part in supporting them and many police forces are actively encouraging men to report. These figures should act as a spur for even more men to reach out, as many feel they are the only man in the world this has ever happened to and they suffer in silence behind their front door. They now know they are not alone.”
Mr Brooks continued: “Society as a whole is taking a more modern and inclusive view of domestic abuse – increasingly realising that domestic abuse is a crime against women and men in heterosexual and same-sex relationships.
“More always needs to be done to challenge stereotypes as we still see some people not taking domestic abuse as seriously as they should when a man is a victim, but we are moving in the right direction.”
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