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TV campaign hits domestic violence as 4,500 Londoners convicted in a year
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor24 Dec 2009
Hundreds more men have been convicted of attacking their partners after a campaign to encourage victims to come forward.
New figures reveal 4,452 Londoners were convicted of domestic violence last year - a rise of 564, or 12 per cent, on the previous year.
The conviction rate - the proportion of cases that are successfully prosecuted - rose to 61.9 per cent in London, up more than three per cent compared with the year before.
The rise in convictions was welcomed by campaigners and comes after a move by prosecutors and the Met to bring more offenders to justice.
It included a publicity campaign by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers, which sought to tackle hidden domestic violence.
One TV advert featured a woman at a celebration with people around her singing, "When we get behind closed doors", and the strap line: "Don't suffer in silence." It was backed by a similar poster campaign.
A greater determination to press ahead with cases, even when the victim will not give evidence or retracts their complaint, further boosted convictions. Unveiling the new figures, Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said: "These prove our actions are having positive results that make a real difference to the lives of victims." This month the CPS is to bring in new measures to ensure victims feel willing to give evidence in court.
Deborah McIlveen of Women's Aid, which works with domestic violence victims, praised prosecutors for their efforts in bringing more offenders to justice. She added: "The CPS has adopted a systematic approach that has been effective in improving the prosecution of domestic violence cases."
The CPS statistics cover the 12-month period ending in March this year. They show that 85 per cent of the victims were women, and 98 per cent of the perpetrators were men.
Among unsuccessful prosecutions, 37 per cent collapsed because a complaint was withdrawn or because of evidence that "did not support the case". Twelve per cent of cases failed because the victim failed to turn up at court.
Recent Met figures have shown a sharp increase in domestic violence.Statistics for the year ending in March reveal a 4.1 per cent rise in recorded offences, taking the total to 53,531 across the capital. The force believes this increase is due to more reporting of such crimes, rather than an increase in the number taking place.
Killed over Facebook entry
A man who hacked his wife to death with a meat cleaver after she changed her Facebook profile to "single" was among those convicted for domestic violence.
Wayne Forrester, 34, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey which heard that after drinking and taking cocaine, he drove 15 miles to New Addington to attack Emma as she lay in bed.
The 34-year-old was found in a pool of blood after neighbours were woken at 6.30am by her screams. Near her body was a kitchen knife and in another room was a blood-soaked meat cleaver.
The couple had separated four days before the murder. Forrester later told police he had been provoked by his wife changing her marital status on her Facebook profile. Jailing Forrester, who had been staying with his sister in Paddington, the Common Serjeant of London, Brian Barker QC, said: "Your wife ended the relationship. Your reaction was one of anger and resentment. There is no excuse or justification."
