Guidance

Domestic abuse case studies from Naval Service Family People Support

Updated 4 January 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-within-the-royal-navy-and-royal-marines-community-for-those-affected-by-domestic-abuse/domestic-abuse-case-studies-from-royal-navy-royal-marines-welfare

Who can help?

Support within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community

There is significant support available within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community to serving personnel, their families and partners. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or a perpetrator who wants to change their abusive and controlling behaviour it is important to ask for help.

Sources of support available to those within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community are outlined below. Case studies received from the Naval Service Family People Support are also detailed.

Domestic abuse is more common than people think; 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced domestic abuse in their lifetime. Feedback on common concerns raised by victims and perpetrators from the armed forces community is available. Professional welfare providers, be they military or civilian, are very experienced in supporting male and female victims of domestic abuse, they are there to help you.

Civilian support services

To find out what civilian services are available in your area type ‘domestic abuse’ into the search tool on either your local or county council website. Computer access is available at local libraries, with additional information on local support services for male and female victims available through the following link Domestic Abuse Directory’.

Police and NHS staff can also signpost to support groups; anyone can speak in confidence to their GP or health worker. Additional support is available through the following national support groups:

Armed forces welfare providers

Naval Service Family and People Support (NS FPS) provides a confidential service that is fully accessible by the diverse community they support and inclusive of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race and ethnicity, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, age disability and marital status. NS FPS work to a single point of contact called the RNRMW Portal, which allows easy access to all welfare services for families, service personnel and unit staff. Part of RNRMW is Information Support (formally HIVE) which is part of a Tri-service network of Information Officers available to all members of the service community who provide up to date, relevant information and can be contacted in person or by either telephone, email or using the online ‘contact us’ forms; locations and contact details can be found on the Royal Navy website.

Forcesline

Forcesline is a free, confidential telephone helpline and email service run by SSAFA. Experienced staff provide a supportive, listening and signposting service for current and former members of the armed forces and their families. Forcesline opening hours can be accessed via the web link.

Chaplaincy support

Chaplains work with each of the armed services and are located with units throughout the world. Chaplaincy support, which is confidential and outside of the chain of command, is available to all service personnel and their families. Chaplains provide spiritual leadership, moral guidance and pastoral support, regardless of religion or belief; the Padre is around to talk to and help anyone. Chaplaincy support can be accessed locally, with further information available through Welfare Information Support.

The Navy Families Federation is there to represent the needs of the service family; they are an independent organisation that offers confidential advice, signposting as well as a voice on any relevant issue. They can be contacted by either telephone or e-mail, with key information on their website.

Case study 1: from Naval Service Family People Support

Family composition: SP X (serving person), Mrs X (SP X’s wife), Kyle X (son, aged 4) (pseudonym used)

SP self referred to Naval Service Family People Support (NS FPS) advising that his father had received a custodial sentence for viewing and possession of indecent images of children. During the disclosure of this presenting issue, SP X utilised the opportunity to seek welfare support to disclose that his wife had been physically violent and controlling towards him. SP X was also presenting with a degree of stress and anxiety which was having a detrimental effect on his ability to focus at work. SP X was referred to the medical centre for support with these symptoms and a referral was made to Local Authority Children’s Social Care (LACSC) following the disclosure of abuse when their son was present.

In conjunction with LACSC referral, local police were called to an incident concerning physical violence. LACSC conduced an assessment, visiting Mrs X and Kyle on separate occasions. LACSC also conducted a joint visit with NS FPS with SP X to finalise the assessment. LACSC referred SP X to a domestic abuse outreach worker for ongoing support. SP X separated from Mrs X, reducing the risk of violence and controlling behaviour from Mrs X. Domestic Abuse outreach continues to be involved although LACSC involvement has ceased.

Case study 2: from Naval Service Family People Support

Family composition: SP Y (serving person), Jasmine (daughter aged 3) (pseudonym used)

SP Y presented to Naval Service Family People Support (NS FPS) advising of an incident involving her estranged partner (also serving) who had “pinned SP Y against the wall by her throat” whilst she was holding Jasmine. SP Y advised of other instances when her estranged partner was both physically violent and controlling.

NS FPS referred to Local Authority Children’s Social Care (LACSC) and conducted a joint visit at SP Y’s home to discuss incidents and concerns regarding their relationship. SP Y advised that her estranged partner was controlling with finances and dictated what SP Y could and couldn’t do. LACSC agreed to remain involved with SP Y to work on building self esteem and community integration. NS FPS agreed to work with practical issues such as child maintenance, housing issues and working jointly on community integration.

Case study 3: From Naval Service Family People Support

TP was married to a Foreign and Commonwealth naval officer and experienced a lot of domestic abuse, including frequently being left with no food or money when her husband went on deployments. She contacted NS FPS who arranged for her to have help from her local food bank and to speak to the domestic abuse specialist about her situation. She was frightened that people from her community would be watching her and reporting back to her husband and unaware that in the UK there was support available for people living with domestic abuse.

It took a lot of time and bravery but TP has now left the relationship and was helped with her immigration status and immediate and longer term financial issues so that she is now settled in a different area where she is safe and has started to make new friends.

Case study 4: From Naval Service Family People Support

CS had been living in a violent relationship for some time, not realising that what she was experiencing was something she could get help with, as she had come from a country where domestic violence was common with no options to leave and be independent. She was worried for her children and that if she returned to her home country, having separated from the children’s father, that the children would be taken from her. She was financially dependent on her husband, as were a lot of members of the community in her home country and she was fearful of family and church disapproval should she chose to leave.

Feeling isolated from her family and the wider community in the UK due to language and literacy barriers, she felt she had no options and was living with constant fear and abuse within her home. She didn’t have any knowledge of support in the UK which could be accessed through children’s services, wider support or that she could apply for child maintenance. Naval Service Family People Support helped through explaining CS’s options and what support was available, including safe housing options such as refuges or the SSAFA Stepping Stones homes as not having recourse to public funding in place could have been a barrier to accessing help. An application was made for Independent Leave to Remain, with the support of the NS FPS as well as Army Welfare Service specialist Foreign and Commonwealth Officer.

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