Domestic violence policy a ‘war on men’ says Tory

[Joanne98]

A TORY councillor has vowed not to campaign for his party until it reverses a policy designed to combat domestic violence.

Portsmouth City Councillor James Williams (pictured) announced he will not work for the Tories outside his own Nelson ward unless it withdraws the new ‘Go’ orders.

The orders give senior police officers on-the-spot rights to remove men suspected of committing acts of domestic abuse from their homes for 48 hours. Courts can then extend that to two weeks.

The policy was designed by the last Labour government, but is now being piloted in three areas of the UK by Home Secretary Theresa May. There is no equivalent policy aimed at women. Cllr Williams says the orders challenge freedom and are part of a feminist war on men.

http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/12/23/domestic-violence-policy-a-war-on-men-says-tory/

I find it interesting that since US far-right-wing politicians have been visting the UK, there seems to be a sudden "culture war" erupting. Michele Bachmann went over there, to do what? I don't know but she's probably EXPORTING the American Taliban movement. Brian Lamb's over there doing c-span interviews. This blog is a UK left-wing blog and it's nice to know that they are keeping track of this stuff. The student protestors need to be aware of any US conservative filth sneaking around in their country and trying to cause trouble in the dark. Maybe they should demand that people like Bachmann be BANNED from entering the UK!

[DavidDvorkin]

1. There's no equivalent policy for women?

That's a genuine problem.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Some stats say that women are about equal with men when it comes to domesitc assault

Not sure I buy 50-50, but its not 100-0 either. However, the focus has historically been on women, not men. It is a really messy area that drugs, alcohol, and political correctness make even worse.

[rapturedbyrobots]

8. definitely not 100-0

my brother was arrested multiple times for domestic violence and once for burglary...of his own home! because his wife routinely called the police after starting a dispute. nevermind that he never struck her, but on multiple occasions she: punched and kicked him, smashed him over the head with a cast iron pan, broke a ceramic figurine across his face, and stabbed him in the chest with a steak knife. given that he's twice her weight, has a history of brawling, and could very easily knock her ass out...i'd say he showed extreme restraint. only once did he accidentally knock her down (she wasn't injured) while trying to push her away as she was assaulting him. for all of this he was arrested EVERY time. and those charges were later used by an immigration judge (against the wishes of the prosecuting attorney) to revoke his permanent resident status and forcibly deport him. i realize this is one case and anecdotal, but police officers and judges really need to consider all the circumstances when dealing with domestic disputes, and not reflexively arrest & lock up the male.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. It applies to the perpetrator, whatever their sex

As the update to the blog post says:

"It’s worth pointing out that the policy in domestic violence control orders, which the Cllr is complaining about, doesn’t just apply to men. It applies to whoever is the victim of domestic violence."

But since women are the majority victims in domestic violence (especially when serious injury is involved, because of the typical size difference), it is mainly thought of as a policy to protect women.

[geardaddy]

2. There's plenty of right wing Christian crazies there, too.

I've seen the bible-holding "testifiers" on the street corners in most major cities I've been to in the UK. That's not a new phenomenon.

[Cassandra]

4. They call them God-Botherers.

Love that term.

[geardaddy]

5. I'll have to use that.

Thanks!

[Joanne98]

6. LOL

[Doctor_J]

3. Brits - you need to stomp this shit out RIGHT NOW

we could have defeated the American Taliban 20 years ago - now they've won. Don't let Murdoch and Beck get a foothold there. They have destroyed this country. There is still hope for you, but only if you act swiftly and aggressively.

[niyad]

9. domestic violence is basically a war against women

(I think the stats are about 80-20 in terms of violence against women vs violence against men)

[comtec]

11. reported 80-20

like rape those numbers are low.
both are horrible crimes against another human being.
but they go under reported out of perceived shame on the victim's part.

FWIW, i think this policy is reasonable, even if it was directed solely at men (and it looks like it wasn't) because of the know, reported statistics.

The person accused of doing the assaulting should be removed for a period of time. even if it's not how it looks, it gets both parties separated for a cooling off period.

there are many things about the law skewed against men, but in the end er have our own history to blame. law is based on past precedent.

and men have set pretty bad precedents when it comes to violence towards women.