Teenage girls now main victims of wife beaters

Violence at home against teenagers is far more common than previously thought, with women aged 16 to 19 most at risk, Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), said.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Apr 2011, 10:35 BST

Housewives in England and Wales are still more at risk of crime in their own homes than anywhere else, and he warned domestic violence is a “serious and pernicious” form of crime which police and prosecutors must do more to tackle.

Recent statistics show that nearly one million women are abused every year, two are killed every week by partners or ex-partners and more than half of all victims of serious sexual assaults have been attacked by partners or ex-partners. Figures show that 12.7 per cent of women between the ages of 16 and 19 were victims of domestic abuse in the last year.

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In a speech at the Crown Prosecution Service headquarters in central London, he said: “What that tends to show is that there may be a next generation of domestic violence waiting in the wings.

“Domestic violence is serious and pernicious. It ruins lives, breaks up families and has a lasting impact. It is criminal.

“And it has been with us for a very long time, yet it is only in the last 10 years that it has been taken seriously as a criminal justice issue.

“Some good progress has now undoubtedly been made,” added Mr Starmer.

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