Dorset teenagers already finding themselves in abusive relationships, charity says
Dorset charities are calling for government to lower the age at which domestic abuse victims are legally recognised
A Dorset charity has told us children as young as 12 are already finding themselves in abusive relationships.
There are calls for government to lower the age domestic abuse victims are recognised by law.
It comes following the murder 15-year-old Holly Newton who was stalked and stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend.
Kesch Roff, CEO of domestic abuse charity Treasure, told us: "Children are getting into relationships much younger and they can be victims of domestic abuse.
"We talk about safe relationships but often about being abused by family members, but don’t talk about when children are in a relationship and looking out for red flags.
“Lots of it is jealousy and young people developing those negative, unhealthy thoughts that they choose to run with rather than fight against and deal with.
“If we changed the stigma of going to counselling or crying and made it more acceptable for boys, that would really help as well.”
Currently in UK law, both the abuser and the victim must be over 16 for it to be considered a domestic abuse crime.
The age limit used to be 18, external, but after a public consultation it was lowered in 2012 to recognise young people can experience abuse in relationships.
Kesch said: “Normally between 12 to 21 is the prime age for a to be sought and groomed and it's so easy for them to miss the signs because they’re still learning about relationships and what love is or is meant to look like.”
Campaigners like Kesch are calling for schools to be better at educating young people about what constitutes domestic abuse so they know “what is normal and what is not normal”.
“Wouldn't it be great if in sex education, the boys were taught how to treat the girls and the girls were clued up on the red flags to lookout for and, obviously, how to treat boys as well,” Kesch said.
“I think if we re-educated from a younger age, young people would have a better chance of not getting into an unhealthy relationship.”
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said it’s “extremely important issue” and something government will “take seriously” and look into.