I was an Emergency Nurse Practitioner in the UK until 2006. The Police are not automatically called to domestic violence and when attending a house where the neighbours have called them, if the woman doesn't want to make a complaint, the police often leave them to "sort it out". It drove me mad, it felt like such apathy. The victims right to make their "choice" was almost always a priority unless the medic felt that they or any children involved are in serious danger. However, that said, these incidents are still recorded for statistical use, including socio economic group, geographical area and ethnic background so at least their stats were more accurate. I agree that reporting and recording of such crimes here must be very different indeed, although because so much is kept "in the family", we will never know. That is the same for anywhere in the world. It's about shame as much as fear.
I was an Emergency Nurse Practitioner in the UK until 2006. The Police are not automatically called to domestic violence and when attending a house where the neighbours have called them, if the woman doesn't want to make a complaint, the police often leave them to "sort it out". It drove me mad, it felt like such apathy. The victims right to make their "choice" was almost always a priority unless the medic felt that they or any children involved are in serious danger. However, that said, these incidents are still recorded for statistical use, including socio economic group, geographical area and ethnic background so at least their stats were more accurate. I agree that reporting and recording of such crimes here must be very different indeed, although because so much is kept "in the family", we will never know. That is the same for anywhere in the world. It's about shame as much as fear.