Speeches and letters

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence is one of those issues that shows that it is possible to have a sea-change in public opinion.

Dixon of Dock Green was generally seen to be a benign, friendly figure who stood for the best in law and order. However last year on a TV clips programme they showed an extract which illustrated how time has changed. Speaking direct to the camera Dixon explained that being a policeman meant knowing when to act and when to turn a blind eye and stated "If we arrested every man who hits his wife on a Saturday night we wouldn't do anything else."

In the early 1980s when I first became an MP views hadn't moved on much from that. So working as a group the London Labour MPs, including my good friend Jo Richardson MP, made strenuous representations to the Metropolitan Police to take domestic violence more seriously. At first it was regarded by many in the police service and the news media as just another example of political correctness but we carried on because it was right to do so. But even then there were always some police officers who wanted it taken seriously.

Thankfully I believe that group are now in the majority. And the card that is being launched today is a further step in the right direction.

The position we are in today is much improved. Public opinion has changed. But we need to put further work into changing behaviour because in the end it's better if we can stop a woman being beaten up in the first place rather than just be sure her assailant will be prosecuted after the event.

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