Refuge film reveals hidden dangers faced by abuse victims at home

For most of us home is, of course, a safe place, somewhere where you can relax, free from the worries of the outside world.

But for victims of domestic abuse, the home can be anything but safe. In fact, it can become a prison, somewhere where their abuser can make their life a misery with impunity.

To demonstrate this, domestic abuse charity Refuge has released an eye-opening film highlighting the hidden dangers faced by abuse victims at home.

In the film an estate agent shows the viewer around what seems at first glance to be a very pleasant suburban home.

But all is not what it seems.

The first clue that something may be amiss is given before we even enter the property, when the estate agent mentions that the house is “isolated from friends and family”. This is, of course, a classic technique of the abuser: ensuring that their victim is cut off from sources of help and support.

Then we go inside the property. It appears well-appointed, but some of the features have a dual purpose: the motion-sensitive lighting in the hallway, that your partner can use to analyse your outfit before you go out; the locks on the kitchen cupboards, in which your partner can put items they confiscate from you, such as your phone; and the smart thermostat that your partner can use to remotely control the temperature of the house while you are trapped in it.

And so it goes on, until the film ends with the number of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline appearing on a mirror in the bathroom.

The message is clear: home for a domestic abuse victim can actually be the most dangerous place they can be.

As Refuge ambassador Cherie Blair states: “For so many women, abuse happens in the very place that’s meant to feel safest. If this film helps even one woman recognise the signs and seek support, it will have made a difference.”

We should of course point out that men can also be victims of domestic abuse. The lessons to be learned from the video can therefore apply equally to male victims of abuse.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse then there are legal protections that you can seek, including an order restraining your partner from molesting you, and even an order requiring them to leave your home.

Family Law Cafe can help you obtain these protections. To contact us, complete the form here, or ring us, on 02039 040506.

You can view Refuge’s film, here.

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