England
In England alone, 750,000 children a year witness domestic abuse (Department of Health, 2002). In 30 to 60 per cent of cases across England and Wales, the abusive partner is also abusing children in the family (DoH, 2009).
Domestic abuse is defined as violent, controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour by intimate partners or family members. It can be psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional and refer to a single incident or a long pattern of coercion and control (Home Office, 2013).
Seeing, hearing or living in fear of abuse, or being surrounded by controlling behaviour, can cause a child lasting emotional, social, intellectual and physical harm. Children who witness abuse are more likely to abuse or be abused as adults, to misuse drugs and alcohol and to have unintended pregnancies, mental health issues and attempt suicide (Bellis, 2014; Dube, 2001).
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