A report has found there are significant barriers for older men seeking help for domestic abuse. The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales stated this may place these people in danger of not only physical, but also psychological harm.
The report also found there was a lack of resources towards male sufferers of domestic abuse as less men than women have come forward.
Estimates indicate one in four domestic abuse cases are male, and the Office for National Statistics for 2021 showed the highest proportion of male victims was men over 75 (34%).
The BBC highlighted one sufferer in the research, named John, who is an older male who left his abusive partner in 2016. He stated:
“In hindsight, I should have done it a lot earlier but was reluctant to do so as firstly, I feared that I would have not been believed and secondly, I was unaware of any support services for male victims.
I do not recall ever seeing advertisements directed to male victims of abuse.
I eventually did get help from an organisation who helped me to come to terms with my specific form of abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour which ultimately culminated in violence.
It was only at that point that I realised that these circumstances were not unique to me.
I found that this agency, although really helpful, did not have the resources, financially or personnel wise, to address the male aspect of male domestic abuse.”
The report has outlined improvements that are needed by public bodies and the Welsh government in order to eradicate these issues and stigmas. Heléna Herklots, who led the report, outlined these and claimed:
“The research findings make clear that men who experience domestic abuse face barriers and challenges every step of the way that can prevent them from getting the support they need, which puts them at significant risk of harm.
Much more needs to be done to raise awareness about the scale of this issue and the particular ways that abuse can affect older men to ensure that Wales has the right policies and services in place, and that staff working across our public services are equipped to recognise abuse and connect older men with the right support.”
The Welsh government responded to the report, and stated:
“Wales will not be a bystander to abuse. We continue to work in partnership with specialist services and organisations across Wales to instil confidence in victims to report incidents of abuse and violence when they occur, and to hold those who abuse to account.”
