@togetheruk3: WHEN DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS BECOME SUSPECTS 💔 Imagine finally finding the courage to report domestic abuse, only to find yourself being investigated or arrested by the very people you turned to for protection. This is a serious concern highlighted by a new investigation published by openDemocracy on 22 October 2026. The investigation found that, out of 492 arrests of women suspected of coercive or controlling behaviour, 248 involved women who had also been identified as potential domestic abuse victims. This does not mean that all these women were wrongly arrested. But it raises serious questions about whether the police are always recognising the difference between a victim and a perpetrator. Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can involve manipulation, threats, intimidation, financial control and psychological abuse. Some perpetrators may even make counter-allegations against their victims, using the police and justice system as another way to maintain control. And that is what worries me most. We spend so much time encouraging victims to speak up, report abuse and ask for help. But what happens when they finally do? What happens when the person they are trying to escape accuses them of being the abuser? What happens when the police fail to recognise the history of coercion and control? A victim should never be wrongly treated as a perpetrator simply because an abuser knows how to manipulate the system. Of course, every allegation must be investigated fairly. But that investigation must consider the full circumstances, including patterns of abuse and previous reports. We need better recognition of coercive control, stronger safeguarding and proper investigations that distinguish between perpetrators and victims. Because every time the system fails to identify a genuine victim, it risks leaving that person exposed to further abuse. How can we encourage victims to report domestic abuse if they are afraid they might end up being arrested themselves? Victims deserve protection, not further trauma. 💔 ❤️ If you believe victims should be properly protected and every allegation investigated fairly, please share this message. Source: openDemocracy, 22 October 2026 — They were victims of domestic abuse. They ended up under arrest. #DomesticAbuse #CoerciveControl #ProtectVictims #DomesticViolence #PoliceAccountability

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Thursday 22 October 2026 18:45:56 GMT