My name is S***, my marriage to A*** was arranged in 2002 in Morocco and I came to the UK in 2003. I have 3 children. In 2011, we left to Morocco however A*** couldn’t get a job there so we returned to the UK in 2015.
My relationship with A*** has been volatile since the beginning. He was verbally abusive towards me many times and physically abusive on 4 occasions. The worst time was when I was living in Morocco and he gave me a blue eye.
The smallest thing makes A*** angry and verbally abusive. Usually when he is angry I have to try to keep the peace for the children’s sake. He beat me on three separate occasions and once punched me in the eye. I have not reported these incidents to the police as he used to threaten that if I report his abuse to the police he will marry another woman. The situation worsened gradually and he began to constantly call me names and demean me. I began to believe him and lose my self-confidence.
The last incident was at the beginning of 2018; we argued badly then A*** spat in my face and slapped me a number of times. I called the police and A*** was arrested on suspicion of common assault. I had never reported domestic violence to the police before due to the children. However, now I couldn’t bear it anymore as he got angry a lot more lately for no reason. I later dropped the case because of pressure from family back home.
Luckily, child social services received a referral from the police and they got involved in my case and advised me to get support from an organisation that deals with domestic violence and speaks my own language. They then referred me to KMEWO. The advice worker assessed my risk and my case was referred to MARAC.
I received invaluable support from KMEWO, my problem being my limited English skills in a country in which I have no family or relatives. I now know where to turn to for support and my confidence has improved greatly.
Needs Identified:
- Risk assessment
- To complete safety planning
- To discuss injunctions and access legal advice
- To discuss counselling in her native language
- To discuss safe housing options for her
- To discuss financial benefits applications
Outcomes:
- Risk Assessment completed: High Risk result
- Planning for personal safety and support done
- Referred to family solicitor for Non-Molestation Order & Child Arrangement order, support letter for legal aid has provided. She got a NMO for a year.
- Referred to counselling, client attending.
- Moved client to a “safe place”: emergency B&B and working with housing to provide a temporary residence.
- Completed benefit applications for client
- Attended Child In Need meetings with the school and the child social services for family safety and holiday plans.