CYP Now - Family review highlights life-long impact of domestic violence

Children who witness domestic violence in the early years are more likely to struggle with relationships as teenagers, a new report by the children’s commissioner for England has found.

Dame Rachel de Souza has published the first part of her families review. Picture: OOCC

The first part of the Independent Family Review, published by the children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, warns that young people who experience domestic violence between parents at age three are likely to showcase 30 per cent more anti-social behaviour than average by age 14.

The report describes how domestic abuse can also destabilise a young person’s life, often forcing them to move home frequently for their safety, disrupting their education and friendships.

Services available to these children are described in the report as “precarious”, despite data showing that between 2020 and 2021, a total of 168, 960 children in England had been impacted by concerns over domestic abuse.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included