Seema Malhotra – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support her Department makes available to service families experiencing, or at risk of, domestic violence.

Anna Soubry

The Ministry of Defence does not tolerate domestic violence; neither do we consider it to be a purely private matter. The Department’s position is set out for all staff in a Joint Service Publication which raises awareness about our policy and the sources of help available to everyone in the Service community. This helps Service personnel who are experiencing domestic violence, or who are aware of someone else who is experiencing violence, know what to do to seek help and have the confidence to do so.

In parallel, there is a comprehensive range of sources of help in place to support members of Service families who are victims of domestic violence. This includes single-Service welfare providers, specialist welfare and personnel staff, and helplines. Practical help available includes alternative service accommodation and referral to specialist services such as a refuge.

We have recently released a DVD entitled "Domestic Abuse – Where to Find Help" as a resource providing information about how to seek help for those experiencing domestic abuse within the Service community. In addition, a LIBOR funded project, which is planned to be launched in March 2015, will provide a source of information on the gov.uk website about domestic abuse specifically designed for Service personnel, their families and professionals such as specialist welfare officers and social workers.