Local Police commander Supt Steve Kirk showed sympathy to men who are being arrested even if they are the victims of DV, or when their partners make false claims of DV in order to get them arrested or prevent them from seeing their children.
Councillor John Ennis mentioned that over 90% of all DV convictions and charges are being brought against men. After the event understanding was achieved with Cllr Ennis that these figures show disproportionately high conviction rate for men while the actual number of victims is similar in both sexes.
A new M.E.N (Men's Emotional Needs) project was introduced at the event. It was widely supported.
Is it the time for Women's Aid to get off their men-hating bus and campaign against domestic violence perpetrated by both sexes?
Superintendent Kirk from Reading Police showed quite a bit of sympathy and engaged in some lengthy discussions. I think that the police was initially jittery that there would be trouble but the way we behaved and the quiet way in which we marched with the lot of them, convinced them otherwise.
The banners, professional or otherwise, were quite effective to my mind. Several women who crossed the demo on their way tapped me silently on my shoulder and whispered: "Well done, I know what you're talking about, go on".
Womens' Aid showed again their true face, they would not talk to us or to any men, nothing. Crossing Bridges on the other hand were much more interested in helping the DV issue and do something about it, they happily exchanged phones with us and want to continue to collaborate on this. We'll take up the lead.
Half an hour into the walk, Superintendent Kirk came back to us and said he's been thinking, there is a government initiative to increase DV crime reporting, with money on the side for targets, he'd be happy to discuss it further with us, gave us his card and tel. no. and we'll have a meeting in his office in the near future. Coming from him, it was really a breakthrough and a surprise. I had initially talked to him and questioned some figures of DV he kept repeating, then I confronted him point blank, and told him that if any of his men are called to a Domestic Incident and, regardless of circumstances, if the woman complains her partner attacked her, they'll take him out on the spot to a police cell. He admitted that's the case "policemen are only human beings..." etc. He also told me that there's a new instruction that criminal prosecution can now be brought againd a DV perpetrator (read men) even without evidence being taken from the other side - simply on evidence of bruises, "red marks", "black eyes", etc. Police discretion. All in all though, he seemed a balanced guy.
Actions: Andy had a chance to "push" his project M.E.N. (Menhelp) to the police and others. I took a few photos that Alain has put up on this page. We'll chase the meetings with "Crossing Bridges" and the Police.
I also spoke to superintendent Steve Kirk LPA and he wants to help with the MEN center and thinks it is needed. He will help in any way he can and will suport us.
Berkshire Womens aid said that they would suport the MEN center when it is opened and we could put a link to them and vice versa. Most were of the opinon that MEN center is long over due.
