Home is where the heart is: research findings from Germany and England related to domestic violence

Domestic violence accounts for around 16 per cent of all violent crime in Britain at a cost in excess of £23bn a year (Home Office 2004/2005 Report). German and British studies have revealed that domestic violence incidents claim the lives of two women each week and 30 men per year and that it is the largest cause of morbidity worldwide in women aged 19–44; greater than war, cancer or motor vehicle accidents. Stanko et al (1998) noted that domestic violence affects one in four women and one in six men in their lifetime. Has anything changed in terms of “the family” or has domestic violence always occurred but was never talked about in society? This article will first look at the historical development of the notion of “family” and “the home” and then look at German and English research findings in relation to domestic violence and how legislation has changed in order to assist law enforcement agencies.