Ethnic minority domestic abuse victims ‘more reluctant to come forward’

The figures reveal the scale of the problem, but not the trauma and despair of women whose lives are torn apart by domestic violence. They’re often too intimidated to report their abuse to police, and according to one of the country’s most senior British Asian officers, women from ethnic minority backgrounds may be particularly reluctant to come forward. She suggests more diversity in Britain’s police forces could help.

We’ve been out with Thames Valley Police in Slough as officers respond to emergency call-outs from women at risk of abuse. And we speak to one woman who tells her story of marital rape, which some of you may find distressing.