Guidance

Barriers faced by the military community affected by domestic abuse

Updated 5 October 2022

Introduction

The armed forces community is a reflection of a wider society within which domestic abuse is not uncommon. It is inevitable that domestic abuse occurs within the armed forces, and it is therefore important to understand the dynamics within this community that can add to the vulnerability of victims. Some unique factors that often affect families within the armed forces community are outlined below.

These factors can place additional pressures on families and may contribute to an individual’s concerns when they are in, or seeking to leave, an abusive relationship and include:

• economic dependence on the serving person is increased due to good job security and military benefits such as Service Family Accommodation (SFA). These benefits are linked to the serving person and are very valuable to young families
• regular postings can make it difficult for a spouse to maintain a career which can diminish their own employability and financial independence. As a result, it is not uncommon for couples to rely on a single income and experience financial hardship
• military commitments can lead to long and frequent periods of separation with the partner who is left at home taking on additional roles. This can necessitate significant readjustment by the whole family when the absent partner returns. Long periods of separation can foster distrust, and children born during separation can also place additional strain on families and relationships
• regular assignments to new locations can isolate victims from wider family support as well as local civilian support services.

Within the armed forces community there is little to separate professional and personal lives. For example, individuals who work together will often also be neighbours.

Unmarried personnel often live in single living accommodation (SLA), and may be living in the same accommodation block as an abusive partner for example. Military personnel may also fulfil the role of medical staff and welfare support workers. With such close links within the armed forces community the worry of unwanted repercussions is often a significant concern to victims. Of even greater concern is the threat that the perpetrator may lose their job if the victim reports the abuse, with a family potentially facing significant loss of earnings as well as military benefits such as housing.

Common concerns and barriers

Feedback and additional information regarding each concern is detailed below and can be used to ensure victims of domestic abuse are able to make informed decisions.

Concern regarding the impact on their partner’s career (serving perpetrator). This is often the primary concern which stops victims from seeking help and reporting cases of domestic abuse; perpetrators will often maximise this fear to threaten the victim and secure their silence.

Early stages of domestic abuse tend to involve non-criminal behaviour which, if raised, can be dealt with without necessarily impacting on a serving perpetrator’s career. Once a criminal offence has taken place then a punishment or sanction may affect an individual’s career. There are a wide range of sanctions, of which termination of service (discharge) would be used in only the most extreme cases. If a victim is concerned about possible career consequences, they can seek confidential advice from one of the armed forces welfare providers (NS FPS, AWS, SSAFA fieldworkers).

Concern regarding the impact on their career (serving victim). Domestic abuse is not tolerated within the armed forces and any victim of domestic abuse will be supported; there would be no impact on a serving victim’s career.
General awareness and understanding of this issue is also improving, and it is recognised that men and women alike are affected by domestic abuse.

If a serving victim is concerned about possible career consequences, they can seek confidential advice from one of the armed forces welfare providers (NS FPS, AWS, SSAFA fieldworkers).

Serving victims may also want to discuss concerns they have for their children, possibly regarding their safety when they are away on deployments or training. If required, specific action can be taken within the working environment to help protect the victim and may include time off to speak with a solicitor or the opportunity to move into single living accommodation. A serving victim should highlight their concerns to the chain of command, who will be flexible and supportive and wherever possible will help facilitate solutions.

Concern regarding the confidentiality of the military support services. All military units have an established welfare support structure to call upon.

Local support is carried out by The Royal Naval Divisional System, Army Unit Welfare Officers and RAF personnel staffs; these services may be obliged to report certain circumstances to the chain of command. The main armed forces welfare providers such as NS FPS, AWS and SSAFA fieldworkers are independent of the chain of command. They work to a specific code of confidentiality, in accordance with legal requirements, which would be explained during any initial contact.

Concern regarding leaving Service Families Accommodation

Service housing is provided for armed forces personnel who are married; if a couple separate, they will be able to remain in service accommodation for a maximum of 6 months (up to 93 days prior to a change in marital status, followed by a 93 day notice to vacate period).

The exception might be when a serving individual needs to retain a house because they need to be able to accommodate their children. A victim who is not a serving member of the armed forces would therefore have to leave service housing if they separate from their partner. They will have to vacate the property within a set period of time; normally 93 days from the day the serving person changes their marital status on JPA (notice to vacate). In some circumstances it may be possible to extend this period although it may attract market rates. NS FPS, AWS and SSAFA fieldworkers, as well as military charities and local authorities, will actively support a family as they move home and transition out of the military community.

Additional housing considerations are detailed below:

• The Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) provides housing information and advice to service personnel and their families to assist them in their transition to civilian life
• Services Cotswold Centre
• SSAFA Stepping Stone Homes (2 family units are available for Foreign and Commonwealth citizens who do not have recourse to public funds).

Concern about leaving the military community

Victims of domestic abuse who are not serving personnel are often worried about leaving the military community were they to separate from their partner. This can be very daunting, especially when people have spent a long period of time in this environment, and they also enjoy the way of life as well as the opportunities that are available to them. If a victim is thinking of leaving an abusive relationship they should think about where they would like to settle. Do they want to remain in the area, or would they possibly prefer to move closer to their family or friends? They should think about what they would want and come up with some possible options.

It may all seem very difficult initially although the benefits in the longer term can make it all worthwhile.
Armed forces families are often used to moving and are more resilient than they may at first think. NS FPS, AWS and SSAFA fieldworkers would also be able to help with the process of transition into a civilian community. Concern about the impact on children’s education. Victims of domestic abuse are often concerned about the impact on their children’s education were they to leave an abusive relationship. These concerns are looked at in more detail below:

Additional information

Those parents who require additional information regarding education should contact the MOD Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) via [email protected]. CEAS provide expert and impartial advice about the education of children of service personnel, and are part of the Directorate Children and Young People (DCYP) which is the lead department within MOD for all issues relating to service children and young people.

The needs of children of serving personnel

Separation may involve a school change, with a possible move to a school that may not understand the specific needs of the child of serving personnel. If this is the case the parent should ask the current school to liaise closely with the receiving school and seek advice from CEAS as quickly as possible.

Retention of Service Families Accommodation (SFA)

It may be possible to retain SFA if there is an educational need. If a child is about to take GCSEs or A Levels, and their service parent is posted, they may apply to remain in their quarter until they have completed that stage of their education. If their parents separate, the Occupancy Management Centre (OMC) can “consider” factors, such as educational impact, to allow them to retain their quarter until they complete a crucial stage of education; this is at the discretion of OMC and a CEAS educational impact statement is likely to be required.

Service Pupil Premium (SPP)

It can be claimed by state schools and free schools in England with children on role that live with a service person as their primary care giver, including step children and adopted children. If the service person leaves the service or the parents are divorced, any child in Reception to Year 11 who has been flagged as a service child since the January 2011 census will continue to receive SPP under the ever 5 service child measure.

Any child starting school after the service person has left the service, or no longer living with the service person following a divorce, will not be eligible for SPP.

Continuity of Education Allowance

Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) is covered in the Tri-Service Regulations for Allowance (JSP 752). Anyone with a query regarding CEA should contact the Defence Business Services Pay and Allowances Casework and Complaints Cell (PACCC) through their Unit HR staff.

Concern of losing contact with children

Serving parents can be particularly concerned about maintaining contact with their children because of the friction of military service. This can include overseas deployments, regular training commitments and frequent postings, both in the UK and overseas. In the case of serving parents, the armed forces will always manage these situations sympathetically and will help facilitate a solution wherever possible. Additional information for parents is available at Looking after children during divorce.

Other sources of support and information

The information within this appendix has been taken from Domestic abuse: guidance and support for the armed forces community.

Further information can be found at:

• Families Federation; each of the 3 services has a Families Federation that will offer confidential advice on issues such as education; Naval Families Federation, Army Families Federation, RAF Families Federation
• MOD Domestic Abuse Strategy
• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• JSP 834: Safeguarding Service Children and Young People
• JSP 913: Tri-Service Policy on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence