Child-to-Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA), a growing issue often rooted in childhood trauma, is attracting attention as more families come forward with their experiences. Witnessing domestic abuse at home can trigger CAPVA, leaving parents and guardians in distressing situations. The government has committed to reducing violence against women and girls by half within the next decade, highlighting the urgency for addressing such issues.
Dr. Nikki Rutter, a CAPVA researcher, emphasizes the importance of early intervention for carers. However, she notes that this is seldom seen across local authorities in the North. In County Durham, a joint initiative by the police and county council is funding "ambassadors" to implement the "Respect" programme. This program is designed to assist families requiring support in dealing with CAPVA.
Despite these efforts, data from 17 police forces reveal that 10 reported more CAPVA cases in 2023 compared to 2019. This underscores the increasing prevalence of such incidents. Jackie Staff, a support worker, observes that violence towards parents and guardians is becoming a more openly discussed topic. According to Staff, "We're getting some real successes from the families," and they're reporting that "the behaviour has reduced."
Chris and Angela, caregivers to a female relative, faced challenges with the child's violent behavior, eventually involving law enforcement. However, attending officers made it clear that the child would not be removed from the situation nor face charges. Angela highlights a startling statistic: "One in 10 women who've been murdered by a man have been murdered by their son," stressing the need for early intervention over escalation.
Angela believes that addressing mental health funding for children is crucial and calls for more open conversations about child-to-adult violence. "Definitely funding for children's mental health I think is a massive thing," she states. She also acknowledges the reluctance to admit when a child is violent: "We didn't want to tell anyone that this child has been violent. I think that's a massive issue."
Former social workers have witnessed violence against parents firsthand, sometimes involving children as young as eight. Yet, as Jackie Staff points out, "violence towards parents and guardians is only just really starting to be discussed more openly." The ongoing dialogue about CAPVA is beginning to bring change.
The Home Office is actively developing strategies to address child-to-parent abuse, considering input from recent consultations. A spokesperson confirmed, "We are continuing to develop our specific approach to child-to-parent abuse, taking on board the contributions to last year's consultation."
Chris argues for acknowledgment of the issue: "Let's stop pretending that this is not happening, that children aren't being physically violent towards the parents." He further asserts, "It takes the adults to do that because the kids are never going to admit it."
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