‘I was punched, kicked, and bruised’: Young people call for domestic abuse laws to include under-16s

KWhen James Stephen* finally decided to seek justice for the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his girlfriend for over a year, he realized that the law deemed him too young to be a victim of domestic violence.

The then 15-year-old was physically and mentally abused to the point that his mental health completely deteriorated and he was struggling in school.

He had spent the past year being punched, kicked and attacked by his girlfriend, who was a year older than him.

James is one of many young people calling on the government to extend the legislative age for victims of domestic violence harmed by a partner.

The government is currently seeking to review the legal framework on domestic abuse to ensure it reflects the experiences of adolescents, including reviewing the age limit.

The law defines domestic abuse as abusive behavior by one person towards another when both people are 16 years of age or over.

“When we were in public, he would grab my hip very hard until it turned blue to get me to stop talking,” she said. Independent. “When I talked to him about it he said it was just a joke.

“Then it started to get worse and he started hitting me when we argued in public. He asked me to hit him back and I didn’t.”

The abuse escalated to serious violence. Once, his girlfriend attacked him with scissors and said she wanted to kill him. In another incident, he carved his name into his rib without his consent.

In late 2024, James went to see a support worker at his school and told him to go to the police.

That day, he and his mother went to the police and gave a statement. He said he gave several interviews, provided contact information for witnesses who witnessed the abuse, and that his school shared the evidence with police.

Officers later spoke with his girlfriend, who denied the accusations, and the investigation was closed after failing to yield positive results.

At such a vulnerable age, James said it was crucial that young people were protected by domestic abuse laws. “I was still 15 at the time… and I didn’t fully understand that I was being abused. I was still very much in denial about it.”

He thinks part of the problem is that people don’t realize that young people are entering into relationships where this type of abuse occurs.

Youth Endowment Fund research has found that almost half of all children aged 13 to 17 in a relationship have experienced violent or controlling behaviour.

Among those in a relationship, 28 percent of 13- to 15-year-olds said they had been hit, kicked or pushed, compared to 12 percent of 16- to 17-year-olds.

“It’s crazy that people can be charged with a crime at age 10 and then it takes six years to be charged with domestic abuse,” he said.

“At this age, people are learning how to behave in their first relationships. So if people don’t understand that something is abuse, because there’s no law protecting someone under 16, they’ll think it’s normal.”

Changemakers, a group of young people aged 13 to 24 who help create services for young people affected by domestic violence, supports her call.

Fellow member Maya Balachandran, 22, said: ​“Those under the age of 16 can certainly experience domestic violence and this needs to be recognized much more broadly to ensure they are provided with the right resources and support. This recognition will help services be better equipped to respond and create consistent support pathways for young victims and survivors.”

“Lowering the legal age at which domestic abuse is recognized is a stepping stone to actively treating young people as victims in their own right. It shows young people that they are not alone, that their experiences are valid and can be called for what they are, while providing a basis for professionals to offer more comprehensive support.”

Sally Steadman, head of innovation at domestic violence charity SafeLives, said: “At the moment young people are falling off the cliff. Protection systems do not formally recognize the fact that young people are experiencing domestic violence, which can leave them without the support they need.”

“Our research shows the extent of the problem. Young people aged 13-17 suffer the highest rates of domestic abuse of all age groups.

“Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, coercive and occurs online and offline, but there are both legal and practical barriers to getting help for under-16s.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency and this government is using the full power of the state to halve it within ten years. “The Violence Against Women Strategy sets out a range of measures to tackle abuse in relationships with young people, backed by investment of over £20 million.

“New targeted interventions in schools and the community, strengthened guidance for professionals and a dedicated helpline for young people concerned about their behavior will help reduce abuse in young people’s relationships.”

*Name changed to protect James’ identity