THURROCK Council is taking steps to ensure male victims of domestic violence get the help they need.

Nationally, for the year ending 2022 , the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 1.7 million women and 699,000 men aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse. This equates to approximately seven in 100 women and three in 100 men.

In Essex, police figures show across the county there were 20,345 incidents of violence against women and 7,609 cases involving male victims.

In Thurrock, a housing safeguarding team responds to reports of domestic abuse which can also include male perpetrators.

A report to the committee, requested at a previous committee meeting, gave a case study of a male in his early 20's with learning disabilities who went to Thurrock's civic offices after being subjected to violent physical abuse from a male family member, which resulted in him losing control of his bodily functions.

He had not approached the police or seek medical assistance, had no money and hadn't eaten since the attack. The team was able to create a rapport with the man and give him vital assistance.

Ewelina Sorbjan, director of adults, housing, and heath at Thurrock Council, said: "We will work with the survivor and take the lead from them on what are their specific needs and wants. We can't force support if the survivor doesn't want it. We have had some individuals declining support but we take each request as they come.

"There is an absolute acknowledgement that males don't necessarily follow the same route for reporting that females do. There is a stigma attached to it. Males just don't want to talk about it. There is a lot more work needed across a societal level to actually change that perception.

"It's acknowledged that there is under-reporting but it's that change over time to actually get males to report. It is led by the survivor so if they don't want support then none will be provided."

Jenny Barnett, Chief Supt for West Essex Police, said: "I do have specialist domestic abuse investigation teams and we also have domestic abuse problem solving teams. Those teams are specifically designed to keep the victims on board throughout the process but they also designed to get the best outcome for the victim which may not be going through the criminal justice system if that's not what they want. We've supported a number of male victims and survivors."