Jill Saward

The DNA database is currently being destroyed…………and this is a crying shame. Although it is a requirement by Europe that we get rid of old data or data that doesn’t relate to specific offences the cuts in police services and spending mean that for many justice will give way to the rights of offenders – yet again.

DNA is fascinating, and the developments in science mean that more and more can be discovered using DNA.

The fear associated with the database is unwarranted. In the UK we supply all sorts of data to all sorts of people without ever really thinking about it. Storecards, social media, governments, schools, emails. Many are used to target specific messages to consumers, and we never bat an eyelid.

Worries about who will use what against us are also unfounded, insurance companies are often cited but information within are DNA can only offer predictions, and can’t see things such as accidents. Knowing what may happen medically may be of use, but then again you only have to look at the number of people who smoke to see that you can’t make people change their habits, or necessarily change their life style. And there are reports that imply that certain types of behaviour are genetically programmed anyway.

But there are restrictions on who can know what.

But back to the arguement, the DNA database has been profoundly useful to the police, in ruling people out and convicting the guilty. It can never be used solely in the detection of crime, but is a very powerful tool that helps in this technological age. It won’t stop people being wrongly convicted when fitted up, but nothing has done that yet. But that is a minority of cases. The numbers of cold cases and other crimes that have been able to find an offender should always outweigh the rights of others.

One day I am sure we will have a national DNA database, it just may take a while.

Jane Clough was a nurse and a young mum who in July 2010, became another dv statistic. (2 women die each week in the UK as a result of domestic violence).

Jane fell in love very quickly with ambulance technician Jonathan Vass. She became pregnant and he became violent…. a common point for dv offenders to start their abuse.

Jane reported Vass to the police for multiple rapes and sexual assaults. The case went to Crown Court initially and there Vass was bailed. This was in spite of requests from the police and CPS, that he was not released. Jane lived in fear of her life, for many months she hid away, but then decided not to let herself be intimidated by him.

Jane returned to work as an A and E nurse, working on the night shift. Vass discovered she was working and went to the hospital she was working at. He waited for her and one night he attacked her stabbing her repeatedly. Jane’s injuries was so severe her colleagues didn’t recognise her.

When Vass was sentenced, at the last moment all the rape charges were dropped against him. He is not classed as a sex offender.

Jane’s family are now campaiging to change the law. Initially they want to change the law on bail, and their local MP Andrew Stephenson has put forward an amendment to the Bail act. There is a petition in support of this. Please sign up and ask parliament to change. http://www.justiceforjane.co.uk/campaignaims.html

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On Father’s Day this weekend we saw David Cameron talk about absent fathers. On Facebook we were encouraged to change our pictures to one of our father. And whilst I have no problems with my dad, many people I have worked with do with theirs, and many women I have supported long for dads to be absent, and with good reason.

There are many reports on the impact of domestic violence on children, not just from actually seeing the violence, but also by being in a house where the violence/abuse is going on. And we know that sexual abuse has a massive impact on individuals, and that a very disproportionate figure of those with mental health issues have experienced sexual violence or abuse. So celebrating fathers is something that must be done with measured sensitivity.

Whilst some men’s groups blame women for destroying their relationships with their children they fail to address that it is their behaviour that has caused the break down, or the mother’s need to protect. Each year father’s do kill or harm their children and yet the courts still encourage many abusive men to be given access to their children. We need to be much bolder in admitting that not all families work, and that some fathers should never have access to their offspring.

We also need to examine how referring to “God the Father” can impact on those with such negative experiences of what a “father” is. If your church celebrated Father’s Day did it examine the different aspects of fatherhood, the failure of some to “father” in terms of a positive role model, and the harmful impact fathers can have? Probably not. And you may say that raising such things during a celebration is not appropriate, but that fails to address that it is not a celebration for those who have been hurt nor should it be for those who are deliberately hurting others.

We don’t tend to refer to our fathers as Abba. But maybe we should in terms of God the Father. To differentiate and distance people’s understanding from God as father in human form.

Abusive father’s can change, or stop their behaviour but we need to make sure that we protect first, and accept that actions have responsibilities, and by abusing them they can loose that right.

Stop it Now! is a secular organisation that can help men who want to abuse. They provide support and work with men to change their behaviour.

I hope that if you are reading this as a father, that you were able to celebrate. But I hope that you can also appreciate that for many this was a day in which bitter, painful memories were present, even if hidden behind a smile.

I’ve finally got around to making some progress on my new website.

But you’ve stumbled across it before I’ve finished.

Do check back soon. (And I didn’t put that photo on!)

Jill