Hundreds of West Midlands teenagers were domestic abuse victims last year

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Hundreds of victims of domestic abuse cases reported to West Midlands Police in 2022 were under the age of 18.

West Midlands Police received reports of more than 700 domestic abuse victims aged under 18 last year.

The latest figures, which document cases recorded between January and December 2022, showed cases start to rise to triple digits from the age of 16.

Around 83% of cases where the victim was under 18 were recorded at 16 and 17, as early romantic relationships begin to form.

Sue Sedgwick, director of Affordable Justice, explained that this form of abuse can happen to anyone but her colleagues have noticed some patterns in cases.

The solicitor, who helps women across the UK in cases of domestic abuse said: “I think certainly, with young people, those controlling behaviors are the first signals.

“Often that can be coupled with someone feeling that the other person is just really interested in them or wants to be with them all the time.

“It’s sometimes difficult for people to spot because obviously, they feel that they are sort of the centre of someone else’s world when in fact, it’s bordering on being a controlling relationship.

“For example, if somebody want to look in someone’s phone to see who’s messaging them and doesn’t really want them to be with their friends says things like — saying they ‘just want it to be me and you. We don’t need our friends around us.’

“It ultimately leads to them becoming more isolated. Things like that are signs that people should look for."