Freya | Domestic violence, rape and child abuse

I was married to a violent and abusive police officer. They pushed me out in front of a car when I was 5 months’ pregnant. They abused me physically, sexually, psychologically, and financially. I was not allowed to spend my own money. I was so coercively controlled by them, I was still timing my visits to the supermarket even after I left him. In the end, I feared he would kill me. He had threatened me with a knife and I rang 999 but the police just ‘had words’ with him. When I tried to leave him, he raped me. He was also aggressive to our children and mistreated our dog. The two men I dated afterwards were both intimidated by the police officer’s colleagues when neither had ever been stopped by a police officer before. I’ve never been able to get any kind of justice. The police force even gave false information to CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) stating there was no record of me reporting a police officer’s rape. So my application for compensation was refused. Police own correspondence proves this was not true. But by the time I received this, it was too late for me to appeal. Not only did they prevent me getting justice in the CJS, they prevented me from getting compensation from CICA too.  


Constabulary: Devon and Cornwall Police


Timespan: In the 1990s


Did you report it to the police?: Yes


Your ethnicity: White British


Have you experienced suicidality due to this? Attempted suicide more than once


Are you defined as disabled under the Equality Act 2010? Yes

illustration by Danny Noble

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