Family violence – what's the law?

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Transcript

Text: Family Violence

[An image shows of a crowd at an outdoor amateur sports competition.]

[Vision changes to an image of two men standing on the sports field wearing sportswear. The man on the left is wearing a black jumper while the man on the right, Ram, is wearing a blue jersey and has his hands extended in a gesture of explanation.]

Man: You missed three goals, Ram. What’s wrong?

Ram: Oh, my sister Radha just called. She’s having problems with her husband and wants to stay with us tonight. She’s scared of him.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of the man as he asks further questions.]

Man: How come she’s scared?

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram.]

Ram: Well, he gets angry. He says she spends too much of his money. He won’t give her enough money to buy food—he doesn’t like her cooking. He throws things around the house and sometimes he hits her. I don’t know what to do or say.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of the man as he asks further questions.]

Man: What did you say to her?

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram looking serious.]

Ram: Well, I told her he’s her husband and she has to stay with him, she has to do what he says and then he won’t be so angry. But... now I’m worried about her.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of the man as he speaks with Ram.]

Man: My cousin hit his wife badly when she was pregnant.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram looking incredulous.]

Ram: What!?

Man: I feel really bad because when she asked for help I told her, ‘Just be a good wife and it will be OK.’

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram scratching his head.]

Ram: So what should I do?

[Vision changes to a close-up image of the man as he speaks with Ram.]

Man: Go and talk to your sister. Tell her what he is doing is wrong. He has no right to hit her. Make sure she has a safe place to go.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram holding his chin and looking thoughtful.]

[Vision fades to black.]

Text: A few weeks later...

[An image shows of a mother holding an infant in a suburban front yard while the sound of a doorbell rings.]

[Vision changes to an image of Ram and his wife standing in their open front doorway while Radha, her infant and a small child stand on the doorstep.]

Radha: He hit me again. I’m scared.

[Vision changes to an image of Ram’s wife talking with Radha in the family room of their modern home.]

Ram’s wife: It is too dangerous at your house. You and the children can come and stay with us. Why don’t we call a domestic violence service and ask what we should do next?

[Vision changes to an image of Radha sitting with a telephone in her hand as a phone rings.]

[Vision fades to black.]

[An image shows of Radha holding her crying infant as she talks.]

Radha: They told me I should get an order telling him to stop. They said I could get help from the police or Legal Aid. What do you think?

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram’s wife as she listens to Radha.]

Ram’s wife: Let’s go to the police now and talk to them.

Radha: Good.

[Vision fades to black.]

[An image shows of a policewoman sitting at a table with Ram’s wife and Radha.]

Radha: Can you help me? My husband hit me.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of the policewoman as she gives advice.]

Policewoman: We can help you get an order to tell your husband to stop hurting you. The order can also tell your husband to leave the family home if you want him to.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Radha as she speaks with the policewoman.]

Radha: How can we pay the rent if he leaves? I don’t want him to go, I just want him to listen to the police and understand they will arrest him if he does not stop.

[Vision changes to a close-up image of the policewoman as she gives advice.]

Policewoman: He can be ordered not to threaten you or hurt you, even if you live together.

[Vision shows of a close-up image of Radha looking confused.]

Radha: What should I do?

[Vision changes to a close-up image of Ram’s wife looking serious.]

Ram’s wife: I think you should get an order that tells him to stop. You and the children have the right to be safe at home. The law says so.