Intimate Partner Violence (Strangulation)

Rob Veale is a former Police Officer with over 30-years’ experience. He now serves as an advisor working to enhance safety by providing family violence and general violence reduction expertise to government agencies, non-governmental organisations, healthcare providers, and community groups all over Aotearoa.

Strangulation in the context of Intimate Partner Violence is a complex matter that needed to be looked at from many angles. First, strangulation is not an attack on the neck, but an attack on the brain.. We not only looked at the physiological and psychological effects strangulation has on victims, but we also looked at how the government has tried taking on intimate partner violence, as well as how legislation affects front-line staff that work in these spaces.

We heard stories of survivors and unfortunately the stories of those who died because of an abusive partner. What the tell-tale signs are of strangulation and various exit strategies that can be implemented to save lives.

We had 35 professionals from various organisations as well as community members join us at Te Waipuna Puawai to listen and learn from Rob about the damaging effects strangulation has on victims in abusive relationships. This is important to learn because we need to be able to identify controlling and abusive relationships and decide whether they can be salvaged or not. A big part of healing is knowing when to ask for help and safe ways of leaving toxic relationships.