Teenager reported abuse - parent's lying

[deenagh]

I hope I'm posting this in the right place.

My teenage niece (SIL daughter) has been physically and emotionally abused by her father probably around 10 years, she says since she was 4 or 5. He tells her often that she's a disappointment, that he doesn't love her and never wanted her, screams and shouts at her over the most trivial things. She in recent years has begun to retaliate and argues back. I'm ashamed to say that me and other family members have known about it. She herself has never confided in anyone about it, but we all knew from her mother. We've been leaving up to her mum to do something about it, but she never has.

Saturday night, DN sneaked out of her window to meet a friend, but stayed on her home property. She lives in the countryside so there wasn't really anywhere for them to go. The friend was a boy, DN insists that he's just a friend but that's really neither here nor there. He left immediately after DN was caught out of the house, and unfortunately (from a legal point of view) was not a witness. Her father battered her. Id rather not go into detail on the attack, but she has bruising on her eye, chect, arms, legs and ankle. Her bed is broken. She managed to phone the police, and when they arrived her parents lied and said she attacked her father. She is staying with another family member at the moment. The police believed her parents initially, as they protayed her as a problem child and showed a letter from the school about her being suspended. She has been in a lot of trouble recently, she was suspended for filming a fight at school, and has been caught lying and trying to sneak to parties etc. Her parents are trying to use this against her, but there's no excuse for the abuse she has been recieving.

Since speaking with DN and seeing her injuries, the police and social services now seem to believe her. Her parents are now becoming desperate, and are trying everything possible to get her to change her story. SIL knows that social services don't believe what she has said. SILcalled the family member DN is staying with (despite police telling her she was not to make any contact) saying that DN is to refuse to have photos taken on her bruises (due to go back to the police today), SIL is threatening to kill herself, saying DN is destroying their family, even though she's the victim in this.

We are all disgusted with what SIL is doing. She has been a victim of abuse from her husband too, and maybe she's in a total state of denial. DN is traumatised. She was already having doubts last night, saying she wished she had never phoned the police, and we're trying our best to support her and tell her that she did the right thing.

The police said that they can't prosecute based on DN's statement, because her mother has signed a statement as a witness and has said her father was only trying to defend himself and restrain her, and any bruises she has she caused herself.

This entire situation is a mess, and the family member that DN is staying with is taking the brunt of it. She is in poor health as it is.

Is there anything more that we can do in this situation? I'm disgusted with myself that I never did anything to help DN, and so I'm trying to support her in fully seeing this through, but her own mother is so fiercely against her - she even initially refused to send any of DN's clothing or possesions to her, and only sent basic clothing when SS got involved. They refused to give her back her phone. She's being punished and abused by them even now, and she's ot even in the house any more.

Has anyone any advice on any of this? I don't even know what kind of advice to ask for. I failed DN before, I can't let it happen again. Her father has serious anger issues and I feel like if she goes back home and he's still there, that next time (and there will be a next time) she won't be given a chance to call for help.

What can we do?
What happens if she withdraws her statement?
I'm all over the place with worry for her.

[Squeegle]

What a terrible situation. I don’t have any experience of this, but just wanted to say I’m sorry. Can she come and stay with you? Can you get in touch with the police yourself and say about the previous shouting that you have witnessed?

[Squeegle]

I feel that you are so worried now you have to share your concerns with the police.

[ItStartedWithAKiss241]

I’m not sure what you should do except possible make contact with police and social services. You can back up dn’s story and let her know she has your support now. X

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

I can’t believe that the police are using this statement from the mum as a reason not to take things further. Surely it’s not that unusual that the mother of an abused child is also a victim and can be forced to lie, or to scared not to?