Hi,
I'm posting in here as I reckon it's the place with most experience in DV situations, even though it's not my relationship.
I am a regular poster - usually in steparenting.
My cousin is the same age as me, 30. I am not close toher but more so my aunt and my other cousin, her brother - although not very much so in the past few years. We were all extremely close growing up but various things have happened in both sides of the family, most people have moved away, and we've drifted apart a bit. I couldnt really talk freely to either of them about this.
I'll call my cousin Sarah for ease. Sarah has always been a bit of a black sheep - she has had drink problems which we all knew about for years and we all take it that she has drug problems but no one has any proof. Her parents have moved to France so she has no real support over here. Her Dad comes over to the UK for work around once a month but doesnt visit her.
Anyway, my aunt has emailed me to say she wants to warn me that if sarah calls me or texts me (which she does sometimes),asking for help then I am to ignore her and not get involved as she is in with some scary types. Or as my aunt said "the worst type of man" She is living in a caravan outside a large house owned by a man who if you google his name is listed as owning about 8 business and 6 large houses. My aunt had called the police because Sarah had called her to say that she was trapped in the caravan and woke up with someone injecting something in to her face and that her partner was being abusive to her. The police were concerned and interested until my aunt told them the man's name at which point they went very quiet and dismissed her saying that as Sarah is an adult she would need to make a complaint herself.(I imagine they want him for something far greater than this and it would ruin their investigations) My aunt said she is sick of Sarah's drama and thatshe has been "advised" although I don't know by who - sounds a bit Jeremy Kyle to me) That they have to let Sarah reach her own personal rock bottom and to ask for help. My Mum agrees with me that it sounds like she already has hit rock bottom and might need someone to intervene.
I have called her but her phone is off all the time. Having children myself I am loath to go down there and get tangled up in everything and for all I know she doesn't want to be "saved" but I am really worried and don't know what to do.
My Aunt is convinced that Sarah is imagining the fact that she is suffering DV... on account of being a drunk. But there again my Aunt is also very fond of Sarah's ex (whom Sarah "cheated on" with this new man). Sarah said that he was abusive to her as well but my Aunt would never beleive it as he is "such a lovely man"...
Does anyone have a suggestion that I haven't thought of? Are there any organisations that might be more interested than the police who clearly have their own agenda?