We see women abused, beaten etc and then they get a court order and not much — the courts give the order and when it’s breached they tell him not to do it again and let him out to repeat it.

Many of the women I saw as a policeman had been beaten, abused both mentally and physically, they felt worthless, powerless with no where to go if they left and not able to protect themselves from the abuser.

You get them a protection order and they soon find out it means nothing when it’s breached.

Many a time I went to see women who fell down the steps (according to the husband), sometimes they fell several times a week and to get them out of this spiral was near impossible.

I remember the story of when an old constable went to such an incident, mother bleeding and dad proud of what he had done.

A walk down the dark backyard with dad, a few short rights and then it was explained to dad that this is what pain is like and if you ever do that to your wife again!!!

Police are not called to those places again by worried neighbours.

The majority of wife bashers are gutless and can deal out pain and abuse to others smaller or weaker than them, but they can’t take it.

If they get hurt they scream for mercy and yet the courts and governments worry more about the abuser and their rights than the poor battered women and children.

Maybe there should be more backyard chats with offenders.

— B. SCOTT-YOUNG,

East Albury