'Dad dragged me out of bed by my hair to work' – rural abuse victims want more support
Summary
Tracy Lewis, who grew up on a farm in mid-Wales, shared her experience of physical and emotional abuse by her father while working in rural farming life. She and other survivors are asking governments to improve support for people facing domestic abuse in rural areas, where help is harder to reach and abuse often remains hidden.Key Facts
- Tracy Lewis experienced abuse from her father on a farm in Llanbister, Powys, including being pulled from bed by her hair to work with lambing at age eight.
- She described how animals were sometimes used to control or punish family members, and how isolation made the abuse worse.
- Tracy later learned her father did not leave her the family farm after her mother’s death, despite her working and paying rent on it for 20 years.
- Around 11 million people, over 15% of the UK population, live in rural areas where domestic abuse can be hidden and harder to report.
- The National Rural Crime Network says rural survivors face extra barriers to support due to isolation and close-knit communities.
- Another survivor, Rhianon Bragg from north Wales, was held hostage at gunpoint by her ex-partner in a remote rural home, highlighting safety challenges in isolated areas.
- UK and Welsh governments acknowledge the problem and say they are working to improve rural support and include these issues in future strategies.
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