Safer Stronger Communities Partnership urges people to think about domestic abuse

Shropshire’s Safer Stronger Communities Partnership is reminding residents to be aware of, and support the end of, domestic abuse in Shropshire.

The drive coincides with the Association of Police Chief Officers (ACPO)’s “In Focus – domestic abuse”, which runs this week until Saturday 8 March 2014.

Domestic abuse can have a devastating effect.  It ruins lives, breaks families apart and has an impact across generations. The partnership, which includes Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police and the Probation Service, wants to raise awareness about what abuse is, how it can affect people, and what partners can do to help support victims. 

The partnership is urging Shropshire residents to think about domestic abuse and remind people that:

• Domestic abuse is a crime, extremely dangerous, and unacceptable.  It can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic background, or level of education
• Domestic abuse is very common.  One woman in four experiences domestic abuse at some point in her life, and an abused woman may live with domestic abuse for years before she tells anyone or seeks help.

In Shropshire it is estimated that over 30,000 women will experience domestic abuse during their lifetime.  In addition to this, domestic abuse, both nationally and locally, is significantly under-reported, and those people who experience domestic abuse will often keep it from family and friends and are unlikely to report abuse to public bodies.  

Women may be affected by domestic violence in a number of ways and may experience any or all of the following:

• isolation from family/friends
• loss of income or work
• homelessness
• emotional/psychological effects such as experiences of anxiety, depression or lowered sense of self-worth
• poor health
• physical injury or ongoing impairment
• if they are pregnant, they may miscarry or the baby may be stillborn
• time off work or study, and long-term impact on financial security and career
• death: two women a week are killed by their partners or former partners.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, said:

“Shropshire’s Safer Stronger Communities Partnership is committed to raising awareness about domestic abuse and challenging the culture around abuse.  Domestic abuse affects both female and male victims, as well as children, whose development is profoundly affected if they are exposed to witnessing domestic abuse.

“Abuse in the home is one of the hardest issues to talk about and it often takes tremendous courage for victims to come forward, seek support, and talk about their experiences.  We want to reassure women, men and children of Shropshire who have suffered or witnessed abuse that we are ready to listen, and will do everything we can to ensure this important step is safe and as easy as possible.”

Superintendent James Tozer of West Mercia Police added:

“We would encourage people to seek help and report this.  Please don’t suffer in silence: report to us, through our partners here: we are all here, and we all want to help.”

If you’re suffering abuse, there are people who can help you.  Facing up to the fact that you have an abusive partner can be hard, but it’s important that you get help as soon as you can. 

If you are concerned about domestic abuse and need advice, please call West Mercia Women’s Aid Domestic Violence 24-hour Helpline on 0800 783 1359 or in an emergency dial 999. 

You can also visit http://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/services/helpline.

Further information can be found on the Freedom Shropshire website at http://www.freedomshropshire.org.uk.  Freedom Shropshire is designed to enable people who live and work in Shropshire to access relevant and up-to-date information on domestic abuse. 

You can also follow Twitter @wmerciapolice to support ACPO Domestic abuse week to help end domestic abuse.

In support of the ACPO Week in Focus on Domestic Abuse, West Mercia Police will be launching the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as Clare’s Law, on Monday 10 March 2014.  Clare’s Law gives people the ‘right to ask’ police whether a new or existing partner has a violent past.

Further information about the scheme can be found at http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/new-powers-to-protect-families-affected-by-domestic-abuse.html

Further information

Shropshire’s Domestic Abuse strategy for 2011-2014 has been developed by Shropshire’s Countywide Domestic Abuse Forum, a multi-agency partnership that includes ‘specialist’ domestic abuse services: Refuge, South Shropshire Domestic Violence Services, West Mercia Women’s Aid; Shropshire Council services including housing support services, safeguarding, education, children’s centre services, community safety; West Mercia Police; Shropshire Fire and Rescue; and Community Health.