Efforts to Support Domestic Violence Victims in North East England

On White Ribbon Day, an event integral to the movement to eradicate violence against women and girls, the BBC investigated the efforts of organizations in England’s north-east region to assist those affected. Over 460 women have accessed specialized domestic abuse support within the past year, following a police force’s initiative to integrate specialists into its emergency control room. Northumbria Police, reporting approximately 115 daily calls concerning domestic violence, launched this program in 2022. The scheme allows 999 callers to consult with domestic violence experts in addition to law enforcement officers. Data from Health Equity North indicates that the North East region records the highest domestic violence rates in England, with 19 incidents per 1,000 residents, significantly above the national average of 11. Susan Dungworth, Northumbria’s Labour police and crime commissioner, explained that the control room initiative functions by providing callers with an opportunity to engage with individuals capable of offering additional assistance. She stated, “It’s working really well. We’re getting positive feedback both from people that have used the service but also from our staff who are feeling much more confident, much more empowered to deal with the issue.” Furthermore, the police force has initiated “active bystander” training for employers, aimed at addressing sexual harassment in professional environments. It has also introduced educational materials for teachers to utilize in schools, designed to combat misogynistic conduct among students. The government has committed to reducing violence against women and girls by half within ten years. Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding, characterized the problem as a “national emergency.” She affirmed, “We will introduce bold measures to improve the police response to these crimes, offer strengthened protection for victims and hold perpetrators to account.” Laura Seebholm, chief executive of the charity Wearside Women in Need (WWIN), expressed approval of this commitment but emphasized the need for further specifics, along with innovative approaches and additional resources. The charity recently established an anonymous telephone helpline for the family members and friends of victims to report abuse. Seebholm noted, “So often it’s family and friends who are the first to know, and the first to understand that something’s not right in a relationship. But actually they don’t know how best to support.” She added, “We’re really keen that this will extend into family and friends being able to report abusive behaviour because we can’t just rely on victims, and survivors sometimes are just so frightened to seek support that actually all of us need to take responsibility for this.” A woman who received assistance from the charity urged others to seek help. She advised, “It is hard but I’d say to anyone in this situation – reach out and make the phone call. There are people out there that can help you, and you can come out of it. It’s just about trusting the process. And knowing that it will be hard and it will be painful. But if you push yourself, you can get past the part that it hurts.” Represent Woman, a recently established organization for women in the area, highlighted regional challenges. Erin Parker Leonard, its Director for policy and advocacy, stated that women in northern England encounter “disproportionate issues” such as poverty and deprivation, necessitating a localized approach. She commented, “Women’s organisations are working tirelessly, but with higher demand. For example, Tyneside Women’s Health – they saw an increase of over 400% in women reporting domestic abuse between 2022 and 2024. So that’s astronomical. That’s what we need to remind the government. This is what is happening on the ground.” While regional academics acknowledge the mission, some argue for a reorientation of focus from victim support to perpetrator intervention. Professor Nicole Westmarland, director of the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse, asserted that achieving the government’s objective requires “a serious look at prevention.” She added, “And we’re a long way off that. We need, of course, to have the services that victims and survivors need in order to get that support and move on with their lives. But that in itself will not halve violence against women and girls.” For further updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.