BBC presenter backs anti domestic abuse campaign

THE BBC?s Nick Ross has given his backing to Oxfordshire’s ?Reducing the Risk Campaign’ which aims to increase the reporting of domestic abuse across the county.
Nick opened an event at the Unipart Conference Centre, in Cowley, today (25/11) where two domestic abuse survivors and speakers from a variety of organisation across the county, talked about the work taking place to tackle domestic abuse and to support victims.

The event coincided with ?White Ribbon Day?, the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

The aims of the four month campaign are to increase early reporting of domestic abuse and reduce repeat victimisation by asking the following:

? People experiencing domestic abuse ? Ask for
a way forward
? Family and Friends ? Ask the question
? Children ? Ask for help
? Young people ? Ask ?Is this love??

A new helpline has been launched which will be staffed by the Oxfordshire domestic abuse service, who will be on the end of the phone to help people suffering from domestic abuse and available to family or friends who think someone close to them is experiencing domestic abuse.

Advisers will offer support and advice and provide information about the services and the help available. A new website has also been launched with information and links to relevant agencies and organisations: LINK
or URL am I abused.com.

Leaflets, cards and the new gender neutral poster are being distributed throughout the county, and a bus advertising campaign promoting the new helpline and website will commence at the beginning of December.

Spearheading the campaign is the multi-agency Oxfordshire Domestic Violence Steering Group (ODVSG), with representatives from the county, city, and district councils, the police, primary care trusts, social and health care and voluntary organisations including Victim Support.

Romy Briant, Chair of ODVSG, said: ?Typically someone experiencing domestic abuse may go to as many as ten agencies before they get the help they needs. With Champions in the police, city and district councils, housing and health services, and voluntary agencies, survivors need only tell their story once to get that help.
“ODVSG are also working in partnership with FOX FM, where we will be running 20 second commercials through out the campaign. We will be leading people to make links to Fox Fm and am I abused.com (URL to our reducing the risk) website, there will be clear messages around abuse throughout the course of the campaign.”

Thames Valley Police Acting Assistant Chief Constable, George Wilson, said: ?Domestic abuse is one of the most unacceptable crimes in society. We are determined to play our part in seeking to change the attitude of offenders. At the same time we are taking a zero tolerance approach to those offenders and are working hard to bring them to justice. We now have a strict arrest policy that means more offenders are being brought into the criminal justice system and we have domestic abuse units where staff are specifically trained to deal with domestic abuse cases.
?Specialist domestic abuse courts have now been introduced in Oxfordshire and are starting to produce some positive results. In any domestic abuse case the best outcome has to be one that ensures the safety of the survivor and brings the offender to justice.
“By working in partnership and using specially trained people who understand the issues and complexities of a domestic abuse case we can offer survivors the extra support they need to help them through the court process. We hope the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts and the Independent Domestic Advisory Service will give survivors more confidence in the law and provide a service based on listening to them and what they want.
?We also recognise many people experiencing domestic abuse are reluctant to report offences to the police. These people still need help and this is why I am pleased to be backing the ?Reducing the Risk? campaign which will promote other ways of seeking that help and support from our partner agencies.?

The new helpline number is: 0800 731 0055