Victims urged to report violence at home

POLICE hope to halt the heartbreak for domestic abuse victims after figures revealed more than 68,000 incidents across Greater Manchester last year.

In the run-up to Valentine’s Day on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police has launched an awareness week in an attempt to stop the violence.

Det Supt Phil Owen, of GMP’s Local Policing Improvement Branch, said: “Thirteen people have actually lost their lives as a result of domestic-related incidents in the last 12 months.

“As Valentine’s Day approaches, people are thinking about their relationship and so, we want to urge those suffering at the hands of abusive partners to report it now and get the help and support they need before it’s too late.”

A hard-hitting and emotive advertisement, highlighting the effect of domestic abuse on a female victim and her daughter, will be shown on TV and on the big screen in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.

Supt Owen added: “We want the advert to show that domestic abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances. Victims need to come forward to report it to us — not only for themselves but for the sake of their children.

“Victims will be supported from the initial report and throughout the whole process by trained and experienced specialist domestic abuse investigators, available across Greater Manchester.

“Furthermore, we can now act on information from family and friends and all evidence from the scene of an incident is fully recorded so that the prosecution does not rely solely on the victim’s evidence.”

To contact your local domestic abuse unit call the GMP switchboard on 0161 872 5050, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or 999 in an emergency.

Other organisations that can help include the Co-ordinator of the Women’s Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0161-636 7525.