Debbie’s bid to tackle domestic violence
Reporter: Robbie MacDonald
Date published: 29 November 2013
TEAMING up: MP Debbie Abrahams meets former rugby league star Ikram Butt, who is a White Ribbon ambassador
OLDHAM East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams is backing a campaign to tackle domestic violence.
New figures suggest there have been over 5,000 such incidents in Oldham in the last 12 months.
The Labour MP supported the United Nations-backed campaign White Ribbon Day on Monday, and has appeared at a public forum orgainsed by Greater Manchester Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.
According to his figures, there were 5,369 domestic abuse incidents in Oldham between October 2012 and September 2013. Over 1,800 of them occurred when a child was present.
Mrs Abrahams said: “Tackling violence and sexual exploitation is one of my top priorities. Each week two women die at the hands of current or former partners and three more commit suicide.
“Earlier this week I heard some horrendous examples of abuse in Greater Manchester.”
Mrs Abrahams also met Ikram Butt, the only Muslim to have represented England at Rugby League, who is a White Ribbon ambassador.
