Domestic abuse

[19th March 2008]

People across West Yorkshire who suspect a relative, friend, neighbour or work colleague is suffering domestic abuse, are being encouraged to pass the information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

West Yorkshire Police has joined forces with Crimestoppers to launch a new campaign aimed at identifying and helping more victims of domestic violence.

Detective Inspector Marianne Huison, Force Strategic Coordinator for Domestic Violence, Forced Marriage and Harassment, said: “While the profile of domestic abuse has been raised significantly in recent years, it is a crime which is still vastly underreported. Reviews of domestic homicides highlight time after time that friends, relatives, work colleagues and neighbours of the victim were often aware of a history of domestic abuse but did not notify the authorities who could have intervened at an early stage.

“We hope that by giving people the opportunity to report their concerns anonymously and in confidence using the Crimestoppers number, we will increase the number of third-party reports we receive and therefore be able to identify and help more victims at the earliest possible stage.

“We are asking people to think deeply about their responsibility to others. Do you turn the television up to block out the noise of what you know is going on next door? Do you see someone at work or picking the kids up from school who always seems to have unexplained injuries? Your call could be vital in helping the police and partner agencies to give that person the support they need to get out of an abusive relationship and, in the extreme cases, you could be saving their life.

“We understand that previously people may have been reluctant to contact the police because they didn't want to get involved or they fear reprisals. But now people have the anonymity and security of Crimestoppers. We want people to be reassured that while our main priority will be to help the victim, we will make sure we protect the identity of the person giving information and we will investigate in a way that does not compromise them in any way.”

Detective Sergeant Gary Howarth, of Yorkshire and Humber Crimestoppers, said: “If this initiative can help to save just one person from domestic abuse then it will have be worthwhile. The Crimestoppers system has been hugely successful in gaining information about crime over the years, and we now hope that people will use it to report their concerns about victims of domestic abuse. People can pass on their information in confidence and remain completely anonymous. Crimestoppers never tapes or traces calls and they don't ask callers for any personal details. All they want is the information that they can then pass on to specialist officers to deal with appropriately.”

An advertising campaign promoting the new initiative is running on local radio over the next two weeks and leaflets and posters are being distributed across the county to raise awareness. The groundbreaking initiative, which is launched during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month this month, follows pilot schemes by the Nottinghamshire and West Mercia forces.

Crimestoppers is an independent charity and not part of the police. If you wish to pass on information about crime anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or fill out our anonymous online Giving Information Form.