The year of 2020 has been a year unlike any other.
It has been tough for everyone as we have had to adapt and work through what has been the most difficult of years for us all. I feel privileged to have worked within the domestic violence unit where I have been posted since May 2020 as a police officer in The Beacon Safeguarding Hub at Hertfordshire Constabulary. I was creating a new role within the police, with a new team and my objective was to ensure that the most vulnerable victims of domestic abuse were better supported.
The Beacon Safeguarding Hub could not have started at a more crucial time, at a time where victims have never felt so isolated and in some cases forced to isolate with their perpetrators. The Beacon Safeguarding Hub commenced on 4 May 2020. This team, based within the domestic violence unit, focuses on safeguarding the most vulnerable victims of domestic abuse. My team of staff behind me, all of whom are dedicated, passionate and kind are there to support each victim of domestic abuse.
I am proud of each member of my staff, that contacts on average between five to 15 victims a day. It’s heavy work, my team are passionate, they care, all have a victim care backgrounds and I could not have a better team there to support the victims of Hertfordshire. When first starting, I was aware that we, as the police, needed to bridge a gap and better support victims of domestic abuse. We have learnt and gained experience every step of the way. Since the start of The Beacon Safeguarding Hub my team have reviewed 1,959 domestic abuse investigations, contacting and signposting victims onwards for ongoing support. 762 referrals have been made to outside agencies which means that the victims have received specialist support from an outside partner agency.
The Beacon Safeguarding Hub triage each victim and complete a needs assessment and refer them onwards if needed to receive ongoing support. The hub are heavily involved with the investigation team and are there to support them as we work together to bring the most dangerous of offenders to justice. I am robust in my approach; however, I do appreciate, and am very much aware that the voice of the victim is what matters. The police are there to help, not make matters worse. I do not want victims to fear the police. I appreciate that this is difficult for victims to comprehend as I understand that it is a scary, daunting process and it can be uncertain. I understand that there is a reluctance out there for victims to come forward. I want victims to know that they can contact the police and we are there to help them at their most vulnerable time in their life.
We deal with a wide range of cases with the aim of supporting and empowering victims after direct contact with The Beacon Safeguarding Hub.
A victim of domestic abuse had fled her home county with her young children and arrived in Hertfordshire. The victim was petrified. She had no money, food or support and had fled from her husband who had been controlling every aspect of her life. She had reported to police that she was the victim of assaults and coercive and controlling behaviour. The investigation was open with a different police force, where she had fled from, however it was apparent that the victim, due to fear did not wish to prosecute her husband and provide a statement to the police. My team contacted her. The victim had been through an ordeal and did not know where to turn. As a result, a member of my staff delivered her some food parcels so that she was able to feed her children whilst she gathered her thoughts and stayed in temporary accommodation. It was apparent that the victim wanted to be able return home, without living in fear, and be able to bring up her children in the environment that they knew and loved. The Beacon Safeguarding Hub were able to signpost the victim, who sought legal advice and she was successful in obtaining a non-molestation and occupation order meaning that the victim could return home with her children and live her life without fear. The victim, also changed her mind and decided that now, feeling stronger was able to provide a statement to police which was crucial in taking the investigation forward. This was facilitated by my team and arrangements were made and sent to the investigating force to take forward. My team also ensured that on her return home that safeguarding was handed over to the police force in which she lived and that extra security measures were put in place at her home address following her return. The victim later contacted my team to thank them for their help and described feeling ‘on top of the world’ after the support that she had received.
Another case of domestic abuse involves an elderly married couple who have grown old together. Unfortunately, the husband was diagnosed with dementia which caused a change in his behaviour, resulting in his wife being the victim of several domestic related assaults. The victim did not know where to turn to for help. As you can imagine, prosecuting an elderly man who is suffering with dementia resulting in him hitting his wife was not an avenue anyone wished to explore, however clearly there is a safeguarding concern leaving the victim living in this situation. As a result of my team’s actions, we were able to work with partner agencies resulting in the man being sectioned and receiving the medical attention that he so desperately needed. The victim was grateful for the much-needed intervention. The victim continues to recover from her emotional roller-coaster and was signposted to an outside agency for on-going emotional support.
As you can see from what is described, we as a team are victim focussed, compassionate and care about each and every contact that we make. We want the victims of abuse to know that there is support out there and the police are there to support you. The relationship between domestic abuse partner agencies has never been so strong and together we have done invaluable work. My team have worked alongside various agencies, including and not limited to Catch-22, our counterpart who provide emotional and practical support for victims of domestic abuse, Safer Places, IDVA, refuge, and social services. Whatever the need of the victim, however large or small, there is an agency available to best support your needs. We must continue to work together to be there for the victims of Hertfordshire at their most vulnerable time. Domestic abuse is everyone’s business and we will continue to work together to fight it.
Services in Hertfordshire are continuing to support people affected domestic abuse, despite the current lockdown and social distancing measures.
You can contact the Herts Independent Domestic Abuse Advocacy Service on 0300 790 6772 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) who will signpost you to the services you might need.
You can also contact the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline on 08 088 088 088 (Monday – Friday, 9am to 9pm, Saturday – Sunday, 9am to 4pm & Kim@mailpurple.org) for a confidential and anonymous listening and signposting service. This is a safe space to talk about what is happening and possible next steps.
Out of these hours, contact police on 101. If it is an emergency and you, a family member or someone you know is in danger, always call 999 immediately.
If you are in danger but are afraid to speak, call 999 from a mobile phone, then press 5, 5 to alert police.