Devon Domestic Awareness Week
Carr-Gomm’s Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service (PDAS) joins a week-long campaign (23-27 November) to raise awareness of domestic abuse in the city. Volunteers from the Plymouth Domestic Abuse Partnership will be staffing an information stand in Drake Circus shopping centre offering advice and information to anyone whose life is affected by abuse.
Last year’s stand attracted more than 1,000 visitors during the week including a woman fleeing abuse who was moved into the city’s refuge.
Jason Preece, Local Services Manager for PDAS said: “We hope to give local residents a chance to learn more about how recognise forms of domestic abuse, as well as, find out where to go for support if they need it. Asking for help takes courage but whether you are seeking help for yourself or on behalf of a friend or relative, staff will be available all week to provide information and advice.”
Following last year’s successful campaign encouraging more victims to break their silence and seek help there has been a 13 per cent rise in reports of domestic abuse in Plymouth.
Last year an average of 464 domestic abuse incidents were reported to Plymouth police every month. In the first nine months of this year the average has been 525 per month.
The city’s Domestic Abuse Manager Morris Watts said: “We see this rise as something very positive as domestic abuse has always been a taboo subject and it’s a crime which has been massively under reported in the past.
"We believe the rise in reports reflects an increase in the confidence of victims to come forward rather than an actual increase in the level of abuse which is known to affect one in four women and one in eight men at some point in their lives."
A series of events have been organised during the week including:
24th November: members of the public will be able to take a judge’s eye view of the perpetrators of domestic abuse.
The local Criminal Justice Board will be hosting a “You Be the Judge” event at Plymouth Guildhall between 3pm and 5pm. Visitors will get an insight into the work of the specialist domestic violence courts and they will be able to decide the sentence for offenders using electronic voting handsets.
25th November: A thought-provoking display of women's shoes and children's teddies will be used to highlight the horrors of domestic abuse.
The hard-hitting message will be made on Wednesday afternoon by members of SEEDS (Survivors Empowering and Educating Domestic Abuse Services) on steps inside Drake Circus shopping centre. 104 pairs of shoes will be used to illustrate the number of women murdered by violent partners and ex-partners each year under the title of ‘Never worn again, but never forgotten’.
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