Wiltshire support for victims of abuse (From This Is Wiltshire)

Wiltshire support for victims of abuse

10:51am Thursday 26th November 2009

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People in Wiltshire are this week being urged to wear white ribbons in support of the victims of domestic abuse.

The national Domestic Abuse Awareness Week runs until Friday and Wiltshire Council and its partner agencies are running a number of events to highlight it.

Between April 2008 and March 2009, 6,233 domestic abuse incidents were reported to Wiltshire Police. Nationally, domestic abuse accounts for 25 per cent of all violent crime reported to police.

Yesterday, Wednesday, was white ribbon day. Many people wore white ribbons on their lapels and today council officers will carry white balloons on an awareness walk through Trowbridge.

On Friday the sixth annual Wiltshire and Swindon domestic abuse conference takes place at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon.

Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police this week launch a new scheme to provide domestic abuse alarms for high-risk victims.

Pippa McVeigh, Wiltshire Council’s head of crime reduction, said: “Reducing the prevalence of domestic abuse and supporting victims and their families is a priority for Wiltshire Council.

“We have already made huge progress and look forward to this week adding even more impetus to this area of work.”

Supt Paul Williams, chairman of the Wiltshire Domestic Abuse Reduction Group, said: “Working in partnership is absolutely crucial in tackling domestic abuse.”

For help and advice on domestic abuse issues the national 24-hour helpline is 0808 200 0247. For men the number is 0808 801 0327.

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