A new campaign aiming to eradicate domestic violence has been started in Merseyside.
The campaign is working with survivors of domestic abuse, using their experiences to raise awareness of the red flags of domestic abuse, specifically coercive and controlling behaviour.
It is part of a wider push to educate people on the ‘red flags’ of domestic abuse, alongside offering a wider range of support for any victims of domestic abuse.
According to domestic violence charity The First Step, 61 women were killed in Merseyside between 2009 and 2024. According to the charity domestic abuse related killings accounted for 85% of all femicides in Merseyside, compared to 75% nationally.
Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Lamb, Head of Investigations PVP said: “As part of this phase it has been really crucial to use the voice of women and girls to help create and design this part of the campaign.
“Domestic abuse affects absolutely everyone regardless of their gender, ethnicity, social background, sexuality and there can be subtle differences and changes. Often seeing the first signs as romantic gestures and support by an abuser but often the abusers as we know will then take further power and control against those people they love.”
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said: “When I came into office five years ago, I made tackling violence against women a priority, this work has been ongoing. In conversations with victim-survivors [these are] some of the issues that they have said they really want us to be focusing on. They have helped to shape this campaign.
“We know that people may have historically not have always had a positive relationship with the police and we want to make sure that people know that steps have been taken to improve that police response to make sure that victims are getting the right response when they report things to make sure that perpetrators are being dealt with.
“So we want to reassure people that Merseyside police are taking the right steps. But we need women to come forward to make sure that we know what is going on in the community.
This is going to be an ongoing campaign.”
If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is, and there’s an emergency that’s ongoing or life is in danger, call 999 now.
