On a murky September morning in Oldham, a woman answered the door to find police standing there. They’d been called to a report of domestic violence, but the woman was afraid to make a formal complaint.
But unlike similar callouts police here respond to, this one was different. They weren’t acting alone, and were joined by a highly skilled expert, an independent domestic abuse advisor (IDVA).
Together, they were able to explain the criminal process to the woman, and provide her with the reassurance that she’d be supported if she were to make a formal allegation.
It was only then that the woman opened up, and revealed the horror of what she’d been living through, providing police with the statement they needed to arrest and charge her alleged offender.
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The callout was part of a targeted crackdown by GMP in Oldham, who teamed up with the IDVA, along with the Greater Manchester organisation, Talk Listen Change’ (TLC).
From Monday 11 September to Sunday 17 September, the force arrested 33 people on suspicion of domestic abuse related offences – including assault, stalking and harassment, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Police in the borough have made their response to domestic abuse a number one priority, due to what bosses describe as a ‘high percentage of calls’ compared to the rest of Greater Manchester.
Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson is leading the latest drive. He told the Manchester Evening News he and his officers are committed to building trust and confidence with the most vulnerable people who phone them for help.
“We know that domestic abuse is a cycle and so early engagement for us is absolutely critical,” he said. “We try to see the victims as soon as possible because it’s about speaking to them when it’s really fresh and when they’ve chosen to reach out for help.
“We don’t always get there quick enough which is something we’re trying to address but then it’s about keeping that victim engaged and informed with the process.
“Here in Oldham we have a list of top 10 perpetrators and top 10 victims within the district based on the number of callouts and we absolutely prioritise them because they are at risk of serious harm. Not just physical, but psychological too.”
The latest operation carried out by Supt Hutchinson’s team involved conducting warrants, acting on intelligence, and trying to encourage victims and survivors to tell their story.
During one callout to a woman who had made a report of domestic abuse, an officer and IDVA were able to obtain crucial evidence as part of their ongoing investigation.
“Due to the skill of that officer and IDVA, we managed to get some really good evidence from a victim who potentially wouldn’t have come forward without that support,” said Detective Insp Zad Latiff.
“We had a few cases where we were reacting to reports where a victim wasn’t engaging, but we managed to speak to the victim and gather evidence.
“It’s about being patient, listening and offering that support and reassurance about what we can do for the victim. The victim was clearly comfortable and provided us with a statement which led to a charge. It was all down to the right people being there with the victim.”
Talk Listen Change (TLC) are also playing a major part in the crackdown on domestic abuse in Oldham. The organisation has seen a 180 per cent increase in referrals since the start of 2021.
The majority of their work is carried out in schools, where they help identify potentially unhealthy behaviour, and address issues before they can escalate. During GMP’s week of action, they set up stalls in Spindles Shopping and Tesco, to educate locals about the vital work they do in the community.
“We want to make people aware of the kind of behaviours they don’t normally associate with domestic abuse,” said Joe Chlebik, Children and Young People’s Service Manager. “We’re talking about aggressive language, shouting, damage to property, coercive control.
“The cost-of-living crisis has meant families are really struggling. The coronavirus lockdowns also meant a lot of people were spending their formative years trapped indoors and not engaging with people, and that plays a big part in the referrals we see.
“There is a lot of stigma attached to admitting there is a behavioural problem in the family. We started this work in January 2021 and over that two-year period we’ve seen a 180 per cent increase in referrals which shows just how wide-spread the problem is. “
The organisation provides early-intervention work in schools, and also works with adult perpetrators in Oldham too.
“We believe adults have the ability to change too, it’s just about unpicking what are often long and deep-rooted beliefs and values,” said Hannah Taylor, Head of Services at TLC.
“Domestic abuse destroys lives. We know that victims can absolutely move on and build a new life and perpetrators can change but without the right support in place we can’t break the cycle.”
For Supt Hutchinson and the team, the mission is to leave local people with a positive experience of reporting crime – particularly when it comes to domestic violence.
“I still think domestic abuse is widely under-reported, particularly in certain sections of the community,” he said. “Any positive impact we have on a victim of crime; they are likely to tell people.
“That can then empower people to seek help. If we can take one offender off the streets then that’s good news for me.
“We try to do things where we get victims to come in and talk to officers. We might think we are doing a good job but thankfully, none of my officers are the victims of domestic abuse, so it’s always important to hear from someone who has been through it.
“If any learning or training comes out it gets passed straight to officers. Could we do more? Probably. But we try to do our level best to keep everyone skilled up.”
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