Love shouldn't hurt

Police in Rochdale and the council are sending their own message to victims of domestic abuse this Valentine’s Day – Love shouldn’t hurt!

As part of the borough’s new Hands Off! Campaign against domestic abuse, special Valentine’s cards will be handed to town centre visitors across Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and the Pennines.

Statistics show that last year, there were around 627 domestic abuse incidents across Greater Manchester over the Valentine’s Day weekend, with 216 reported on the actual day.

Inspector Meriel Buglass for the Public Protection Investigation Unit at Rochdale Division said: “We are committed to supporting victims and challenging offenders to ensure that the abuse stops. To do this we are working very closely with the Domestic Violence Forum and other agencies to ensure that an all round service is provided.

“The team has been using extra resources to patrol the Division with members of the Domestic Violence Forum which includes a special car that can be sent out to incidents as they are reported. This ensures that when a domestic abuse incident is called in to police we not only stop the offender but also offer immediate, practical and emotional support to the victim and family.”

The cards promote the numbers that should be dialed if you are a victim or think that someone is being made a victim of abuse. It includes the helpline for Rochdale’s Domestic Violence Forum which supports victims of domestic abuse that prefer to speak to someone other than the police about an incident.

Rochdale’s Interagency Domestic Violence Forum is a registered charity that provides independent, confidential advice and support; help you to identify your options and make contact with other sources of help on your behalf if you wish them to.

Susannah Boubaker, Domestic Violence Interagency co-ordinator said: “The aim of the ‘Hands Off!’ campaign sends a clear message to abusers, that violence will not be tolerated, it empowers victims to report offences and offers them vital reassurance that agencies across the borough are committed to tackling this violent crime. It’s part of our multi-agency commitment to reduce the impact of domestic violence within our communities.

“Our valentine’s cards reinforce the distressing dilemma of being hurt often by people we love the most. While we want to wish everyone a happy Valentine’s Day, we also want to make people aware of the prevalence of this type of crime in the borough. But we hope to reassure victims and families that agencies in Rochdale are taking action against abuse.”

One in four women is suspected of suffering domestic violence. Domestic abuse can happen in all kinds of relationships and for any reason, regardless of age, sex, race, sexuality, disability, wealth, geography and lifestyle.

Inspector Buglass added: “Our domestic abuse investigators are trained and experienced at giving advice on all kinds of abuse. They are also there to provide support from the initial report throughout the investigation and during court proceedings.

“Furthermore, we can now act on information from family and friends and all evidence from the scene of an incident is fully recorded so that the prosecution does not rely solely on the victim’s evidence.”

Councillor Ted Flynn, cabinet member for community safety at Rochdale Borough Council added: “Domestic abuse is a serious issue and it is really important to end it. The Hands Off! campaign sends out the message that there is something we can all do to help – which is to admit domestic violence is a problem, call it by its name and speak out about its impact.”

To contact your local domestic abuse unit call the GMP switchboard on 0161 872 5050. In an emergency where there is an immediate threat to life or property, always call 999.

You can contact the Domestic Violence Forum on 01706 718923 or visit:

• www.riadf.org