Domestic violence is no joke - but Silent Solutions can help
April 7, 2020
As people must self-isolate from their places of work and leisure, this places the home as a place of relative safety for most during the coronavirus pandemic.
For some people trapped in intimate relationships with people who use violence, abuse and coercive control, home is not a safe place to be, so the prospect of large parts of the population confined to prevent the spread of the coronavirus opens the potential for increased incidents of domestic violence.
Of course, COVID-19 cannot cause domestic violence, just as alcohol, drugs, unemployment etc. do not cause it. However, a heightened state of anxiety and stress – including medical anxiety and the stress many of us will feel around being in such close proximity for such extended periods of time with our families – is likely to make this a more dangerous time for women and children.
No one should suffer in silence and the police ‘Silent Solutions’ system allows those who are unable to speak i.e. affected by domestic violence, abuse or stalking to get help.
Silent Solutions works by transferring your call to the police after you dial 999, ask for the police or the BT call operator is concerned. After the automated police message you can press 55, to transfer your call to the police call management system and away from BT.
If you are phoning from a mobile, they cannot trace your location but the police will ask you questions that require a simple yes or no answer. Calls from landlines do allow your location to be traced. The police will make a decision to respond based on the information and sounds they hear.
We would also ask our residents to check in regularly with anyone they are personally worried about by phone, text or WhatsApp. If making a phone call to a suspected domestic violence victim or survivor, always assume that the perpetrator could be listening in. The same goes for instant messaging services- use code words and emoji’s that are only meaningful to you.
Women's Aid has made provisions in order to continue its key frontline work. Women’s Aid has major contingency plans put in place by all its local groups in a bid to continue to support women and children using multi communication formats where face-to-face contact may be a current health and safety risk. Please contact your closest local Women’s Aid groups to get more info on these diversified services.
If you need help, please contact them by email to admin@belfastwomensaid.org.uk or phone 028 9066 6049.
Men’s Advisory Project in Belfast can support male victims of domestic violence, please contact them by phoning 028 9024 1929 or emailing info@mapni.co.uk
The Northern Ireland Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline is available 24/7 please call 0808 802 1414
ALWAYS PHONE 999 IF YOU ARE IN DANGER.
You can also contact the Domestic Violence Liaison Officer based at Lisburn PSNI Station by telephoning 101.
#MakeYourselfHeard #SilentSolution #DontSufferInSilence #DomesticAbuse #ChildAbuse #Stalking