Police say what to expect when you call 999 for domestic abuse

‘Silent Solution’ was set up to let call handlers know that there is a genuine emergency without having to make any sound at all.

Detective Rebecca Mears, the Thames Valley Police head of public protection, has also explained other methods the police are using to crackdown on an expected rise of domestic violence – which has not yet surfaced.

Strict lockdown rules mean that people can only leave their homes under a list of very restricted purposes like going shopping or getting to work.

Superintendent Mears said this can ‘increase tension’ and leave victims with no escape.

She explained: “The four walls of the home should be safe, but this is not the case for victims.

“Domestic abuse can be all sorts of things from physiological abuse, coercive control – which is belittling people, financial control so they have no assets and no money, social control and then the more recognised sexual and physical violence.”

She said that Oxfordshire was no different from any of the neighbouring counties in Thames Valley when it comes to domestic violence – with a similar volume of calls being recorded in the area, and no increase since the lockdown began.

She said: “I can confirm that the generic misconceptions of domestic abuse are wrong – it can happen in any circumstance. It doesn’t matter about education, sexuality, race and it can happen across all different groups.

MORE:

• Police are expecting a rise in calls about domestic abuse
• More than 6,000 calls to TVP about domestic violence
• Services still open in Oxfordshire for victims

“There are some differences of how they report or don’t report and what stage they report to police, but it can affect us all.”

She explained what happens moments after a victim calls the police.

She said: “First of all we will calm them down, potentially they are hurt. If have children, we need to make sure they are okay. We try to get a statement, photographs of anything that is damaged.”

Domestic violence convictions are ‘evidence-led’, she explained, most evidence made up of statements from victims, neighbours and photographs that anything that could allude to a crime happening.

Usually a non-molestation order, which is similar to a restraining order, will be obtained from Magistrates’ Court – this can happen within a day.

She added: “On occasion we will prosecute without support from the victim.”

She said: “When somebody calls the police we will always endeavour to make an arrest. The priority is safeguarding them so they are given a space to talk us, we seize evidence, take photographs, get all the forensics together and speak to as many witnesses as possible. CCTV as well – albeit there usually isn’t CCTV in homes when this is happening. We will then get together and present the case to CPS who will decide.”

Neighbours should use their ‘personal judgement’ when there are threats of violence this is when a crime has been committed.

In an emergency call 999.

Non-urgent crimes can be reported on 101 or online.