Family Solicitors

The Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation Karen Bradley has visited Essex to talk to staff and volunteers at Harlow’s Citizens Advice about their campaign to encourage both victims and witnesses in domestic violence cases to talk about the crime.

The Harlow branch of Citizens Advice is taking part in the national Citizens Advice Talk About Abuse campaign, launched in Autumn 2015. The Minister heard about the progress that has been made since the campaign was launched.

Talk About Abuse is targeted at bystanders of domestic abuse and helps them to spot the signs, respond appropriately and give support to victims.

Friends and family members are often best placed to intervene in abusive relationships, says Citizens Advice – and the service has produced guidance on how friends and family can help victims practically and safely.

Citizens Advice Harlow is also encouraging victims of domestic abuse to talk about their experiences.

Staff and volunteers are trained to identify instances of domestic abuse during face-to-face chats when people seek the service’s help, often for issues that are not directly connected to the abusive situation they might face.

The service says it offers domestic abuse victims a safe place to discuss the abuse and to get referred to specialist support.

Karen Bradley said:

“While we are encouraged that more and more victims are reporting domestic abuse to the police, too many are still suffering in silence.

“I was really encouraged to hear that Citizen Advice’s work in Harlow is helping to give victims the confidence to report these terrible crimes, so they can get the support they need.

“It is vital that we all work together to tackle domestic abuse – this includes government, the police, local authorities and specialist services.”

Chief executive of Citizens Advice, Gillian Guy, said:

“Many victims of domestic abuse are suffering behind closed doors.

“Through our Talk About Abuse campaign, we are helping friends and family to spot the signs of abuse and encourage victims to contact specialist services.

“More people are now reporting abuse including, a 24% increase in the people Citizens Advice has helped.

“The government has taken some important steps to tackle hidden forms of abuse, like controlling behaviour – and we hope that their support for our campaign ensures more people can get the right help.”

AJ Sanger from Harlow Citizens Advice added:

“It was a really good opportunity to welcome the Minister to Harlow Citizens Advice to show her the important work we do to help victims of domestic abuse.

“Sometimes people struggling with money, benefits and other problems also live in abusive relationships – and local Citizens Advice like ours in Harlow can play a really important role helping those people to get specialist support.”

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis domestic violence solicitors can advise victims of domestic violence on how to tackle the issue within the law.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our domestic violence solicitors can advise on domestic abuse between spouses, same sex partners, domestic abuse against the elderly, child-parent domestic abuse –
and can also advise on domestic violence in platonic relationships, such between flatmates or friends.

Duncan Lewis advises on domestic violence under UK law and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on domestic abuse, call Duncan Lewis domestic violence solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For 24-hour help with domestic abuse, call the Duncan Lewis 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.