by On a September morning in Oldham, a woman answered the door to find police standing there. They were called to a report of domestic violence, but the woman was afraid to make a formal complaint.
But unlike similar calls the police respond to here, this one was different. They were not acting alone, and were joined by a highly trained expert, an independent domestic abuse counselor (IDVA).
Together, they were able to explain the criminal process to the woman, and reassure her that she would be supported if she made a formal allegation.
It was then that the woman opened up, and revealed the horror she was living through, giving the police the statement they needed to arrest and charge her alleged offender.
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The call was part of a targeted crackdown by GMP in Oldham, which 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 offenses – including assault, stalking and harassment, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Police in the borough have prioritized their response to domestic abuse, due to what bosses describe as a ‘high percentage of calls’ compared to the rest of Greater Manchester.
Superintendent Phil Hutchinson is leading the latest drive. He said to the Manchester Evening News he and his officers are committed to building trust and confidence with the most vulnerable people who call on them for help.
“We know that domestic abuse is a cycle so early involvement is really important to us,” he said. “We try to see the victims as soon as possible because it’s about talking to them when it’s really fresh and when they choose to reach out for help.
“We don’t always get there fast enough, which is something we’re trying to address but then it’s about keeping that victim engaged and informed about the process.
“Here in Oldham we have a list of the top 10 victims and the top 10 victims in the area based on the number of calls out and we give them absolute priority because they are at risk of serious harm. Not just physically, but psychologically too.”
The latest operation by Supt Hutchinson’s team involved conducting warrants, acting on information, and trying to encourage victims and survivors to tell their stories.
During one call out to a woman who reported domestic abuse, an officer and IDVA were able to obtain vital evidence as part of their ongoing investigation.
“Because of the skill of that officer and the IDVA, we were able to get very good evidence from a victim who might not have come forward without that support,” said Detective Insp Zad Latiff.
“We had a few cases where we were responding to reports that did not involve a victim, but we were able 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 that the victim was charged.”
Talk Listen Change (TLC) also plays a major role in cracking down on domestic abuse in Oldham. Referrals from the organization have increased by 180 percent since the beginning of 2021.
Most of their work is done in schools, where they help identify potentially unhealthy behaviour, and address issues before they escalate. During GMP’s week of action, they set up stalls in Spindles Shopping and Tesco, to inform local people about the vital work they do in the community.
“We want to make people aware of the type of behavior that is not usually associated with domestic abuse,” said Joe Chlebik, Children and Youth Services Manager. “We’re talking about offensive language, shouting, damage to property, coercive control.
“The crisis means the cost of living for families is really struggling. The coronavirus lockdowns also meant that many people were spending their formative years stuck indoors and not interacting with people, and that has a lot to do with the transmissions we see.
“There is a lot of stigma associated with admitting that there is a behavioral problem in the family. We started this work in January 2021 and over that two year period we have seen a 180 per cent increase in referrals, which shows how wide and they are. spread that is the problem.”
The organization provides early intervention work in schools, and also works with adult offenders in Oldham.
“We believe that adults also have the capacity to change, it’s just a matter of unpacking long and deep-rooted beliefs and values,” said Hannah Taylor, Head of Services at TLC.
“Domestic abuse destroys people. We know that victims can fully move on and build new lives and perpetrators can change but without the right support we can’t break the cycle. “
For Superintendent Hutchinson and staff, the mission is to leave local people with a positive experience in reporting crime – especially when it comes to domestic violence.
“I still think that domestic abuse is underreported, especially in certain parts of the community,” he said. “Any positive impact we have on the victim of crime; they will probably tell people.
“That can empower people to then seek help. If we can get one offender off the streets that’s good news for me.
“We try to do things when we get victims to come in and talk to officers. We might think we are doing a good job but, thank God, none of my officers are victims of a month -family use, so it’s always important to hear from someone who has been through it.
“If there’s any learning or training that comes out it’s passed on directly to officers. Could we do more? Probably. But we try to do our best to keep everyone trained.”
