CORONAVIRUS: Help available for victims of domestic abuse

However, if you are worried that someone you know may be a victim of domestic abuse, be reassured that help is available.

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free to call 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247, while guidance and support for potential victims, as well as those who are worried about friends and loved ones, is available via its website at: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-umz_Zvt6AIVWuR3Ch0tPwzCEAAYASAAEgJQZvD_BwE.

A form is also available through which a safe time for a call from the team can be booked.

Locally, a range of help is available by contacting Harbour Support Services on (01429) 270110.

Anyone who feels they are in immediate danger should call 999 and ask for the police.

Calling from a landline and unable to speak?

If only background noise can be heard and BT operators cannot decide whether an emergency service is needed, a caller will be connected to a police call handler. The caller should try to cough or tap the receiver so that the BT operator knows they are there and needs assistance. The police call handler will issue some simple instructions to establish what help is needed. When 999 calls are made from landlines, information about a caller’s location should be automatically available to the call handlers to help provide a response.

Calling from a mobile and unable to speak?

If making a sound puts a caller in danger and the BT operator cannot decide whether an emergency service is needed, the call will be transferred to the Silent Solution system. This is a police system used to filter out large numbers of accidental or hoax 999 calls. It also exists to help people who are unable to speak but who genuinely need police assistance. The caller will hear an automated police message which lasts for 20 seconds and begins with “you are through to the police”. It will ask the caller to press 55 to be put through to police call management. The BT operator will remain on the line and listen. If the caller presses 55 they will be notified and transfer the call to the police. If 55 is not pressed the call will be terminated. Pressing 55 does not allow the police to track the caller’s location.

When transferred to the police, the call handler will attempt to communicate by asking simple yes or no questions. If a caller is not able to speak, they should listen carefully to the questions and instructions from the call handler so that the call can be assessed and help arranged if necessary.