Safe Place from Domestic Violence

BUSINESSES and organisations in the Down area are being encouraged to take part in a new initiative aimed at tackling Domestic Violence.

Attending the recent Safe Place awareness session at the Down Arts Centre were (Colette Stewart and Lindsay Harris (ONUS), Cllr Carmel O’Boyle, PCSP Chairperson, Sheila Simons (SEDVP), Deirdre Bones (Area Commander Down District PSNI), Patricia McMurray (SEDVP) and Vicki Kearney (Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid).

Local workplaces are being invited to display a “Safe Place” logo, as a sign that they have information on the premises that will signpost victims of Domestic Violence to where they can access help.

According to a recent Policing Board report, the PSNI respond to an incident of domestic abuse on average every 21 minutes of every day and research shows that at least one in four families are affected by Domestic Violence.

The  Safe Place initiative, developed by the social economy business ONUS, has been endorsed by senior PSNI officers and by the Justice Minister David Ford.

Employers and Staff who sign up to the Safe Place scheme don’t have to give advice or ask questions of staff themselves, just provide information about where victims can find support.

Sheila Simons, Chair of the South Eastern Domestic Violence Partnership wants to encourage people living, working and doing business in the Down area to be aware that support is available to all victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse.