We attended the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Conference
On the 7th November in Welwyn Garden City, Trustees – Alison, Shona and Janet – attended the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Conference (Through a Mother’s Eyes) run in conjunction with WGC Domestic Abuse Forum and StADC Community Safety Team.
Herts Police played a large part in the presentations:
- Highlighting the work of Operation Oak which provides guidance to domestic abuse victims whether they choose to press charges or not;
- Explaining the importance of and the process to follow when making a request under Clare’s Law. Clare’s Law allows any partner to make an enquiry into any file the police may hold on a current or potential long term partner;
- Taking numerous questions in relation to stalking.
Emotional presentations were made by:
- a representative from ‘Staying Mum – AVA Report’ on how her children and her life were impacted when a manipulative husband persuaded authorities to remove her children to care. The AVA Report raises awareness of abusive relationship impacts;
- a mum who spoke of her daughter’s murder by a repeat offender stalker.
Lastly, a presentation by Dr. Pam Lowe focused on how her research was helping improve screening tools for health professionals in identifying victims of Reproductive Control/Coercion Abuse. Her research highlights that forced pregnancy promotion could be more common than pregnancy prevention, whether this be due to cultural, family, gangs or modern slavery influences.
While some of the stories were hard to listen to, it was a very worthwhile conference focusing on the support available to local families through the increased awareness being bravely presented by survivors as well as the additional resources now being utilised by Herts Police.
Some of the organisations attending the conference are signposted on the HCCC website.