Domestic Abuse webchats help Cheshire residents

Reports of domestic abuse increased over lockdown and during the pandemic, and for those who were living in fear it could often feel like any avenues of help were closed.

Cheshire Constabulary launched their live Domestic Abuse Q&A webchats in May 2020, in which members of the Constabulary, victim services and other victim support organisations come together to help people overcome their experiences.

John Dwyer, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said: “Nobody should have to live in fear, and tackling domestic abuse and helping survivors to rebuild their lives is something we take seriously here in Cheshire. The regular domestic abuse chats provide an outlet for anyone who has any questions to find out all they need to know anonymously.

“Protecting and delivering justice for victims in Cheshire is one of my top priorities. I believe that these Q&A webchats are a key part of achieving that, and the Constabulary will continue to help many more people through their experiences as a result.”

The online webchats are part of the ‘Open the Door’ campaign, encouraging people to start a conversation about domestic abuse, and break the taboo that leads to victims remaining silent.

Questions asked by the public are anonymised and answered by a Police Officer who specialises in domestic abuse and representatives from Cheshire CARES, who provide support for survivors of domestic abuse, alongside representatives from the local authority and other organisations who have the common aim of helping survivors.

The next Domestic Abuse webchat takes place on Thursday 9 September at 2pm-3pm. To find out more information visit Cheshire Police’s Facebook events page:

(1) LIVE Domestic Abuse question and answer session | Facebook