Domestic Abuse Alarms

CARMARTHENSHIRE Domestic Abuse Forum has bought new alarms to help victims protect themselves – thanks to support from the Community Safety Partnership.

The Forum now has 40 alarms, 15 of them GIS mobile alarms and the remaining 25 are Lifeline 400 alarms fitted in the home. The £2,000 funding for additional alarms and monitoring costs for all the alarms was provided by the CSP.

County Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator Sam Jones of the Carmarthenshire Domestic Abuse Forum said: “We are very grateful for this support. The CSP every year has given us funding towards projects. Having been in post for 10 years, the support received by CSP saves lives.

“If an abused woman stays in her own home or goes to a refuge she still feels vulnerable. We carry out a Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment RISK Assessment (DASH). If she’s very high risk her case goes to a multi-agency meeting (MARAC) to look at what resources she needs. Does she need an alarm or personal alarm, to change the locks?

“The alarms are loaned to the victim for a period of time and both types are fitted in the house. The GIS alarms can be used upstairs and in the garden. They are silent and a message comes up on the Careline screen to dial 999 as domestic abuse is occurring.”

The assessment also considered whether the victim needed an independent domestic violence advisor (IDVA) to go to court and whether to get the police involved, she added.

She said the range of services available for victims of domestic abuse in Carmarthenshire has been assisted by the CSP. A minimum of 500 people a year were helped, 98 per cent of them women.

“The Community Safety Partnership has been extremely supportive,” she added.

Executive board member for Community Safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Tackling domestic abuse remains a priority for the CSP and we are developing a policy for our staff to raise awareness of the problem of both domestic abuse and sexual violence, and the services available which offer help and support. One in four women experiences domestic abuse.

“I’m delighted that the CSP has been able to offer this support for a vital service for victims of domestic abuse. These alarms will make such a difference for those facing this threat.”

CDAF, Amman Valley Women’s Aid, and Llanelli Women’s Aid now has three 1 Stop shops in the County, in Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli town centres.

Victims of domestic abuse can contact the Welsh Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 8010800 or Carmarthenshire Domestic Abuse Forum on 01267 222009 or 01269 598120.

www.1stopcarms.org.uk Facebook page Carmarthenshire Domestic Abuse Forum.