Norfolk PCC pledges continued support for domestic abuse survivors and victims

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green is backing a countywide initiative aimed at tacking domestic abuse.

The White Ribbon Campaign was officially launched at the Nest in Norwich yesterday (Monday 11 November) by Leeway Domestic Violence and attended by the PCC, the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Lady Agnew as well as the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Norwich, Vaughan Thomas and Marian Prinsley.

The aim of the event is to once again encourage businesses and venues across the city to display colourful wooden ‘White Ribbons’ decorated by local artists, members of the community, school children, local arts and crafts groups as well as domestic abuse survivors.

The PCC is particularly keen to lend his support to the campaign as his office commissions a number of services for victims and survivors of domestic abuse in Norfolk.

PCC Lorne Green, who has decorated his white ribbon with the words 'Thou shall not be a victim. Thou shall not be a perpetrator. Thou shall not be a bystander', said: "It was a true pleasure to attend the launch of such an important initiative in our county.

“My office has invested in a number of projects and organisations, including Leeway, in a bid to support those whose lives have been blighted by domestic abuse in all its guises.

“We must do all we can to continue to give a voice to the women and men in our county who have been or continue to be affected by this crime.

“Every survivor of domestic abuse in Norfolk should be able to get the support they need-first to be safe, then to recover.

”Together we can work to make a real difference.”

Projects which have been commissioned by the PCC’s office in a bid to help those affected by domestic abuse include:

An Independent Domestic Abuse Advocacy Service for Norfolk – provided by Leeway Domestic Abuse – the service provides support for the highest risk victims.
Funding of the Pandora Project to provide support for victims and survivors at standard or medium risk in the west of the county.
Specialist domestic abuse support in the South Norfolk Early Help Hub.
Norfolk Connect Service - a partnership between national domestic abuse charity SafeLives, and local statutory partners, including the OPCCN to test new approaches to addressing the gaps in the national response to domestic abuse.
Funding of the Daisy Project to further develop and sustain its service for men and women living with or who have been affected by domestic abuse in the Breckland area of Norfolk.

White Ribbon is an international symbol of the movement aiming “to end male violence against women, once and for all.”

The ribbon has been a symbol of unity for all the people who commit to prevent and fully eliminate all the forms of violence against women including, domestic abuse.

Pictured left: Lorne Green with Leeway CEO Mandy Proctor

Where to get help:

Call Leeway's confidential helpline on 0300 561 0077

The National Domestic Violence Helpline can be contacted 24hrs on 0808 2000 247

If you, or anyone else, is at immediate risk of harm, phone the police on 999