Victims come together for a joint approach (From Swindon Advertiser)

Victims come together for a joint approach

11:50am Monday 9th March 2009

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A MAN whose sister was killed by her ex-husband has asked new Victims’ Champion Sara Payne to help him get more support for those who have suffered as the result of crime.

Frank Mullane met with Sara last week and asked her to take some key issues forward to put victims in a stronger position.

Frank’s sister Julia and her 17-year-old son William, formerly of Castle Eaton, were shot dead in November 2003 by abusive chartered accountant Alan Pemberton, who then turned the gun on himself.

Frank has now set up a charity – Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse – to raise awareness of domestic violence and to support families.

He met Sara, whose daughter Sarah was murdered in 2000, in his role as a member of the Victims’ Advisory Panel, which influences Government policy.

He said: “The panel meets several times a year and we try our best to put our oar in.

“I asked Sara to take forward a number of issues on domestic violence and for victims and witnesses generally.”

Frank has asked Sara to campaign for coroners and GPs to get training on domestic abuse so they can identify telltale signs.

He said: “I have had two GPs approach me and tell me they don’t know what the risk factors are.

“One of them remarked on the confusion of what is expected of them.”

Frank is also pushing hard for homicide reviews and other reviews to be followed up a year or so after they take place so the public can see whether changes are working or not.

He is also recommending setting up a central website where men or women can log abuse they have suffered.

He said: “It may not be safe for victims to keep a diary at home and work may be the only place they can safely keep a record of abuse.

“If they are suffering from low self-esteem they may seek to normalise the experiences.

“But if it is logged in detail, it can remind them of what is happening to them so they have a record if needed.

“Some victims begin to doubt it is happening as their self-esteem is being dismantled.”

Frank also asked Sara to campaign for better and sustained funding for domestic violence services and better services for child victims and witnesses of crimes.

He also wants multi-agency risk assessment conferences, which deal with high risk cases, to be put on a statutory footing and forge closer links with child protection.

More information is available at www.aafda.org.uk.

Donations can be sent to Edith Steven’s House, 77/78 Bridge Street, Swindon, SN1 1BT or via the website.

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