Commissioner campaigns to #NailDomesticAbuse across Lancashire

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, with support from Lancashire Constabulary, has launched a new campaign to support victims of domestic abuse and signpost them towards local support services by working with beauty businesses across the county.

The #NailDomesticAbuse campaign offers a free, interactive online training package, designed to help beauty business owners and employees to spot the signs of domestic abuse and know what to do if a client, colleague, friend or family member may need support.

Developed with support from Safenet, one of Lancashire’s specialist domestic abuse services, the training can be accessed and completed online at a new, dedicated website – naildomesticabuse.co.uk.

Salon and beauty business owners and staff are also encouraged to display campaign materials within their premises, directing people towards the website where they can find a list of specialist domestic abuse services in Lancashire as well as the online training package.

Materials are now being rolled out across Lancashire with support from a range of local domestic abuse services and other partner agencies.

Commissioner Grunshaw said: “Salon owners and employees are likely to have long-standing relationships with their clients. The aim of this campaign is to empower them to direct people towards expert support should they spot any signs that a client may be in an abusive relationship.

“Talking about domestic abuse can be really difficult, and the campaign aims to create a safe and positive environment to have these conversations with confidence.

“By working with salons, we are raising awareness of the signs of domestic abuse and signposting towards appropriate support services for anyone who may need it.

“Funding those services is a key part of my role. I commission specialist, dedicated domestic abuse support across Lancashire, and campaigns like this ensure that people understand how to access them which is really important.”

Lancashire Constabulary’s Chief Constable, Sacha Hatchett, added: “Supporting victims is at the heart of everything we do. I want people to have the confidence that we will be there when they need us, and to trust us to keep them safe.

“This campaign will ensure that more people in Lancashire understand domestic abuse, are able to recognise the signs and can signpost towards relevant specialist support services.”

Karen Bailey, Training and Development Officer at Safenet, who supported the development of the online training package, added: “We are really pleased to support this campaign and to increase awareness of the signs of domestic abuse.

“Beauty businesses can be a safe space for women and girls, so by working with them we can ensure that they feel confident to have potentially difficult conversations and point their clients towards specialist help and support services like ours.”

For further information and to access the training visit naildomesticabuse.co.uk.