Joining the dots on domestic abuse

When Anna (not her real name) reported incidents of domestic abuse to the police, health services, social services and her child’s school, it was a traumatic experience. But to make matters so much worse, the information she gave was not properly shared between services, leaving Anna without the protection she needed.

Anna was doing the right thing by speaking up, reporting abuse and asking for help. However, each time she reported what was happening at home, Anna had to relive her trauma by retelling her story. And still nobody had the full picture. Eventually Anna came to feel that the one person truly responsible for keeping herself and her young son safe was her.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated example. While individual services work tirelessly to help victims of abuse, without more coordination between these services, it is hard to provide victims like Anna with the full package of support they need.

To address abusive situations earlier and to provide more effective protection to the people involved, we need better connections between the key services.

Wraparound safeguarding

The solution lies in creating stronger links between the statutory agencies, third sector organisations and private sector companies which work in the area of VAWG and domestic abuse. Each of these entities has a rich store of data which could be shared securely to provide that big picture that’s missing.

Information sharing not only helps to flag up hidden issues, it can also strengthen the evidence a victim has to support their case.
For instance, a teacher might note that a previously confident child has become withdrawn in class and has unexplained bruising, while the parent has consulted their GP with a series of injuries. Meanwhile a housing officer reports concerns about the behaviour of the family members following a routine maintenance visit.

What is missing is a way to join the dots between all this information.

Carl Hall, Director of Community Development at Interventions Alliance, works closely with people experiencing domestic abuse, and he is seeing increased awareness on the part of agencies of the role they could play in identifying abuse.

“It’s important to encourage agencies to report any concerns they may have, and for these concerns to be taken seriously. This is starting to improve, for example when the fire service visits properties to talk to people about smoke alarms, they are trained to spot and report the signs of domestic abuse. If information like this is shared and acted upon, it could mean a family gets the protection it needs.”

Although there are technical, practical and data protection challenges to creating a culture of information sharing, the time has come to make the most of digital capabilities to build more collaborative safeguarding systems.

Early help for children

This coordinated approach is particularly crucial when children are involved, as they experience domestic abuse in different ways – as victims and witnesses – that require specialised support. There is an urgent need to make it easier for children to tell their story and seek help.

In February 2026 the government consulted on a new Victims’ Code, including the first child-friendly version to ensure child victims are better supported to understand their rights as a victim of crime, including domestic abuse, and where to get the help they need.

It’s a move welcomed by Carl Hall. “There needs to be a better understanding of how domestic abuse impacts children. We’re seeing some examples of good practice in some areas, and one that comes to mind is the Surrey Steps to Change Hub.

“When a referral comes in, all the agencies get involved, including victim support, children’s services, and perpetrator services. So what might start with a single referral ends up with three or four different people in a family getting support, ensuring women and children are kept safe.”

There’s also scope to work closer with schools, not only to alert authorities to children who may be experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse, but also to provide early intervention and support.

The survivors’ voice

Whether supporting adults or children, the key is to understand what victims actually need – not what professionals assume they need. That’s why we need to put the victim right at the heart of the way we design safeguarding systems.

It’s important to listen to the experiences of victims and survivors of domestic abuse, and to identify where systems fail, as the case of Anna illustrates. If a victim can talk about how it felt when they reported an incident, or moved to a refuge, it provides the context we need to see how a system should work.

Carl Hall explains why victims’ experiences should be heard. “If we understand a woman’s needs, we can provide services that work for them. This would help to avoid some of the situations we come across, such as a mother who was given housing 300 miles away from her home, so her children had to move schools, or a woman who isn’t accepted into a mainstream refuge because she has an offending history.

“Part of the problem is when you get a group of professionals sitting around a table making decisions, and what is missing is the voice of the survivor.”

No two people’s experiences are exactly alike, so it’s only by hearing from a wide range of victims can we get that collective understanding which can make a real difference to the support we deliver.

Trauma informed practice

One of the complaints we often hear from victims is that having to retell their story multiple times to multiple services adds considerably to their trauma.

Many agencies are adopting a trauma informed approach, and researching the best ways to support victims through the information gathering process, but most would acknowledge the need to explore opportunities to make it easier to capture and share evidence.

This is one area where technology is helping to make a difference to the victim experience, according to Carl Hall. “Some police forces are using a new approach to make it easier for women and children to tell their story. Rather than bringing a victim in for a traditional interview at a police station, officers are asking women to video their statements on their phones which they send to the police.

“A video makes much greater impact and gives a truer picture of what is going on in the woman’s life. It provides the details officers need, but it also reduces the trauma of reliving the abuse.”

Focus on perpetrator behaviour

While victim support is fundamental to creating better safeguarding systems, breaking the cycle of domestic abuse involves working with perpetrators to make positive changes to their behaviour.

Technology can help support services to engage with perpetrators, as Carl Hall highlights. “If a domestic abuse perpetrator is neurodivergent, participating in a group programme with other offenders can be challenging. Allowing the perpetrator to take part in behaviour change interventions by video can be more successful.

“Some people find it easier to process information, address unhealthy beliefs and disclose more about themselves online than they would face to face. What we’ve learnt is an online space is a far more neutral space.”

Stories like Anna’s don’t have to be the norm which is why my team is focused on exploring ways to bring the technology, understanding and partners together to create a truly coordinated safeguarding system. What’s required now is the vision and support to make it a reality.

If we can create connections between safeguarding services, victims like Anna won’t be left navigating a fragmented system alone, forced to be their own safety net when they should be held by one we build together.

Marco Fiorentino is a Director at NEC Digital Studio