A powerful new film showing how professionals such as GPs, dentists, hairdressers and emergency workers can help spot the signs of domestic abuse has been unveiled in Fife.
The ‘Harder’ video aims to raise awareness among professionals about identifying domestic abuse and providing advice during appointments such as a haircut or dental check-up.
More than 2,300 workers have already been trained under the Ask, Support and Care (ASC) programme, set up by Medics Against Violence and Police Scotland’s violence reduction unit.
As well as being used in training sessions, the video is being made publicly available to further raise awareness of how many more people can spot the signs of domestic abuse.
Community safety minister Annabelle Ewing launched the new film on a visit to Thornton to see firefighters taking part in ASC training.
Ms Ewing said: “Domestic abuse can often be a hidden crime, inflicting long-term damage on victims who are too afraid to speak out.
“Training professionals to spot the signs and have the confidence and information to broach the subject is an important way of making a difference.
“Tackling domestic abuse is a priority for this Government and this year we will be being introducing to Parliament new legislation to create a specific offence of domestic abuse.
“We are also investing record levels of funding to put in place better support for victims, and taking action to tackle the underlying attitudes and improve understanding of these crimes to reinforce a zero tolerance approach to domestic abuse.”
Dr Christine Goodall, a senior lecturer and consultant in oral surgery at the University of Glasgow and founder of Medics Against Violence, worked on the project after years of studying the link between facial and dental injuries and violence.
“We firmly believe that this is everyone’s issue and we can all help on some level even if just to offer contact details for one of the specialist domestic abuse organisations,” she said.
“Those affected are our patients, our clients, our colleagues and our friends and as professionals we have a duty of care towards them; for too long domestic abuse has been the elephant in the room and we hope to change that.”
Around 825 dentists, 1,100 medical or dental students, 200 doctors, 100 fire officers and 40 hairdressers have all been trained under the ASC programme.
Sixty vets have also been trained after Medics Against Violence expanded ASC to include the profession when a clear link was identified between animal cruelty and domestic abuse, with abuse to animals being used to coerce or punish the victim.
Research found 66% of female domestic abuse victims had threats of violence or abuse of their pets from the abuser, and 38% reported actual abuse.
Next week, a diverse group of professionals including GPs, pharmacists, dentists, surgeons, nurses, ministers, those working in student support and prison officers will attend the first multi-professional ASC course at Tuliallan Police College.
