Taxi drivers in Angus are to play their part in the battle against domestic abuse.
Cabbies will be given information leaflets and cards to hand out to female passengers fleeing violent relationships.
Mitchell Murray, chairman of Forfar and Kirriemuir Taxi Operators’ Association, has experienced one of these traumatic incidents.
He said: ”A few years ago I took a woman and a couple of kids from a house in Forfar to Dundee bus station.
”They had two blankets tied in a knot with all their possessions wrapped up inside them.
”I had to try to help them through it while they sat in the back of the car.”
He added: ”We’re happy to support this initiative because we’re often the first point of contact for people if something does happen late at night.
”The cards will be very useful for our drivers, and I would encourage them to carry one with them, along with some of the information leaflets for women.”
The scheme is the brainchild of Angus Violence Against Women Partnership (AVAWP).
Dr Julia Egan is chairwoman of AVAWP and a consultant in public health nursing with NHS Tayside.
She said: ”Each year in Angus the police deal with around 1,100 incidents of domestic abuse.
”Unfortunately, a good many more incidents are never reported by the women involved due to fear or misplaced feelings of shame that somehow another person’s violence is their fault.
”There are many ways we can help women experiencing domestic violence and no-one should suffer in silence.
”Taxi drivers really can make a big difference, and these cards provide some basic information about what they should or should not do if they encounter a woman who has experienced domestic abuse.”
Dr Egan added: ”One in four women will be affected by domestic abuse.
”Anything we can do to raise awareness of the issue and offer support to women and their families is to be encouraged.”
Sergeant Fergus Storrier, community safety officer for Angus with Tayside Police, hailed the unified effort in the campaign to end domestic abuse.
He said: ”Obviously we deal with domestic abuse on a daily basis, but we can’t address any issue properly without partnership working.
”That includes members of the public, such as taxi drivers, who may be able to offer support and guidance to women who have been victims of domestic abuse.
”Through these leaflets they’ll be able to pass on useful information such as local and national helpline numbers.
”Research shows that domestic violence does rise over the festive period.”