Victims of domestic abuse will be able to escape perpetrators by using a code-word in thousands of pharmacies across the UK, including here on the Isle of Wight.
The new scheme, entitled ‘Ask for ANI’, allows those at risk or suffering from abuse to discreetly signal that they need help and access support. By asking for ANI, a trained pharmacy worker will offer a private space where they can ascertain further information.
Depending on the situation, the staff member can then alert the Police or help the victim access support services such as a national or local domestic abuse helpline.
As an essential retailer based on high streets across the country, and with specifically trained staff, pharmacies can provide a safe space for victims to sound an alarm if they are isolated at home with their abuser and unable to get help in another way.
The Prime Minister committed to launch this scheme at the Hidden Harms summit last year in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the ability of victims to reach out for help and support. The scheme was initially proposed by survivors as something that would have helped them.
Boris Johnson has said:
“As we once again have to ask people across the country to stay at home to tackle this virus, it’s vital that we take action to protect those for who home is not a safe space.
“That is why we have launched this scheme, supported by pharmacies up and down the country, to give some of the most vulnerable people in society a critical lifeline – making sure they have access to the support they need and keep them safe from harm.”
Article continues below this advertisement
The codeword scheme will be promoted using discreet social media adverts and paid search. Pharmacies will be given promotional material to display in-store to signal to victims that they are participating. Health professionals, social workers and Job Centres will also be asked to promote the scheme, alongside police, local authorities and specialist support services for victims.
The scheme will be initially available through the 2,300 Boots stores across the UK as well as 255 independent pharmacies. More pharmacies are expected to join the scheme.
why does the image that the island echo uses, depict a mans clenched fist and a woman cowering. Talk about stereotyping.
I would suggest the picture is just an example not stereotyping. it did say Domestic abuse victims not women only. However it would be interesting to read the comments if the picture showed a woman’s fist over a cowering man.
I’m afraid I have to disagree – it is definitely stereotyping because it follows an almost universal pattern of depicting a violent male and an abused female.
Just try to remember the last time you saw an image above a domestic violence story that didn’t show a female victim and/or a male abuser.
To answer your question I suspect some would take the unfortunately still socially acceptable line that the man was somehow “less than a man”. Personally, I would be pleased that it wasn’t another male abuser shot but secretly disappointed that they had to show abusers and victims at all.
The gender neutral language of the actual article is worthy of praise and shows that attitudes are slowly changing but unfortunately the image shows that we still have a way to go.
Reinforcing the (incorrect) view that all abusers are male makes it harder for male victims to recognise that they can get help or even that they need it – making your victim feel worthless or in the wrong is a common abuse tactic.
I realise that finding an alternative way to depict this is hard but that is no reason not to do it.
Would it be acceptable for a stories about drug abuse to always depict an afro-Caribbean person or a those about housework to depict a 1950’s style housewife?
Those stereotypes have mostly been consigned to the bin of history where they belong hopefully images like the one above will eventually join them.
Many women are unaware of how the more exciting, non Brit men, see them as a possession, and now matter how the male lives, that woman belongs to them, forever in their minds.
At first, this trait is seen as ‘out of love’ but it is just control, and will be used as such. Beware.
Wow! What a completely ignorant statement. Are you really suggesting it is only ‘non Brit men’ that abuse women? I know we are having to live in bubbles at the moment, but it would appear you have lived in one for your entire life! It might help, once lockdown is over, if you left the island once in a while.
Of course I am not saying Brits don’t abuse and only not Brits do. Yet the culture of equality is less commonplace for ‘some’ other cultures to understand.
I suggest it is YOU who needs to leave the Island and the UK and ‘see’ how some cultures treat their women, as a possession, rather than an equal citizen.
Just because they ‘set foot’ on UK soil, those traits don’t vanish.
So I am aware that many UK men are vile abusers, like I am aware that some Brits mug and stab, but the worrying this is IN the ‘numbers compared to’, when you consider that we are still mostly Brit’s here, yet compare the cases of such cases now.
So perhaps it is your post which is full of ‘ignorance’.
Same as we know many men are victims of abuse, but not in COMPARISON to women.
Difference is, ‘that’ can be said, yet those who are now above blame, have the ultimate get out of jail card as people like you don’t wish to even accept facts if it doesn’t ‘sit right’ with you line of thought.
Its not women being unaware of things that causes abuse.
Theres not some excuse for abuse.
Abuse is caused by the abuser, whether that abuser be male or female.
Both men and women can be victims of or perpetrators of domestic abuse. It will doubtless be women that are the majority users of this scheme, but men should be able to use it too, and doubtless will be.
Look, I know about abused victims. I have seen it first hand of the mental suffering not just physical. Watching a soul destroyed, not for a while, but forever. I am not blaming women, just warning them of the experience of several I have had the sadness to hear from.
IF I said certain types of dog were more prone to attack more often than others, and such is accepted as the Gov has banned certain breeds, then MOST would agree that some are at greater risk of doing harm.
Yet all those with that breed of dog would disagree and have tales and proof of what a gentle soul that dog was, and therefor that ‘breed’ in their eyes, never warranted the fear surrounding them. They would ‘use’ the most unlikely breeds of dog to attack to show cases ‘where’ they had done so, as ‘evidence’ of their devotion to their breed.
Yet that is where ‘odds’ and data is used, as there is always exceptions and no certainty, so we go on odds in life, and if risk is more avoidable then most sensible would take that option.
Your lives though and few will ever wish to hear bad, until they discover it themselves.
Talking about avoiding risk is ridiculous. All sensible people would want to avoid the risk of being abused.
This new system is about trying to help those who have been abused, not blaming victims, or even suggesting that they should have known better and avoided the risk. No-one who has been abused needs to hear what they did wrong, or about the odds or the data.They certainly dont need judging based on what breed of dog they are.
They just need help, and that is what this system is designed for.
JD, I am am aware the risk can’t be ‘avoided’ but it can be limited with factual information.
Whether anyone takes on that info, is doubtful, but if only one stops and thinks, then that info could save a life, or a terrible ordeal.
No one is suggesting to judge someone, but to PRE warn is a decent thing to do.
I would rather have a women babysitter than a male, but Moria Hindly would have been a wrong choice.
Yet plenty from Rotherham and Rochdale would ‘see’ she was an ‘isolated’ case, whereas they know differently and most would still likely have a lady sitter for their children.
So risk is ‘not the same’ for all, and I suggest reducing such, for we cannot eliminate it entirely is perfect reasonable and sensible.
Is that so wrong? Or do we keep having to ‘pretend’ that we are indeed all so ‘equal’ when clearly we aren’t IF going by factual data?
Not only women that get abused. A lot of men get abused physically and mentally by their female partners and don’t speak out about it I would say a lot!!! Shock horror that a female can be aggressive and assault a male!! I have been attacked by a ex partner (female) many times and just ignored it and did not report it as felt I would be laughed at by the police
You’re sadly deluded (and likely a few more epithets) if you don’t realise “Brit men” have a history of abusing their partners
The messaging is all carefully crafted to bait the psychological trap. Keep you guessing. Destabilise. Give you Christmas. Take it away. No end in sight. And now the new campaign is straight up victim blaming. This is national psychological abuse ….It will only get worse…
This campaign is intended to allow people to ask for help without alerting anyone they are with, who may be violent.
Quite how you can claim it is victim blaming is beyond me.
Crawl back under your bridge.
Note the image used is a mans fist clenched and a woman cowering – stereotyping – women are just as capable of violence and abuse.
stereotypes emerge for a reason. most victims of domestic abuse are women, and most perpetrators are men.
There are male victims abused by men, female victims abused by women, male victims abused by women, even rare cases of people abused by children / teenagers.
Unfortunately, when a case of a man being abused comes to light, often the attitude of “man up” is taken. It cant be that bad, you’re a man, you should be able to deal with it, shes only a woman.
Abuse of all types should be dealt with in the same way, and that is with compassion. Obviously case to case details are different, but abuse is always abuse.
Yet ‘stereotypes’ mean nothing in your blinkered eyes if a non Brit is mentioned in any crime now. How stereotypical to choose the one (more males than females abuse) to make your point, yet choose not to accept mine.
As you rightly say, stereotypes are there for a reason, and usually a good one.
Most critics of using such are just point scoring, using the P.C fashion which is currently being drummed into those who choose news, not their own eyes and ears seeing and hearing tales from those who have experienced life at it’s worst as I have seen victims, have you?
doesn’t justify perpetuating stereotypes by using a photo of a man with a clenched fist or a cowering female.
Can’t agree more – whenever there’s a domestic abuse story the same images alway depict the same lazy stereotype of “male abuser, female victim”.
Hopefully it won’t put off too many male victims or those suffering at the hands of female abusers from seeking help.
Are you for real, what an absolute numbnut you are.
TROLL ALERT
Peoples, stop fighting like rats in a sack.
We ALL want to see more protection for victims of abuse, that we all agree on.
That is all this is about.
Sure men are worse than women, certain now unmentionable types are more likely to be the perpetrator of such than other races, but this is a good move forward, and we can all agree on that, surely? Let’s leave it there.
Well put yi man.
I have had verbal abuse but not anything worse.
I think it is hard for men to go and tell people.
Children who are bullied is expected but if an adult is it is still hard to admit.
The more violent a race is the more it will abuse more often and men are more violent that ladies so silly saying other wise just to not offend as lies offend me.
As you say, any help is the good thing here, I once had a cup thrown but misted.
I trust men can use this as well?