United Against Domestic Violence and Abuse

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at Opoka’s first national conference in Bristol, focused on the theme: “Together for the wellbeing of Polish families – building a network of support and collaboration.”

The conference brought together community leaders, frontline professionals and people with lived experience from across Polish communities in the UK. Throughout the day, there was a strong sense of honesty, courage and shared determination to improve support for individuals and families affected by domestic abuse.

One message stood out clearly: tackling domestic abuse requires partnership, trust and collaboration. Abuse is a devastating and complex crime that goes far beyond physical violence and can include coercive control, emotional harm, isolation and fear. For people living away from their country of origin, barriers such as language, unfamiliar systems and distance from support networks can make seeking help even more difficult.

That is why culturally informed support and strong community partnerships are so important.

As Police and Crime Commissioner, I am proud to support Opoka and other organisations delivering vital domestic abuse services across Avon and Somerset. Their work helps people navigate difficult situations with compassion, understanding and specialist support.

Alongside this, through Project Bright Light, an independent, academic-led review-we are continuing to strengthen how domestic abuse is understood and responded to within policing, including improving awareness of coercive control and harmful patterns of behaviour.

Reducing violent crime and supporting victims remain key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan. By working together across communities, charities and public services, we can break down barriers, improve access to support and build safer and secure communities for everyone.