Over the last two years, Safenet and its partners HARV and the Wish Centre have worked alongside Lancashire Constabulary to deliver the Domestic Abuse Matters training programme.
Before the partnership, the aim highlighted was to support officers and staff to better understand domestic abuse and the experiences of survivors. Lancashire Constabulary has recently shared its thanks and feedback, acknowledging the impact this work has had, and the commitment shown by everyone involved.
During this time, 1,577 officers and staff have completed the training. This includes 94% of Immediate Response Officers, 83% of Place Based Officers (including Neighbourhood Policing Officers and PCSOs), 81% of Response Investigation Teams, and 77% of Vulnerable Adult, RASSO and Safeguarding Detectives.
These figures emphasise the how widely reaching the training has been for officers across frontline and specialist roles.
Lancashire Constabulary has been clear that these outcomes would not have been possible without the time, energy and dedication Safenet colleagues brought to the programme. They highlighted the value of the training and the professionalism of those delivering it and shared how much they have appreciated working in partnership.
This collaboration reflects Safenet’s commitment to sharing specialist knowledge and survivor‑led perspective, not only through direct support work, but also by helping other services improve how they respond to domestic abuse. Supporting police officers at this level helps create safer, more informed responses for survivors across Lancashire.
Karen Bailey, Safenet’s Training and Development Officer, highlighted the importance of these sessions taking place, saying: “The training gives officers the knowledge and skills to better understand controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as the complex reasons why people don’t just leave abusive relationships.
“We often see real ‘lightbulb moments’, where officers begin to view domestic abuse incidents through a more compassionate and informed lens.
“Without the right responses, trust can be broken and survivors may not feel able to seek help in the future. That’s why building knowledge around trauma-responsive approaches is so important.
“Seeing the impact this training is having is really pleasing and encouraging.”
Training will continue for new police recruit intakes, with further sessions already being planned. Lancashire Constabulary has said it looks forward to continuing to work with Safenet as new officers join the force.
A sincere thank you to everyone who has been involved in delivering and supporting this training. Your work is having a real and lasting impact.