‘Too often black women are failed’: Sistah Space lead calls for police to better support black victims of domestic violence

Black women have been found to face more racial anc cultural barriers when reporting abuse to the police (Picture: Getty Images)

A DOMESTIC abuse charity is leading a campaign to introduce mandatory training for police and agencies to provide more support for black women who are victims of domestic violence.

Sistah Space, a non-profit organisation aiding African and Caribbean heritage women who experience abuse, has received backing from the likes of actor and writer Michaela Coel, the singer FKA twigs and the Women’s Equality party over the new initiative.

On Wednesday, a video campaign was launched to bring attention to how black women are at more risk of being left with their abusers even when police are called to an incident involving violence.

The charity’s chief executive, Ngozi Fulani, told the Guardian: “Without mandating this life-saving training, black women are left to gamble with their lives on whether the officer responding to the scene is able to spot the unique signs of abuse in black environments on black skin.

“Too often black women are failed by law enforcement, paying with their lives for mistakes that can be avoided simply by implementing Valerie’s Law.”

With nearly 17,000 signatures, the Valerie’s Law petition is named after Valerie Forde who was violently murdered by her former partner in 2014 alongside their 22-month-old daughter.

She had previously asked the police for help when her ex had threatened to burn down her house while she was in it, but it was only recorded as a threat to property.

Research conducted by Sistah Space, revealed that in the UK 86% of women of African and/or Caribbean heritage have either been a victim of domestic abuse or know a family member who has been assaulted.

Only 57% of victims, however, said they would report the abuse to the police.

Fulani said: “There is a lack of trust because the police are not taking black women who have been assaulted seriously. They are not always believed and there is a pervasive stereotype of black women being tough and not as in need of protection as white women.

“A lot of our service users are returning to abusive situations, are giving up or are even suicidal.”

During the pandemic, the charity recorded a 400% increase in calls to their services, but Fulani remains disappointed over the lack of public support for black women who experience violence.

“Everyone knows Sarah Everard’s name and of course when she went missing we all felt it because she is a woman who should have been safe on the street,” she added.

“But we quickly realised there is a different response from the media and especially the police when a black woman goes missing.”

Mandu Reid, the leader of the Women’s Equality party, described the introduction of mandatory procedures for organisation to consider the racial and cultural limitations victim report abuse as long overdue.

She said: “It is an essential step in building trust between communities of colour and the police and criminal justice system.”

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