To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Everybody Needs To Know About This 'Silent Solution' For Domestic Abuse Victims

Everybody Needs To Know About This 'Silent Solution' For Domestic Abuse Victims

This is so important.

Joanna Freedman

Joanna Freedman

A large proportion of the world is being urged to stay at home right now, in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

And while this is a measure to keep us safe, those in abusive relationships are finding themselves in more danger than ever, forced to spend almost all of their time alongside somebody who hurts them - be it emotionally or physically.

At the beginning of this month (6th April), charity Refuge reported that calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline had soared by 120 per cent as women reached out during the lockdown, while The Men's Advice Line, for male victims of domestic abuse, announced an increase in calls of 16.6 per cent in the same week.

Now, in response to this crisis, we're seeing a nationwide push to raise awareness of the 'silent solution' - a great initiative where you can ring 999 and then press '55' without saying anything to seek instant help, if you are unable to speak on the phone, for fear of being overheard.

Simply pressing these two digits will then let the police know that you are in need of emergency assistance.

The solution is for those in immediate risk of domestic abuse (
Pexels)

It's important you wait for a prompt to dial 55, though. First, you must let the operators know you are there by coughing, tapping the handset or even breathing heavily, then once transferred to the silent solution system, you dial the shortcut.

The silent 999 call isn't a new facility, but considering an estimated 1.6 million women across the UK experienced domestic abuse in some form last year, and things just got a whole lot harder, there has never been a more important time to raise awareness.

As the issue of domestic abuse during lockdown becomes all the more prevalent, social media has been awash with celebrities and influencers highlighting the safety measure in recent days, with none other than the Coronation Street cast joining the campaign, too.

Teaming up with Women's Aid - who have been advising on the abuse storyline between between Geoff Metcalfe and Yasmeen Nazir - several members of the cast filmed themselves at home, urging victims to reach out using either a standard 999 call, or the silent solution.

The Corrie cast - including Sair Khan - reached out (
Youtube/ Coronation Street)

"The world is going through a really difficult time right now and many of us are isolating at home," they say.

"For anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse, it is no doubt terrifying to be isolated with an abuser.

"If you are in a situation where you are being abused, or you fear that you may be abused, there are measures in place that can help protect you."

Shelley King was another of the stars on the campaign (
YouTube/ Coronation Street)

The cast members - Sair Khan, Shelley King, Sally Dynevor, Sally Carman and former star Julie Hesmondhalgh - also raise the importance of keeping a phone on you at all times, so you can ask for help when needed.

Good on them for raising awareness of such an important facility.

Of course, there are other ways to reach out for help, too.

If you're not in immediate danger, you can also call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, or if it is not safe to do so, visit the organisation's website and discreetly fill out a form.

If you think a neighbour might be a victim of domestic abuse, call 999, and if you suspect a child is a risk, you can also contact NSPCC.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

Topics: News, Coronation Street, Coronavirus, domestic abuse