It started with a knock on the door… then the horror was finally revealed

On a dark September morning in Oldham, a woman opened the door to find the police standing there. They had been called to a report of domestic violence, but the woman did not dare to file a formal complaint.

But unlike similar warnings that police respond to here, this one was different. They did not act alone and were accompanied by a highly skilled expert, an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA).

Together they were able to explain the criminal process to the woman and give her reassurance that she would have support if she made a formal accusation.

Only then ...