“I survived domestic violence – now I help the police work with victims”

Domestic abuse survivor Fran Murphy felt she was not supported by the police when she reported her abuser.

The 45-year-old managed to escape and is now drawing on her experience to improve the way officers interact with victims in her post.

She began working with Leeds Domestic Violence Services, whose Abuse Voices project was commissioned by the city council and supported by West Yorkshire Police.

She told the BBC that she and other members of the Abuse Voices group could “make a difference”.

“I was totally confused.”

Fran’s voice trails off as she relives the moment she ran away from her abuser.

“I just felt like a helpless, independent shell. Looking back now, I must have come close to having him kill me.

“I would never want anyone to go through this, it drives me.”

However, during the abuse, Fran says the way she was treated when she tried to call for help left her “speechless”.

“I contacted the police many, many times, even my neighbors did.

“The last time they came out, but they didn’t treat me like a victim.

“My abuser was appointed as an offender management officer because he was considered so dangerous, but I was given absolutely no support.

“The violence got worse and worse and worse.

“When you get into a situation like that, you kind of scream, but nothing comes out.”

Fran found strength in Leeds Domestic Violence Services.

The experience of participants in the Abuse Voices project is shared with police officers as part of training.

Project manager Nicola Marlow recalls the anticipation before the group’s first meeting.

“I think there was nervousness on both sides.

“When victims shared their experiences, which in some cases were not very positive, police officers openly discussed how things could have been done differently.

“Within a week of our conversation with them, they told us they were making internal changes to the department to better communicate with victims.

“I think it shows the willingness of West Yorkshire Police to do things differently.”

The Offender Management Team now works directly with domestic violence specialists.

Use of Claire’s Law, which allows people to know if their partner has a history of abuse, has increased by 700%. Detention after charge increased by 40%.

Heather Wilson of the Support Department said: “I cannot stress enough how helpful, informative and humbling the session with the Voices Project was.

“The group’s lived experience reminds us of how important it is that we continue to drive change, make improvements, and constantly put victims at the center of everything we do.

“I can honestly say that by sharing their experiences, they have helped future victims not go through the same ordeal and additional trauma.”

Fran described the project as “monumental.”

“I was very angry for a long time after the abuse.

“I was just left with this repressed anger that I didn’t know what to do with because I just couldn’t believe that this situation was allowed to continue when it was so obvious what was going on.

“To say that the police absolutely listened, they allowed me to share my voice, to be heard, that means a lot to me.”

Empowered by her experience, Fran is now determined to improve the lives of others.

“I still meet victims who are in this cycle of abuse and don’t know where to turn.

“I felt so desperate, I felt like I was drowning, but I think knowing that there are people fighting for change can only be a good thing.

“I don’t want everything I’ve been through to ever be in vain.

It breaks my heart to think of anyone who has gone through what I did, but I just want to be able to say with total confidence that there is help out there.

“Nobody needs to sit and suffer.”

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Soundsfollow the latest an episode of Look North or tell us a story you have in mind we have to cover up here.