Actress urges Somerset workplaces to support domestic abuse victims
Ms Beckinsale said more practical help and advice should be given to staff so they could help colleagues."The amount of builders I know where they're going into people's homes and they recognise what is going on but they don't know what to do next," she added.She is working with charity Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) to highlight the support employers can offer.Det Supt Kristina Windsor, domestic abuse lead at Avon and Somerset Police, worked with staff at Strode College to host the conference."I only see 20% of domestic abuse victims that ever come across my desk. That's 80% that are suffering I never get to see," she said."Think about the behaviour of your staff member. If they're coming in late or are disengaged, that could be signs of abuse."You can create a safe space where they can speak to you. You can even create somewhere where they can keep things safe."
A number of businesses attended the conference. Jill Barker, who owns Middlewick Holiday Cottages in Glastonbury, said: "It's really good for me, I have 32 staff working for me, so just to be able to pick up bits of information that would support them is beneficial."
If you have been affected by the topics raised in this article, help and support is available on the BBC Action Line.
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