Councillor Maureen Cummings shares her past abuse. She now champions violence prevention for women in West Yorkshire.
Maureen now champions violence prevention for women. This role addresses domestic violence. She wants to curb it in the district. Her trauma fuels her passion. She grew up in Kettlethorpe during the late 60s and 70s. She says society has improved since then.
Her father abused her mother and her. Speaking about it was not allowed then. Maureen protected her mother because telling might cause her mother harm. There was no support available then, and people told them to just cope.
Decades later, around 2000, she spoke up through her work as a councillor. She wants others to feel strong and know that it wasn’t their fault, she said. Those who should protect you are responsible.
She kept her story secret until becoming a councillor but knew that she had to share. “You try to forget,” she explained. “Bad memories always return.”
She understands what abuse victims feel and knows the physical and mental effects. Abuse should not happen, especially to kids. The council chose her for this role.
Reports of violence rose by 37% over four years, through 2023. In 2022, domestic abuse made up 18% of crimes. Local groups logged over 10,000 cases last year. The cases often involve repeat offenders.
Cummings wants people to report abuse, saying, “We will take action if people come forward.” She mentioned Sarah Everard’s murder in 2021. Abi Fisher also died in Castleford in 2022; her husband killed Abi, a 29-year-old teacher.
Cummings wants to help victims who aren’t in the news and offer support to stop escalation. Cummings must help the council meet goals. She will amplify survivor voices.
Within a year, she reports progress to a committee and seeks facts for the next year. She plans to meet the probation service. She wants to know about prisoners before release, specifically those jailed for sexual and violent abuse.
She works with local support services and wants a task force with many helpers to provide a safe place for victims. Last year, the council improved abuse services. They added child counseling and victim support.
There is a program to change abuser behavior, which works with the existing response team. The project costs about £1 million each year, and a grant covers most of this expense. These new resources ease staff workloads; they handled about 1,600 referrals.
Cummings notes the service runs as an emergency. They lack funding for full care, she says. They focus on helping the victim, including finding them housing and safety. But funding is lacking for perpetrator programs, and they rely heavily on volunteers to do this.
Stopping abusers prevents future violence. Cummings seeks to prevent deaths like Abi’s. She spreads the word: Abuse is wrong. She asks victims to please contact them. The council has a helpline at 0800 915 1561.