Hello

Every October, communities around the world unite to shine a light on the devastating impact of domestic abuse, to support survivors and to call for collective action to end abuse.

This week I was invited to speak to members of the West Sussex Federation of Women's Institutes, at their Annual General Meeting, about domestic abuse and to share the work we are doing across the county to tackle it head-on.

Domestic abuse is a crime that disproportionately affects women but it can happen to anyone. It takes many forms – physical, emotional, financial and coercion – and its impact is long-lasting. In Sussex alone, over 20,000 victims a year report domestic abuse to the police. That’s a staggering number and it reminds us why this work is so urgent.

The pan-Sussex Domestic Abuse Strategy (2025-2028) is our collective response. It’s a partnership between Sussex Police, our three local authorities and a wide range of voluntary and community sector organisations. It builds on our previous work and sets out a bold, compassionate and survivor-led vision for how we respond to domestic abuse in our communities. At the heart of our strategy is a simple but powerful commitment: nobody should be left behind. I look forward to sharing more about this work with you soon.

This week my office and the local authorities announced that we have awarded a £25,000 grant to Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) to fund the delivery of specialist support services for families across Sussex who have been bereaved by homicide, suicide or unexplained deaths following domestic abuse.

This funding will enable AAFDA to offer specialist practical and emotional support to bereaved families. This includes: unique peer support group sessions tailored to those affected by fatal domestic abuse; guidance and resources for statutory agencies to improve their response to domestic abuse and their engagement with bereaved families; and dedicated support for children, including bespoke resources and trained support workers.

AAFDA’s work is crucial in supporting families at their most vulnerable. No one should have to face this trauma on their own. To find out more about the support AAFDA offers please visit the Safe Space Sussex website.

Protecting ourselves from fraud and cybercrime

Many of us spend a huge amount of time online. The internet makes our lives easier but it also provides a rich hunting ground for criminals who want to steal our money and personal details.

Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, is supporting Cyber Security Awareness Month throughout October, to educate the public and businesses about online threats and how to protect against them.

You can’t stop a criminal attempting to defraud you online but you can make yourself a harder target. Taking steps to protect your devices and data will make you more secure whenever you’re online – whether banking, browsing, shopping, dating, gaming or sharing on social media. You can find out more about how to protect yourself against online fraud on the Action Fraud website.

Katy Bourne OBE
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner