Women and girls deserve to be safe, to be believed and to be protected before harm is done and not after.
That belief is tested every time a case like Simon Levy’s reaches the headlines. Levy was given a life sentence for murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins, and for violently raping another woman, while he was known to the police. The reality is, two women lost their lives, and another was raped. How was this allowed to happen on the police’s watch?
Professor Jane Monckton Smith’s research shows that violence against women and girls rarely comes out of the blue. It follows patterns that escalate, are easily identifiable and, importantly, predictable. The myth that society has long perpetuated, that a man simply “snapped” or “lost control”, is both dangerous and false. When we understand patterns, we can act on them. I urge the police to turn their minds to this, especially where perpetrators of assault and violence have been on their radar.
What are the practical lessons from the Levy case? First, the risk must be taken seriously upon being identified and should be acted upon. Police – take note.
Second, women and girls deserve to understand the pattern of escalation, because knowledge is power and awareness saves lives. This is exactly why Solace places understanding and early support at its heart.
Finally, the police and domestic abuse services like Solace must share information and work together, whether it’s through education, training, resources and/or support. It is within the gaps in services provided to survivors of domestic abuse that danger lies.
If you’re worried about yourself or someone you love, please reach out. You don’t have to face it alone, and you never have to face it in silence.