An innovative new free voluntary mobile phone app launched by NSW Police will ‘Empower’ victims of domestic and family violence across the Clarence Valley and beyond to discreetly document abuse and connect better to support services.
Developed as part of the NSW Police commitment to ensure better outcomes for victims of domestic and family violence across the state, the ‘Empower You’ app was born from the Domestic and Family Violence Reform Project, which was established last year to change the way police respond to and prevent domestic violence.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the initial idea for the app came from a NSW Police officer with extensive experience in dealing with and supporting victims of domestic violence in Western Sydney.
“When we established the Reform Project, a call was put out to all staff to submit their ideas in terms of improving the victim experience and I couldn’t be prouder seeing this concept from the team at Blacktown come to life,” the Commissioner said.
“Sergeant Lisa Clemence’s experiences with victims, particularly the story of a local survivor, Hayley, inspired the idea of putting all the right information in one place which is easily accessible at any time.
“She harnessed the coding and app developing skills of Sergeant Sam Morgan and together they created ‘Empower You’ to include a private diary, a coded emergency signal feature, which can also send their GPS location, simple connectivity to Triple Zero for emergencies, and links local support services.
“Not only does this app allow for victims to easily document abuse, which is often difficult to recall when in distress or when it occurs over long periods of time, we believe this app has the potential to save lives.”
Technical experts from the NSW Police Technology Command developed a prototype of the app to ensure its functionalities comply with legislation, allowing the data to be presented as evidence in court.
NSW Police Domestic and Family Violence Portfolio Owner, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the app has inbuilt features to keep it private on any mobile, including passcodes and quick lock, and has a modest-looking icon that’s designed not to alert perpetrators.
“The diary feature allows a victim to collect their thoughts – including photos of injuries and property damage, and screenshots of emails or messages – and document an incident when it happens, no matter how minor or whether they report it to police at that time,” he said.
“This is especially important in terms of coercive control, where we know a victim often feels helpless, so with ‘Empower You’, the abuse is clearly demonstrated, and the power comes back to the victim.”
After rigorous testing, which included intensive consultation with experts in dealing with domestic and family violence victims, service providers, advocates, and other key stakeholders, the app is now available to the public.
‘Empower You’ is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, and NSW Police officers have QR codes on their devices to link to the app in the stores to download.
Victims of domestic and family violence can also seek advice and services by contacting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or at: https://www.1800respect.org.au.
Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au