“Supermarket staff should be trained to recognise DV”

[PumpkinP]

I just read an article that says supermarket staff should be trained to recognise code words for domestic abuse, I guess sort of like the ask for Angela campaign in pubs? What do you think about this? Is it workable? I know some people were concerned About DV during lock down

Staff in other service industries are trained to recognise this - not through code words but through behavioural indicators. I think that sort of training is more valuable than training which relies on a secret password. The problem with secret passwords is that if they're disseminated widely enough to be known by the people who need them, they're also likely to be recognised by the people they are trying to escape from.

Perhaps the duty manager or the pharmacy staff could be trained to keep someone safe until they can talk to them and refer them to the police or authorities but I dont think it could work using all staff. I would be concerned that a member of staff might recognise the victim and know the perpetrator.

I am not sure how that would work. Are they talking about people on the tills? Not sure how any others would have enough time to study behaviour.

Do you mean the victim wants to be sprung from the relationship, in the supermarket?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-politics-52296284

In the article it states that the supermarket would be the only place some women will be going so it’s the only place they can get help, I just don’t see how it would work but don’t know if I was just being negative, most supermarket staff I’ve come across seem too busy or just uninterested (sorry to anyone that works in one!)

It's a lot of pressure on retail staff who are already stressed enough. A good idea in principle , but unworkable in a very busy food store where the staff are trying to avoid becoming unwell and might not be fully engaged with the customers enough to listen. It Could work in pharmacies, which may be a lot less busy and is a bit more one to one? Hate to be negative.

It would have to work if implemented, and there's always ways to achieve things we really want to. Surely all of the adapting we've done because of covid makes that obvious?

I've worked in supermarkets and seen some women in horrendous states that I wished I could have helped.

It goes against all advice to approach women as it may put her in more risk.

Offering a place where women can make calls might be helpful