Welcome to our brand new website, providing you with easier access to our training, research and resources!
SafeLives is proud to have been awarded a new two-year licence by the College of Policing to continue delivering Domestic Abuse Matters — a transformative cultural change programme designed to create lasting impact in the police response to domestic abuse.
DA Matters equips frontline officers and staff with the tools to respond with empathy, consistency, and a clear understanding of the dynamics of abuse. It helps ensure police are better prepared to identify coercive control, challenge harmful myths, and build trust with those experiencing abuse — putting the victim at the centre of the response.
Since 2015, SafeLives has trained more than 70,000 police officers and staff in 39 forces in England and Wales, and 5 non-Home Office forces (Police Scotland, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and the Service Police).
Learner feedbackVery candid and honest input on what constitutes domestic abuse with a blend of lived experience and case examples. Very engaging trainers and created a safe space to explore concepts and allow questions.
An evaluation of 21 force areas found that:
Ellen Miller, Chief Executive of SafeLivesWe’re incredibly proud of the difference DA Matters continues to make. Policing culture is often under scrutiny – and rightly so. This programme supports officers to better understand the lived experience of survivors, challenge harmful assumptions, and prioritise safety and dignity. It’s about getting it right, every time.
To create long-term, sustainable improvements, the programme includes specialist training for DA Matters Champions — officers who play a crucial role in maintaining the change in skills, behaviours, and attitudes by modelling good practice, offering constructive feedback, and challenging inappropriate language and behaviour. They act as a trusted point of contact within their area of policing, helping to keep the focus on safe and consistent responses to domestic abuse.
We look forward to working with forces and other criminal justice organisations over the next two years, building on what’s been achieved so far and pushing further for a police response that survivors can trust.
Sign up to receive our monthly newsletters about the latest training, events, research and fundraising initiatives at SafeLives. Together, we can end domestic abuse, for everyone, for good.
