Safety Plans
If you or someone you know is is planning to leave an abusive relationship, this can be a dangerous time. If an abuser suspects a partner is planning to leave them, they may fear losing power and control and will often act impulsively, increasing their use of violence.
This is why it’s important to make a safety plan. Call us to get professional help and advice 0800 86 733843.
Home & Personal Safety Plan
- Consider an unlisted phone number
- Apply to be on the unpublished electoral roll (for information call 0800 36 76 56)
- If possible carry a cell phone for emergencies, even a pre-pay with no money on it can be used to call 111.
- Remove items of a personal nature from your garbage or recyclables
- Make sure your windows and doors are locked, consider the use of deadbolts
- Use security alarms or other security features if possible
- If travelling in a car, change your travel route to and from work often
- Keep emergency numbers at your disposal
- Make sure others are informed of your situation and if possible, create a signal to let them know if you are in danger
- Have an escape route mapped out in case you need it
- If children are involved teach them a plan and make sure they know emergency numbers
Refer National Womens Refuge for more information on Safety Planning.
Workplace Safety Plan
- Advise the person to talk to the supervisor or designated staff person (e.g., employee assistance manager, human resource manager, security supervisor, owner, etc.) and complete a safety plan, including recent photograph of the perpetrator.
- Encourage her/him to obtain a Protection Order that includes the workplace, and keep a copy on hand at all times. The person may want to consider providing a copy to the police, her/his supervisor, security, or human resources.
- Encourage her/him to save any threatening e-mail or voice-mail messages. These can potentially be used for future legal action, or can serve as evidence that an existing restraining order was violated.
- Ask the person to name an emergency contact person in case the employee is missing or unreachable.
- Designate a code word or phrase so she/he can alert you to danger.
- Is her/his workstation away from public access, stairs, and elevators? If not, can it be moved? Can barriers be placed between the entrance and the person’s workstation?
- Can she/he be given priority parking near the building and a security escort from his/her car?
- Can someone walk with her/him to her car or public transit stop? Are there any car pools in his/her residential area?
- Can others answer her/his phone? How can her/his phone calls be screened? Can her/his phone number be changed? Can caller ID be installed in her/his work unit? Can their name and number be removed from automated phone directories?
- Can her/his name and number be removed from automated phone messages or directories?
- Can her/his pay checks be delivered to another location?
- Identify co-workers who have special training in security for your supervisor.
- Don’t give out any information to others. Perpetrators often have excellent skills in obtaining information from co-workers. Check with your supervisor if you think you have knowledge that may be private and confidential.
- Make sure the employee knows about your workplace policy and how to report any incident. Make certain the employee knows specifics of your policy — does it include threats over the telephone? Does it include non-employees as well as employees? Is there a specific telephone number to call?
Most important, ask the person what changes could be made to make her/him feel safer. Remember, she/he knows the perpetrator better than anyone else.
Can pets come too?
Tauranga Women’s Refuge have a relationship with SPCA who will provide interim accommodation for pets if needed.
NZFVC research showed that 50% of women effected by domestic violence interviewed, have witnessed animal cruelty by a perpetrator.
We understand that pets are part of the family and they need to be protected from harm.