As Valentine’s Day approaches, charities in the UK are highlighting the growing risks of tech-enabled domestic abuse, coercive control, and "love bombing."

Smart gadgets

Abusers are increasingly using smart gadgets to stalk, spy on and control survivors. This includes wearable technology such as smart glasses and watches.

This can include the ‘weaponisation’ of smart accessories to secretly record survivors. And health trackers such as rings or watches have been misused to monitor step counts, track a survivors’ location, or even access fertility data.

Sefton Council has made clear that domestic abuse in any form is totally unacceptable. 

Threats

Cllr Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, said: “At this time of year when the shops are full of hearts and loving messages, it is important we recognise that for too many survivors, Valentine’s Day can be a reminder of the abuse that they have experienced or are experiencing now.

“Rather than a nice card and flowers or chocolates, they may receive threats or reminders from abusers who may be spying on them using smart technology.

“Or their abuser may ‘love-bomb’ them with exaggerated and overwhelming displays of affection and gifts. ‘Love-bombing’ helps abusers mask their behaviour, or guilt-trip their victims.

“Whatever their approach. abusers make it hard for their victims to come forward and report domestic abuse. It’s important that friends and family support someone they suspect is being abused.

“Anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse or knows some they suspect is being abused can find out more, including how to report it confidentially at www.sefton.gov.uk/domesticabuse or call the 0151 394 1400. 

“And if someone is in immediate danger, you should always call 999.”

Support

Sefton Domestic Abuse Service is run by SWACA (Safety, Wellbeing And Challenging Abuse) and provides support to anyone affected by domestic abuse. This includes concerned family members or loved ones.

SWACA is a local charity that provides free, practical and emotional help to adults, young people and children who live in Sefton. You can find out more at https://swaca.com.

Domestic abuse can also be reported to Merseyside Police at www.merseyside.police.uk/report-domestic-abuse.

Abuse takes different forms

Cllr Dowd continued: “Domestic abuse takes different forms. It can take place in same sex relationships, in older couples, in immediate family relationships or where one person is the carer of the other. And it can be mental or physical intimidation or even financial control.

“Sometimes these people may not even consider or recognise what is happening to them as domestic abuse. That is why it is important that we all watch out for the signs that it is happening.

“Look out for signs such as nervousness talking openly when their abuser is around. Or a high level of sickness and absence from work or making excuses for their abuser’s unreasonable behaviour.”

Isolated

She added: “When experiencing domestic abuse people are can feel very much alone and isolated, which is what their abuser wants. However, there is a wide range of support and help available in Sefton, all of it confidential.

“So, if you are a victim of this completely unacceptable behaviour or you know someone you think is being abused, show yourself or them a bit of love for Valentine’s and report it now.”