VAWG survey – Participant Information Sheet

In order to take part, you must:

• Be aged 18 or over.
• Be a victim-survivor of domestic abuse, stalking, intimate image abuse (or revenge porn), and/or upskirting.
• Either live in West Mercia police area**, and/or are a victim-survivor of the above crime types that has been reported to West Mercia police. (**West Mercia police area covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin).

No, participation in this survey is completely voluntary. You do not have to participate if you do not want to and can opt out at any stage before submitting your survey responses.

If you want to take part, you will complete an online survey which will take approximately 10 minutes.

The questions ask you about your experience as being a victim-survivor of domestic abuse, stalking, intimate image abuse (or revenge porn), and/or upskirting, and about your support needs. It also asks questions about your awareness of support service provision, and if applicable, your experience of accessing these services. Additionally, if you have reported to the police, you will be invited to answer some questions about your experience.

• Some questions are multiple choice and other questions allow you to answer in your own words.
• You are asked not to give any details that will identify you or about the offence itself.
• You will not be required to share anything that you do not feel comfortable with.
• You do not need to answer all the questions if you do not want to. Please just skip any question you do not wish to answer.

Report a crime | West Mercia Police

Whilst we are not asking questions about the offence itself, we recognise that taking part in this survey may be distressing. Please only complete the survey if you feel safe and comfortable to do so.

Although the survey is confidential, if a crime is disclosed, and/or we have concerns about serious or immediate harm to others, then we may need to breach your confidentiality and disclose the information provided in the survey.

Look after yourself when completing the survey

Please look after yourself when completing this survey.  Take breaks if you need them and only continue when you feel ready.

If you would like to know more about support services in West Mercia and how you can easily access these, please refer: Victim Services – West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner

The survey results will assist with understanding your support needs as a victim/ survivor of these specific crime types, identifying any strengths and areas of development with existing support services.

It will also seek to recognise potential gaps in existing services and inform the development and commissioning of support services.

Your feedback will be used to help us to understand what West Mercia police does well, as well as understanding areas for potential development.

You will remain anonymous, and all responses will be handled confidentially.

If you choose to participate in this survey, you are giving consent for your responses to be collected and shared with West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, along with partner agencies and relevant commissioned services. The data may be shared in presentations, reports, training, and reports. However, any data shared will be anonymised.

As this survey is anonymous, you will not be able to withdraw consent for your survey responses being included once you have submitted your response.

By clicking on ‘the survey hyperlink’ you confirm that you understand, and agree with each of the following statements:

• You are over 18 years old.
• You have read and understood this Participant Information Sheet.
• You have had the opportunity to consider the information and ask questions if you have not understood satisfactorily.
• You understand that participation is voluntary and that you are free to not to participate without giving reason and without being penalised or disadvantaged.
• You understand that you will not be asked for any identifying information that might identify yourself or anyone else that you have seen as a patient, and that you will not provide such information.
• You know how to contact the research team if you need to.
• You understand that the information given will be securely stored.
• You understand that you will not be able to withdraw consent for your survey responses once you have submitted the survey, as this survey is anonymous.
• You consent to West Mercia Police storing this information as part of the on-going West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner VAWG needs assessment survey work, and to inform commissioning of future support services and/or intervention.

The Chief Constable is defined as the ‘Data Controller’ for the purposes of the legislation and is required to ensure West Mercia Police handles all personal information in accordance with that legislation.

Participation in this survey is voluntary.

The data gathered will be used to inform the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) Needs Assessment, which will assist with understanding the support needs of those impacted upon by specific VAWG related abuse, identifying gaps in existing services, and informing the development and commissioning of victim support services.

You can find out more about how West Mercia police handles data by visiting: Privacy notice | West Mercia Police