A KICK, a punch, a push? Often it’s more complicated. Violence, control, intimidation and isolation are all forms of abuse that are much more common than you might think.

That’s why police and other authorities have been sitting down for a chat to help victims and raise awareness of domestic abuse.

As part of the STRIVE project — a GM-wide initiative to reduce domestic abuse and offer support to those who have suffered it — officers were backing the ‘Sitting Right With You’ campaign.

The campaign’s striking yellow sofa made its way across the borough, with officers sitting down to hear people’s stories about abuse, and offer advice and support.

DCI Charlotte Cadden, of Bury police, said: “We want to raise awareness in different communities about domestic abuse, about how it can be reported and what types of abuse there are.

“It is about raising awareness of coercive and controlling behaviour, for example when partners control access to their partners phone or stop them seeing their friends over a long period of time.

“We want people to feel safe and comfortable coming forward and reporting it.

“The yellow sofa is a way of us engaging with the public and asking them to come and speak to us to so we can give them information about where to get help.

“It also helps us raise the profile of the campaign.”

DCI Cadden said there has been an increase in volunteers working with the STRIVE project in Bury.

Uniformed police officers will always attend domestic abuse reports first, but afterwards the volunteers will make follow-up visits to the household to try to find out why the abuse is taking place.

DCI Cadden added: “We need to get to the root cause of why these incidents are happening and this helps us to do that”

The STRIVE project does not only help victims of domestic abuse, but also addresses the actions of the perpetrators through a behavioural change programme called ‘Inner Strength’.

The programme is voluntary but is already producing results — one man who went through the programme has managed to completely change his behaviour and has now returned as a mentor on the course.

A police spokesman added: “Reporting incidents assists police in tackling domestic abuse.

“The information you provide is invaluable and enables us to identify areas of concern and patterns of behaviour that could lead to the prosecution of offenders and to ensuring the safety of the victim.

“If you find yourself in a situation where you are in immediate danger, phone 999.

“Alternatively you can call your local specialist domestic abuse investigator on 0161 856 8064.”