Aurora’s Media Appearances

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Tuesday 18 April 2023

Summary: Aurora New Dawn will provide a Thames Valley Stalking Service to support victims of stalking in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The long-term service, which is backed by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, will offer emotional and practical support, advocacy and guidance to victims navigating the criminal justice system. Victims First will manage referrals into the service, which can also be accessed online.

Shonagh Dillon, CEO of Aurora New Dawn, and Jessica Farr, who was a victim of stalking, spoke to the BBC to draw attention to the effects of stalking behavior and the assistance that a new support service in the Thames Valley is providing to victims.

To see the full Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner report, click here:

Bucks Radio, Wednesday 15 February 2023

Summary: Aurora New Dawn, a charity with expertise in the field, will deliver the newly launched Thames Valley Stalking Service to provide emotional, practical support and advocacy for victims of stalking, regardless of the type of stalking. The service is part of Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner’s strategy to enhance safety for women and girls in the region

Preview:

To see the full Bucks Radio report, click here:

ITV News, Tuesday 14 February 2023

Summary: Aurora New Dawn has launched a new Thames Valley Stalking Service to help victims of stalking in the region, with support from Jessica Farr. The service offers emotional and practical help, and Victims First provides additional support to victims of all crimes across the area.

To see the full ITV News report, click here:

BBC News, Tuesday 14 February 2023

Summary: Aurora New Dawn has been awarded the contract to run a new initiative that will provide support to victims of stalking in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, with the initiative expected to offer emotional and practical support to those affected. The program will operate until 2025 and forms part of a larger strategy by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, to enhance safety for women and girls.

To see the full BBC News report, click here:

RDG.Today, Tuesday 14 February 2023

Summary: The Thames Valley Stalking Service has been launched by the Police and Crime Commissioner to support victims of stalking in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. The service will be run by charity Aurora New Dawn with support from Victims First to provide long-term assistance to victims and guide them through the criminal justice system.

Preview:

To see the full RDG.Today report, click here:

MKFM, Monday 13 February 2023

Summary: Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, has partnered with charity Aurora New Dawn to launch the Thames Valley Stalking Service. The service provides emotional and practical support and advocacy to victims of stalking, and is available to those who have experienced any stalking behaviors. The charity has been awarded £120,000 per year until March 2025 to deliver the service.

Preview:

To see the full MKFM report, click here:

Maidenhead Advertiser, Monday 13 February 2023

Summary: The Thames Valley Stalking Service, run by charity Aurora New Dawn, has been awarded £120,000 a year by the Thames Valley’s Police and Crime Commissioner to provide specialist support, advocacy, and practical assistance to victims of stalking across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire until March 2025. The programme will offer independent stalking advocacy caseworker support to victims and will focus on all types of stalking behavior, not just that of ex-partners.

To see the full Maidenhead Advertiser report, click here:

The News – Monday 19 December 2022

Summary: Domestic abuse becomes more frequent, more severe and more dangerous during the Christmas period. The cost-of-living crisis and other pressures, such as men’s World Cup, alcohol consumption and social isolation, may exacerbate the violence.

Preview:

To see the full The News report, click here:

In-Common – 17 November 2022

Summary: Hampshire-based charity Aurora New Dawn has been awarded by Hampshire Constabulary for supporting the force’s Workplace Domestic Abuse service. The charity, part of a panel providing expert guidance, supports victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking. Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona Bitters congratulated Aurora New Dawn for their well-deserved Chief Constable’s commendation.

Preview:

To see the full In-Common report, click here:

The Times – Sunday 13 November 2022

Summary: How new AI will detect train thugs before they even attack.

To see the full The Times report, click here:

UnHerd – 14 October 2022

Summary: The UK government has been warned that the cost-of-living crisis caused by soaring prices will have a disproportionate impact on victims of domestic abuse. Women are often left without money for essentials such as food and heating, even if they work, because their partners have taken complete control of the family finances. Now, with prices shooting up, organisations that provide services for victims of domestic and sexual abuse are bracing themselves for a flood of new calls for help. The high cost of living is creating ideal conditions for coercive control, a form of abuse that is not as widely understood as physical violence.

Preview:

To see the full UnHerd report, click here:

The Times – Sunday 30 October 2022

Summary: Years of abuse at the hands of the submarine bullies left me suicidal.

To see the full The Times report, click here:

The Times – Saturday 29 January 2022

Summary: The army’s shameful secret: domestic abusers are still in uniform.

To see the full The Times report, click here:

The News – Friday 21 January 2022

Summary: Domestic abusers are using smart home technology and social media to stalk, harass, and control their victims, according to research from the University of Portsmouth. The study, funded by the Home Office, found that perpetrators are using spyware to hack into accounts, creating fake social media profiles, and using geo-location apps and other tech to monitor their victims’ movements. The report called for legislative and policy changes to keep up with the rapid developments in technology.

To see the full The News report, click here:

The Times – Sunday 26 December 2021

Summary: Plan to allow rapists to self-identify as women prompts victims’ fury.

To see the full The Times report, click here:

The News – Thursday 25 November 2021

Summary: On White Ribbon Day, campaigners have urged people across Portsmouth to unite against violence towards women, as one domestic abuse service in the area reported an almost 100% increase in cases in 2020. Portsmouth Football Club and the city council have teamed up with the shelter to raise awareness of male violence against women.

To see the full The News report, click here:

The News – Tuesday 9 November 2021

Summary: Recorded sexual offences in Portsmouth rose by 9% in the 12 months to June, to 845 incidents, reflecting the experiences of women in the city, according to local charity Aurora New Dawn. At 3.9 crimes per 1,000 people, the rate in Portsmouth was higher than the England and Wales average of 2.8. Nick Stripe, head of crime statistics at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said the rise in overall recorded crime in Portsmouth, which increased by 1%, reflected nationwide trends in reductions in the reporting and recording of many crime types during lockdown periods.

To see the full The News report, click here:

Our helpline number:

If you would like to support the Aurora New Dawn charity and you are able to donate you can do so here:

If you would like to support our female only group work and you are able to donate you can do so here: