Plea for online safety from Wiltshire charity to domestic abuse survivors
A Wiltshire charity is urging people leaving abusive relationships to protect themselves from potential stalking
A Wiltshire charity is urging people leaving abusive relationships to protect themselves stalking through their use of social media.
It comes as Wiltshire Police say they're receiving fewer reports of domestic abuse incidents.
FearFree told Greatest Hits Radio that rejection and the end of a relationship is one of the most common reasons for domestic abuse related stalking to happen.
But with digital devices at our fingertips, they're warning anyone fleeing abuse to think carefully about how they use social media.
CEO Claire Marshall told GHR social media can easily expose someone's location - making them vulnerable.
She said: "With technology and so many of us being on so many social media platforms, it's sometimes hard to track ourselves and understand how we've exposed parts of our lives that may be recognisable.
"Even in the photos giving away a location or the actual tracking on the social media that, that, that shows where the photo was taken or where you actually are at that point in time."
Survivors urged 'help keep yourselves safe'
FearFree believe in not blaming victims or their behaviour for the abuse they are suffering - but says they also are responsible for their safety.
"This is an area of difficulty because it moves into trying to protect yourself," Claire said.
She added: "Obviously we shouldn't have to do this, it should be fine to be able to give away your location for instance. But actually, if you have recently removed from an abusive relationship or experience in stalking concealing it becomes paramount."
With many families sharing devices in the home, or access to accounts, Claire encourages people leaving relationships to change their passwords.
"It may be that the perpetrator is familiar with the type of password you use.
"Many people will use their pets name or something like that, a partner will know all of those passwords," she said.
Advice from police backs up Claire's point, as one of their key points being to reduce digital footprint, ensuring sensitive information, like location or plans to go somewhere, can't be tracked.