Chief Inspector Sharon Baker of Avon and Somerset Police has earned the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award 2021, partly for sharing an online video recounting her experience of living in a controlling and abusive relationship.
She was presented with the award at the Police Federation of England and Wales’ annual conference held this month.
Chief Inspector Baker is the strategic lead for domestic abuse at the Avon and Somerset constabulary and has spearheaded a new process to address how disclosures of domestic abuse are managed by her force.
In her video, now used by other police forces as part of domestic abuse training for frontline officers, she urges other victims to break the silence about their abuse and to find help and support as soon as possible.
She said: “When I recorded my video back in December, I could never have imagined the impact sharing my story could have.
“I have been blown away by the amount of emails, phone calls and messages I have received from people not just from within the force but also other police forces, members of the public and partner organisations.”
