Joanna Croxton was murdered by her husband at their home.听 Claire Bernal was shot dead by her former boyfriend.听 Rana Faruqui and Julia Pemberton were also murdered by their partners.听
Now the families of these victims are calling for better provisions to be made available across the country.
Parents Chris, Tricia and Carol
At an international conference on domestic violence in Croydon, Claire鈥檚 mother Tricia Bernal, joined forces with the families of Rana Faruqui to launch a Trust called CRT.听 Their intention is to campaign for more family justice centres to be opened in the United Kingdom.
鈥淲e won't stop until people recognise that this is the way forward. By doing so, saving lives鈥, promises Tricia
Meanwhile her partner Carol says, the number of deaths as a result of domestic violence is at an unacceptable level so, getting more family justice centres across the country is imperative.
鈥淭here are two women a week being murdered by partners or ex-partners 鈥 this doesn't have to happen and family justice centres are such a big part of it not happening.听 If the woman, or the man in some cases, has somewhere to go and everything is there then I think we will save a lot of lives鈥.
Croydon is home to Europe鈥檚 only Family Justice Centre which, according to its Director Jill Madden has saved the lives of many people since it was opened.
"they couldn't go on any more and if we hadn't helped them, they really believe they wouldn't be alive now"
Jill Madden, Director Family Justice Centre
鈥淲e had a lunch for clients who used the services and it was very moving.听 Women stood up and said we鈥檇 literally saved their lives.听 People were talking that they'd come to us at a time when they were considering suicide, they couldn't go on any more and, if we hadn't helped them, they really believe they wouldn't be alive now鈥, says Jill
The Family Justice Centre opened almost three years ago.听 Since then its staff have worked with almost 10,000 people.
Councillor Steve O鈥機onnell said:听 鈥淐roydon鈥檚 Family Justice Centre is proving to be an effective response in helping families to break the cycle of domestic and family violence.听 We help hundreds of families each month.听 Quite simply this centre saves lives鈥.
The conference which featured experts and practitioners from all over the world, also discussed issues ranging from honour-based violence and forced marriages to sexual exploitation of children.
To find out more from parents Tricia, Carol and Chris, click onto interview links below and top right hand of this page.
Also hear more from Jill Madden.听 Select link below or top right hand of this page.
