Partnership between Geraldton police and DV Safe Phones proves to be a success with over 75 phones handed out

A venture between local police and non-for-profit program DV Safe Phone has provided more than 75 phones to victims of domestic violence in the Mid West in less than a month.

DV Safe Phone founder and CEO Ashton Wood learnt in 2020 how mobile phones were usually the first thing broken or stolen during domestic violence cases, leaving the victim with no way to contact emergency services or helplines.

“We collect and repurpose unused mobile phones and provide them to registered charities, safe houses and authorities serving victims of domestic violence,” he said.

“Our ‘safe phones’ are then provided as part of an individual’s ‘safe’ or ‘escape’ plan, giving them the ability to call for help in an emergency.”

Mr Wood said the non-for-profit’s goal was to give victims a way to contact emergency services while providing the needed technology to domestic violence and law enforcement agencies at no cost.

The program has provided more than 285 mobile phones to WA agencies, safe houses, police stations and hospitals.

Since registering to become distribution points, the Mid West police stations have handed out more than 75 phones and continue to request more to help out families.

Last year there were a reported 1208 cases of domestic violence in the Mid West and Gascoyne district, according to WA Police figures.

The phones come from members of the public that donate any old and unused mobiles in to drop boxes located across WA, that are then recycled and given out to those that need them.