Research into ‘The Knock’ earns vital funds and recognition for Leeds charity

Ongoing research by the University of Huddersfield into the devastating impact on families when a close relative is arrested for accessing indecent images of children has resulted in recognition and vital funds for a Leeds-based charity.

Professor Rachel Armitage, Professor of Criminology, helped to establish Talking Forward which supports  families when a loved one is arrested for accessing indecent images of children. 

This sudden and traumatic change in circumstances is known as ‘the knock ’, from the sudden arrival at the family home of the police, who in most cases arrest and take away the individual concerned leaving the family to live with the consequences.

Talking Forward was rewarded after just over a year of providing much-needed support to families affected by ‘the knock’ at the recent West Yorkshire Mayor’s Safer Community Awards, attended by Mayor Tracy Brabin and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Alison Lowe.

The award of £6,500 to Talking Forward came from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund, money from the proceeds of crime that have been recovered and allocated to charities that work with victims of crime.

But the important aspect of the funding for Professor Armitage is that it acknowledges that families affected by ‘the knock’ are victims of crime themselves.

“The money from the fund has traditionally been reserved for direct victims of crime, so we are thrilled to see recognition for the families of offenders, who, whilst not technically classed as victims, are what we would describe as secondary or indirect victims of this crime” says Professor Armitage.

The money will help Talking Forward to continue their monthly peer support groups, assist in funding travel to Leeds for those who are financially impacted by the arrest of a loved one, and expand the services to include other interventions such as walking therapy sessions.

“It is about more than the money,” Professor Armitage adds. “It allows us to pay for the room we hire once a month for face-to-face meetings in Leeds. It can help families travel to Leeds to access that help -  we have had families that would love to travel to the sessions, but cannot afford a train ticket.

“We can do more than peer support thanks to this money, and we look forward to working with those accessing the service to tailor the support to their specific needs.”

A PhD researcher from the University of Huddersfield is now embedded with Talking Forward, and Professor Armitage recently discussed her research on BBC Radio’s Woman’s Hour.

“’The knock’ is a taboo subject but what was also pleasing, aside from the award and the funds, was that the room was listening to something people don’t want to talk about. That was reaffirming for the families.”