'We need to report 'low level' incidents as it builds up a picture of escalating behaviour'
The mother of murdered Libby Squire is working with police to make sure potential warning signs are spotted much earlier - along with a Devon woman who saw her mum being shot dead
Last updated 29th Apr 2025
The mum of murdered Libby Squire is backing a Devon and Cornwall Police campaign urging women to report supposedly 'low level' offences.
Lisa Squire says the 21 year old's killer had committed a string of offences and potential red flags were missed as his behaviour escalated.
She said: "It is unrealistic to expect that if you report to the police that night that they are going to go and catch that person but what they've then got is the information which leads towards the intelligence to be able to hopefully be able to apprehend that person."
This week is Devon & Cornwall Police's Victim Focus Week, which is highlighting the 10th anniversary of its Victim Care Unit - a free, specialist support service available to any victim.
Police are focussing on Violence Against Women and Girls and have held a 'Lived Experience Day' where victims shared their experiences of domestic abuse, stalking and sexual offences.
In the 12 months to February 2025, 104,811 victim-based crimes were recorded by Devon and Cornwall Police - up by 13.5 per cent compared with the previous year.
The second part of the campaign includes an educational package for younger people aged between 14 and 18 . The force is working with schools 'to educate young people about violence against women and girls and specifically about non-contact sexual offences that can occur in public spaces'.
It aims to 'provide information to young people about how to keep themselves and their friends safe'.
Georgia Gabriel-Hooper, who now lives in Devon was 14 when she witnessed her mum being shot dead by her step dad - who was estranged at the time.
Cheryl Hooper, 51, was killed outside her home in Newport, Shropshire, in January 2018 after a history of coercive behaviour. Andrew "Jack" Hooper was ordered to serve a minimum of 31 years.
The now 21 year old is now working with Devon & Cornwall Police, as well as other forces, to help train officers and raise awareness whilst supporting work with teenagers in school.
She said: "The biggest chance that we have of really changing the system and really changing views and opinions around domestic abuse is to educate the next generation.
"Domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking they are all patterns. It's really important to recognise them, victims a lot of the time will minimise so it's really important that we are training officers to recognise the small things and to read between the lines of what is being said."
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has dedicated funding of more than £9.5 million in 2024-25 to support victims through the services it commissions.
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, said: “Through my role of holding the police to account, it is very clear to me that despite the excellent job so many police officers do, there are times when victims don’t always receive the support they should.
“That it is why I am extremely supportive of the force implementing its first Victim Focus Week to ensure that investigations are as victim-centred as possible, with people signposted to the right services.
“The true extent of how many people have been impacted by crime across the peninsula will never be truly known due to people not feeling capable of reporting it to police or fearing that they won’t be listened to.