BUSINESSES in Ross-on-Wye are being encouraged to take advantage of free training designed to help customer-facing staff recognise the signs of domestic abuse and direct people towards support.

Herefordshire Council is bringing its ‘Cut it Out’ training to the Ryefield Centre in Grammar School Close, Ross, on Friday, November 13.

The training is aimed at people working in roles where they may build trusted relationships with customers, including hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, retail workers, financial advisers, restaurant staff, tattoo artists, nail technicians, carers and cleaners.

Delivered by domestic abuse and safeguarding consultant Martin Lakeman, the session will teach participants how to recognise domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour, respond if somebody discloses abuse and approach difficult conversations.

Attendees will also learn about services available to victims and receive a directory of organisations they can signpost people towards.

The council said an estimated 2.2 million women and 1.5 million men experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year to March 2025.

Cllr Carole Gandy, Herefordshire Council cabinet member for adults, health and wellbeing, said customer-facing workers could be particularly well placed to help.

She said: “Whether you’re in a beauty salon, bank or barbers, you could make the difference by helping someone getting the professional support they need to stay safe in the future and even to save their life.”

The Cut it Out campaign began following the murder of Kerri McAuley in Norfolk in 2017. She had spoken to her hairdresser about the domestic abuse she was experiencing before her death.

The approach has since been adopted elsewhere, with training intended to give customer-facing professionals the confidence to recognise warning signs and direct people towards specialist help.