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The problem with DASH & what the Church can learn 

Posted by Jenni James on 2 September 2025

What is the DASH tool?

DASH was brought in in 2009 to try and shift the “it’s just a domestic” attitude, so that the very real dangers facing victims would be properly assessed by police. It asks 27 questions to ascertain the level of risk to a survivor. High risk victims are given an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) who represents them in a MARAC (Multi-agency risk assessment committee). It’s not a bad tool, but it can only reflect a snapshot of a story and is only as good as the person using it. Ultimately, It’s not enough. Too many victims aren’t recognised as high risk and go on to be seriously hurt or killed, and even some who are designated high risk fail to be protected. 

The system doesn’t consider faith or cultural background, so those extra barriers and risks are not factored into the recommended response. Yet these things can have a profound impact on the situation; faith can create additional barriers to leaving an abuser, and at its worst, it can add to the levels of coercive control. It’s therefore vital that domestic abuse response tools are able to take these intersecting factors into account. 

More needs to be done

As ever, much of the issue lies with funding and resources. Victims who don’t tick enough boxes will most likely be put on a waiting list for a domestic abuse recovery course, and that is all the support they will receive. It’s no wonder that many return to their abusers, unable to see how they will manage or be safe on their own. The barriers to a life of freedom are many:

• Where will I live?
• How will I feed the children?
• How will I protect myself? 
• What if I have no one to talk to?
• How will I cope? 

It’s why at Restored, we are passionate about two things when it comes to Church. 

The need for training and awareness

The limitations of DASH highlight the need to go beyond a tick-box exercise or a simple knowledge of the law. Understanding the realities of domestic abuse, its prevalence and presentation and the trauma it inflicts upon families is critical to recognising domestic abuse and responding well. 

It’s not just the police who can miss vital signs and so provide an inadequate response. The Turn the Tide research shows that church leaders, too, can overlook high-risk situations: 36% of survivors surveyed said that disclosing to a church leader made the situation worse. 

The danger is that ill-equipped church leaders make bad risk assessments. Lack of awareness about domestic abuse can lead them to disbelieve survivors and fail to refer them to specialist support. In too many cases, survivors are placed in further danger as church leaders attempt to engage with the abuser or tell the person disclosing to pray more, try harder and above all to forgive.

That’s why one of Restored’s top priorities is ensuring church leaders are given the tools and the knowledge to safely and effectively respond to disclosures. 

Providing support for those who need community

A well-trained, understanding church can do more than this, though. There are literally hundreds of thousands of victims who will be designated low or medium risk this year, next year and the years after that. Women and men who need to know they are not alone, that there are people who care and will walk with them on their journey.

It’s one of the reasons that we are developing the Restored Beacon Network – to ensure that victims can find a welcoming community who will journey with them as they navigate housing, finance, schools, solicitors and more. If you think this is something your church could get involved with, come along to our free webinar on the 25th September to find out more about what’s involved.