The Black women Dr Kanyeredzi spoke to for her research “felt betrayed by social work professionals,” she said.
So why would they seek support from a service that they believe is unsafe and doesn’t represent their interests?” “These services become places that do not recognise their victimisation. This lack of trust extends to the media too. When Aamna was reporting her story on Tim Westwood, she had many extended conversations with the women making these allegations. It was a slow, challenging process – and before her sources would open up to her and her colleague Alexandra Topping, they had to earn their trust. If the police and the social services often fail the Black women they are meant to help, they are hardly acting in a vacuum, Dr Kanyeredzi says.