About AbuseFreeLife
AbuseFreeLife is an independent safeguarding consultancy and training practice focused on domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control and complex safeguarding. I support professionals and organisations to make better decisions, spot escalation earlier and reduce harm.
Purpose and focus
Serious harm is rarely caused by a lack of tools. It happens when patterns are missed, information is fragmented, professional judgement gets diluted and escalation fails. AbuseFreeLife exists to strengthen how safeguarding systems function in practice across frontline work, supervision, leadership oversight, governance and independent review.
Read the approach: Functions, not apps
John Trott
I’m an independent safeguarding specialist with extensive experience across domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, safeguarding, independent review, training and consultancy.
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My work focuses on risk, professional judgement, escalation and defensible safeguarding practice, particularly in high-harm and high-complexity contexts.
Operational and Safeguarding Background
I served for over 28 years in Devon and Cornwall Police and retired in 2016 as a Detective Chief Inspector with responsibility for public protection. I am an accredited Senior Investigating Officer and Interview Advisor.
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My policing background included responsibility for domestic abuse, safeguarding, homicide investigation, MARAC, adult and child protection, high-risk offender management and multi-agency public protection work. That experience continues to inform how I think about risk, escalation, investigative opportunity and defensible safeguarding practice.
Independent Review and Consultancy Work
Since leaving policing, I have worked nationally with Community Safety Partnerships, police forces, health services, local authorities and specialist organisations.
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My work includes:
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Independent Chair and Author of Domestic Homicide Reviews and Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews
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Independent MARAC Chairing
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Safeguarding consultancy and partnership assurance
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Domestic abuse and stalking training
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Review-informed practice development
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Multi-agency safeguarding improvement work​
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I have chaired and authored reviews involving homicide, domestic abuse related suicide, coercive control, stalking, adult family violence, complex safeguarding and multi-agency practice.
Training and Professional Development
I deliver specialist training across domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, safeguarding, MARAC, professional curiosity, risk assessment and defensible decision-making.
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Training is designed to move beyond awareness alone and focuses on helping professionals recognise patterns, connect information, understand escalation and respond more effectively within real-world safeguarding environments.
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Sessions are informed by operational practice, independent review learning and current safeguarding challenges across statutory and non-statutory services.
Public engagement and media
I contribute to media, documentary and public discussions relating to domestic abuse, stalking and safeguarding where it supports accurate and responsible representation of complex issues.
This work is undertaken carefully and does not compromise independence, confidentiality or the integrity of review, chairing or assurance roles.
Approach
I believe effective safeguarding depends not only on procedures, but on professional curiosity, contextual understanding, proportionate information sharing and the confidence to escalate concern when something does not feel right.
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My work focuses on helping organisations strengthen practice in ways that are practical, defensible and grounded in operational reality.
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AbuseFreeLife works with professionals and organisations across the UK, supporting safeguarding practice through independent review, consultancy and training in high-risk and complex contexts.