A total of 150 pairs of shoes, painted blue by Fylde Coast Women’s Aid, will be on display in support of the campaign for Kiena’s Law and to represent 150 suspected suicides linked to domestic abuse in 2025. The colour blue symbolises both feelings of depression, “feeling blue”, and the lasting impact of lives lost.

The exhibition and campaign for change follow the death of Kiena Dawes, a young mother from Lancashire who tragically took her own life in July 2022 after suffering prolonged domestic abuse. Her death drew widespread attention because it highlighted how domestic abuse can have devastating, long‑term effects, and raised questions about whether more could have been done to protect her.

The exhibition shines a light on this important issue and encourages visitors to sign the online petition for Kiena’s Law.

When and where you can see the exhibition:

– 14 October – The University of Central Lancashire, St Peter’s Square
– 22 October – Edge Hill University
– 29 October – The Concourse, Skelmersdale
– 19 November – The Esplanade, Fleetwood
– 18 February – Market Hall, Accrington

Local support services will be present at all events to offer information and support where needed.

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “I have been working with partners in Lancashire and beyond to strengthen understanding of domestic abuse-related suicide, improve responses and call for legislative change.

“The public response to our Blue Shoes Exhibition and the campaign for Kiena’s Law has been truly overwhelming.

“More than 44,000 people have already signed my petition to support the call for change and to ensure that the role of perpetrators is properly recognised where domestic abuse leads to suicide.

“By taking the exhibition on tour, we can continue to shine a light on this important issue and strengthen our campaign for change.

“Please come along to see the exhibition and sign the petition for Kiena’s Law.”

Frank Mullane MBE, CEO of AAFDA, added: “Domestic abuse-related suicides are a real scourge and testament to how utterly devastating domestic abuse can be.

“We teamed up with the Lancashire PCC, Clive Grunshaw, to start a petition to bring about law which would ensure perpetrators were properly held to account.

“The Blue Shoes Exhibition is a powerful tool to increase awareness and it’s fantastic to see it go on tour in support of our calls for Kiena’s Law.”

The petition for Kiena’s Law can be signed online at change.org/kienas-law.