Domestic violence

One in four women and one in six men will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in their lives. It is a crime which usually happens behind closed doors and many incidents are not reported to the police or other statutory agencies. We are determined to:

• prevent domestic violence happening or re-occurring 
• protect victims and their children
• bring offenders to justice.

Domestic violence is defined as any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults, aged 18 and over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender and sexuality. (Family members are defined as mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and grandparents, whether directly related, in-laws or step-family.)

The definition has been widened to include issues around Honour Based Violence (HBV) and Forced Marriage. These issues cut across all cultures and communities but predominantly seen in cultures which are heavily male dominated.

Tackling domestic and sexual abuse remains a key national and local priority. Further information on Domestic Violence.  The first National Delivery Plan was published in 2005 it introduced an annual reporting mechanism to update on progress against the plan. You can read the most recent report here.

The Violence against Women and Girls Strategy was launched in November 2009.  The ‘Together We Can End Violence against Women and Girls’ strategy sets out a range of actions for the police, local authorities, the NHS and government departments across three key areas – Prevention, Provision and Prevention. 

The Action Plan on sexual violence Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan was published in April 2007, with the aim of reducing the prevalence of Sexual Violence and Abuse. Prevention is a key objective together with access to support and health services for victims of sexual violence and improving the response of Criminal Justice agencies.

Our response to these National Action Plans has been to support the 12 North East community safety partnerships, to develop and implement local action plans. There has been considerable activity across the North East to tackle some of the key issues raised within these plans:

Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVC’s)
Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, which involves prosecutors, police and victim support groups, aims to bring more offenders to justice and to provide support to victims of domestic violence. The courts provide independent support for victims and dedicated prosecutors, as well as magistrates, legal advisers and police officers who specialise in domestic violence cases. In the North East, we have made significant progress in finalising SDVC coverage within each of our localities there are now 11 SDVC’s operating in:

• Middlesbrough (covering Middlesbrough, Stockton and parts of Redcar and Cleveland)
• Newton Aycliffe
• Peterlee
• Consett
• Gateshead
• Sunderland
• Newcastle
• North Tyneside
• South Tyneside
• Hartlepool
• Northumberland.

Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferencing (MARACs)
A MARAC is a meeting where agencies talk about the risk of serious harm to people experiencing domestic abuse in their area, and make safety plans to support those most at risk. The aim is to increase the safety and well-being of the adults and their children involved, and to reduce the risk of them becoming repeat victims. MARACs operate in all local authority areas in the North East. Work will continue this year to strengthen MARAC coverage across the region, embed quality assurance in the MARAC process, promote regional consistency across MARACs and maximise opportunities for joint working.

Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs)
IDVAs focus on providing support to victims that are at medium to high risk of harm and addressing their safety needs. They are pivotal to the SDVC and MARAC, and their involvement with victims has been shown to increase notification of children at risk, and reduce the numbers of victims unwilling to support a criminal prosecution. There are currently IDVAs working across all MARAC areas. Work will continue to ensure IDVAs are fully trained and that appropriate standards of provision, management and referral pathways are in place.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs)
SARCs are one-stop locations where victims receive medical care and counselling from expert practitioners. They have the opportunity to assist the police investigation, including undergoing a forensic examination. In the North East there are 3 SARCs covering the three police force areas, with the Northumbria SARC operating from two sites in Newcastle and Sunderland. Work will continue to develop appropriate standards of provision across the region and strengthen intelligence processes for inclusion in local strategies.

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs)
ISVAs provide a similar role to IDVAs, supporting victims of rape and sexual abuse and supporting them through the criminal justice system. There are ISVAs currently working across the region. Work will continue to increase coverage of ISVAs, ensure they are fully trained and that appropriate referral pathways are in place to specialist support services.

Violence against women and girls and sexual abuse
Work will continue to embed the wider Violence against Women and Girls strategy in partnership activity across the region and to include action around the Sexual Abuse agenda. This will include raising awareness within our localities to support activity around Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriage.

Domestic violence and safeguarding children
Community safety partnerships and Local Children’s Safeguarding Boards are working together to develop a consistent approach to domestic violence and safeguarding children across the region encompassing universal services, with minimum standards to translate into a core offer for children and young people.

Safer, Stronger Communities
Government Office for the North East
Citygate
Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4WH
tel: 0191 202 2229
fax: 0191 202 3688
email: communitysafety@gone.gsi.gov.uk