Tackling Domestic Violence in Sunderland

1. Tackling Domestic Violence in Sunderland The role of the Sunderland Domestic Violence Partnership (SDVP) Sharon Kane Domestic Violence Policy Co-ordinator

2. Structure of the Presentation • Facts and figures on domestic violence • Strategic context and an overview of the SDVP • Types of interventions in place for tackling DV • Some key development over the next 3 months • The outcomes of a co-ordinated community response to domestic violence

3. Facts and Figures • Domestic violence takes many forms – from intimidation, social isolation, economic hardship, sexual assault and humiliation, physical assault, and in some cases, murder • Domestic violence accounts for around a quarter of all violent crime. • Over 400 domestic violence incidents a month are reported to the police in Sunderland – that’s almost 5,000 a year. • 2 women a week in the UK are murdered by a partner or ex-partner

4. Facts and Figures • One woman in four experiences domestic violence at some stage in her life, with an estimated one in eight women experiencing domestic violence in the past year. (British Crime Survey 2005). • In 9 out of 10 incidents children were either in the same or the next room when the violence took place. • This is a ‘hidden‘ crime and persistently under-reported with only around 25% of incidents reported to the police. • It has more repeat victims than any other crime. It is rarely a one off event and a victim may have been assaulted on up to thirty occasions before calling the police.

5. Tackling Domestic Violence in Sunderland • Key strategic priority for the Safer Sunderland Partnership (SSP) in its Safer Sunderland Strategy • Responsibility lies with the SDVP - a thematic delivery group of the SSP. • SDVP members are from statutory, community and voluntary sectors • Council – e.g. Children’s Services, Adults Services, Housing, • Police • Wearside Women in Need • Gentoo • Probation • Teaching Primary Care Trust etc. • CPS and the Courts • And many other

6. SDVP Structure • The long standing Wearside Domestic Violence Forum was restructured in 2007 to become the new SDVP. • SDVP Board • Strategic Direction • Resource and Allocation • Consultation with Practitioners • Performance Overview • Operations Group • Operational Delivery of Strategic Aims • Performance Driving • Wider Forum • Consultative Body • Identification of Best Practice • Networking

7. How Are We Tackling Domestic Violence? • Through effective partnership working • Delivering a balanced range of activity based around: • Prevention • Early Intervention • Enforcement • Support, Rehabilitation and Resettlement

8. Prevention and Early Intervention • Education and awareness raising – e.g. schools DVD • Media and marketing materials e.g. leaflets and cards in community locations such as Health Centres and Housing Offices. • Safer Homes Initiative / sanctuary scheme– intervene to prevent further risk • Single and multi-agency training e.g. Police, Health, Children’s Services, Probation, Magistrates etc.

9. Enforcement • Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPAs) in place for high risk perpetrators • Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) for high risk victims (due to be operational by April) • Police Public Protection Unit with 10 dedicated police officers – e.g. Operation Silent Night • Specialist Domestic Violence Court (due Spring 2008)

10. Support and Rehabilitation • DV Refuges run by WWIN plus outreach and resettlement work. New 10-bed refuge due to open this Spring • DV Perpetrators Hostel now being developed – first nationally • Probation programmes to change behaviour and attitudes (Community Domestic Violence Programme) • Safer Homes Initiative providing improved home security for victims including sanctuary rooms • Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) - are a first-line response at the point of crisis for victims

11. The Next 3 Months • New 15-year Safer Sunderland Strategy is under development: • Reducing repeat victimisation of DV is a top priority • DV has been proposed for inclusion in the Local Area Agreement • A more detailed DV Strategy will be produced to support this • Risk assessments – moving towards a common approach • Several new developments due this Spring e.g. Specialist Courts, MARACs, IDVA, 3rd refuge, Perpetrator hostel • Co-ordinated Community Response is needed

12. Co-ordinated Community Response This will ensure that • The safety of victims and children is at the centre of all activity • Perpetrators are held accountable • All agencies with responsibility to act are part of the process and are held accountable for the delivery of agreed actions • The outcomes will be • Effective (and appropriate) services for victims • An increase in reporting • A reduction in repeat victimisation • An increase in successful prosecutions • An increase in perpetrators attending a court mandated programme • A reduction in children experiencing/witnessing domestic violence • A safer Sunderland

13. Contact Details Sharon Kane Domestic Violence Policy Co-ordinator Safer Communities Team Development and Regeneration Services PO Box 102, Civic Centre, Sunderland, SR2 7DN Direct Line: (0191) 553 1716 Email: sharon.kane@sunderland.gov.uk Safer Sunderland Partnership WebPages:  www.sunderland.gov.uk/safersunderland