HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

COMMUNITY SAFETY CABINET PANEL

THURSDAY 12 JUNE 2008AT 10.00 A.M.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMME

Report of the Head of Crime and Drugs Strategy

Author: Trudi BarnettTel: 01438 843642

Executive Member:Richard Smith

  1. Purpose of report

To outline the objectives of the recently agreed new governance arrangements to support the work of the Domestic Violence Strategic Programme Board.

  1. Summary

In December 2007 Assistant Chief Constable Heather Valentine convened a meeting to discuss how domestic violence could be tackled at a more strategic level. The opportunities to develop a more robust county-wide approach to this issue was explored and it was agreed that a high-level Strategic Programme Board be set up to lead on the co-ordination of a bespoke service to protect victims of domestic violence, including children, across all of Hertfordshire.

Chaired by ACC Heather Valentine and with representatives from all major sectors including Health, Probation Service, CSF, Supporting People, ACS and Safeguarding Children’s Board, the board has agreed that the current areas of priority to progress work fall into five key areas:

  • To further develop the response to perpetrators of domestic violence.
  • Introduce dedicated domestic violence courts in Hertfordshire.
  • Introduce a countywide approach to Multi-Agency Risk Assessment. Conferences (MARACs) & Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs).
  • Further develop the ‘Sunflower’ concept across the county.
  • Establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).

The Domestic Violence Strategic Programme Board will lead strategically on the above allowing the Domestic Violence Action Group (previously the Domestic Violence Strategic Project Board) to concentrate on the operational elements of preventing domestic violence with partners at a local level.

The following areas of work are considered priority areas to progress:

  • Implementation of IDVAs and MARACs across the 3 Police Areas – required to identify and support those at highest risk of harm from Domestic Violence.
  • Consider and protect the needs of children and young people who are living in households where violence is a common feature.
  1. Recommendations

That the new governance arrangements be noted and that the Panel receive a progress report at the end of the current financial year.

4.Background

Hertfordshire’s domestic violence programme is broad. There are many priorities, however, without the IDVAs and MARACs in place across all three police areas, achievement across all key areas will prove difficult. Western Area now have three fulltime IDVA posts, Central two and pump-priming funding has just been agreed for two posts for Eastern Area, thanks to GOEAST. All of this money is currently year on year and unless sustainability is achieved, the programme will not be able to move forward.

NI32 – ‘Reducing repeat incidents of domestic violence’ – is one of Hertfordshire’s up to 35 LAA improvement indicators. The form of measurement for this indicator is primarily based on MARACs, hence their importance. The development of MARACs is very much based on the appointment of IDVAs. These initiatives may appear costly but the investment to save is clear. Work is underway to calculate the costs of domestic violence to Hertfordshire communities using a recognised national formula which will provide the board with the required evidence base to move forward.

Four events have been planned to take place in early July. The first three are police area based and are targeted at colleagues who work operationally. The fourth event is a briefing to strategic partners. All are in an effort to develop a much more collective response in dealing with domestic violence.

Domestic Violence is not an isolated crime –there are clear links to child protection, sexual violence, forced marriages and kidnapping/siege taking. There is also a lack of understanding amongst many professionals as to what constitutes domestic violence. So for example the perceived lack of importance the court system gives this area (both civil and criminal) is a continuing concern. Issues around data protection (and in many casesa lack of understanding in how professionals should and can share information) and the time it takes to get a case into the court system only for the perpetrator to receive a low level sentence (conditional discharge, time limited injunction, suspended sentence), perpetuates the problem. Unfortunately through all of this the delay that partners experience in being able to progress specific cases can result in the victim, their children (and in some cases the perpetrator) receiving serious injury orworse.

080612 Domestic Violence Programme.doc

1