Transcript Slide 1

Public Protection & Partnership
Working
DCI Sam Faulkner
Clare Elcombe
IDVA
Definition of Domestic Violence
•
“Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse
(psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between
adults who are or have been intimate partners or family
members, regardless of gender or sexuality." This includes
issues of concern to black and minority ethnic (BME)
communities such as so called 'honour‘-based violence.
» (Home Office)
•
Anyone forced to alter their behaviour because they are
frightened of their partner's reaction is being abused.
» (Refuge)
Slide 2
Domestic Violence
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The effects of DV are long-term and far-reaching for individual
survivors, children and the wider community
– DV is one of the only issues to cut across the whole of society.
Abusers and survivors come from all classes, races, religions,
educational backgrounds, nationalities, etc
– DV features heavily in the lives of children with child protection
plans, looked after children, youth offenders, and children who
display bullying and disruptive classroom behaviour
– DV also features in the lives of many mental health care users,
substance abusers
– DV is the most common cause of homelessness amongst
women
– DV is a significant contributor to violent crime figures including
murder
Slide 3
Effects on survivors
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Isolation from family / friends
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Loss of income or work
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Homelessness
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Emotional / psychological effects such as anxiety, depression or lowered
self-esteem
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Guilt - feeling responsible for the abuse or the effect on the children
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Physical injury or disability
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If they are pregnant, they may miscarry or the baby may be stillborn
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Time off work or study, and long-term impact on financial security and
career
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Death: two women a week are killed by their partners or former partners;
and abused women are five times more likely to commit suicide
Slide 4
Links to Child Protection
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Where there is domestic violence in the home 40-60% of
children will be being directly abused – there is a very strong
overlap of DV and child abuse.
» Abrahams, 1994; Hester & Pearson, 1998; Epstein & Keep, 1995.
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In 90% of domestic violence incidents children are in the same
or the next room
» Hughes, 1992
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76% of children continue to be abused by the perpetrator after
separation – often during court ordered contact
» AMICA, Radford & Sayer, 1999
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Social services recognise that a child witnessing the abuse of
a parent is at risk of emotional harm even if the abuse is never
directed at them
Slide 5
Newham’s demographics
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According to the 2001 census:
– Newham has 243,891 residents living as 91,821 households
– Newham has the highest proportion of non-White residents in
the country, with 61% the population from BME groups
– 37% of residents were born outside the UK
– Newham’s population is very young – with the highest proportion
of under 25’s and the lowest proportion of people over 65 within
England & Wales
– Newham is one of the poorest boroughs – 1 in 5 people live in
households with below 30% of the average income compared
with 1 in 16 in London and 1 in 25 in Britain
– Newham has an unemployment rate of 6.7% - the second
highest in London
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It is estimated around 250,000 incidents of DV occur in Newham
each year – one every 2 minutes
Slide 6
Newham picture of DV
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Each year in Newham around 5,000 DV incidents are reported
to the Police
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Around 2,500 of these are crimes
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For 54.3% a suspect is charged or cautioned
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For the Met as a whole around 150,000 incidents of DV are
reported each year (of approximately 7.5milion total incidents),
of which around 52,000 are crimes – the overall Met detection
rate is 42.1%
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On average around 2% of DV incidents are reported
Slide 7
Cost of Domestic Violence
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2004 research estimated that the cost of DV to individual services
was:
» Criminal Justice System
£1 billion
» Health Care
£1.2 billion
» Social Services
£0.25 billion
» Housing
£0.16 billion
» Civil & Legal
£0.3 billion
» Economic Output
£2.7 billion
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The estimated total cost of DV for the government, employers and
victims in 2004 was £23 billion
Slide 8
Key Newham Strategy Points
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Increase safe choices for victims fleeing domestic violence
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Hold perpetrators accountable for their abusive behaviour
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Provide public education to raise awareness of domestic violence
in the community
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Educate children and young people as to the impact and effects of
domestic violence
Slide 9
Newham Family Justice Centre (FJC)
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A new initiative developed to support the needs of women and
children who have been the victims of violence
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The concept is based on successful models that were employed in
San Diego, New York and Croydon
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Brings together civil, criminal and social care agencies under one
roof, working together to support and protect victims of domestic
violence
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The FJC applies a problem solving approach which focuses on
victims, their families and perpetrators to deliver long term and
sustainable solutions that reduces repeat victimisation
Slide 10
FJC - Objectives
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To increase early identification of victims of DV by utilising points
of contact for front line services
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Build capacity in the sector to provide early effective advice and
support to victims and their children
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To support victims through the Civil and Criminal Justice System
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Hold perpetrators to account
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To improve the range of responses to DV victims and their
children
Slide 11
Newham Family Justice Centre
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The FJC covers:
– Domestic Violence
– Forced Marriage
– Rape & Sexual Assault
– Honour Based Violence
– Trafficking & Prostitution
– Substance Misuse & Domestic Violence
Slide 12
FJC - Services
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The FJC provides services that include:
– Arranging safe, emergency accommodation, including refuge
referrals
– Undertaking DIY Injunctions
– Housing and benefit advice
– Risk assessment
– Advice on immigration; civil & legal remedies
– Safety planning
– Arranging for Sanctuary provision
– Specialist domestic violence advisors on duty to take
emergency appointments, phone calls and referrals
Slide 13
FJC performance so far
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Newham FJC has been operational since July 2009
– Sharp increase in referrals – currently over 200 open
cases
– Positive outcomes – supporting prosecutions, housing
transfers, immigration appeals
– Training sessions for social workers, housing officers and
health visitors
– Networks:
• Child protection & Safeguarding adults
• Health & mental health
• Housing
• Children’s centres
• Substance misuse agencies
• Faith and cultural groups
Slide 14
MARAC
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Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
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A Home Office recommendation to:
– share information to increase the safety, health and well being
of victims and their children
– determine whether the perpetrator poses a significant risk
– jointly construct and implement a risk management plan to
reduce repeat victimisation
– improve agency accountability
– improve support for staff
Slide 15
MARAC Performance
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Since January 2009
– 165 cases referred to MARAC, involving 191 children
• 87 BME
• 3 male victims
• 3 with a disability
– 6% repeat rate (10 cases)
– National repeat rate of over 20%
Slide 16
Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC)
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Established November 2006
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Focus on criminal matters in Magistrates Court
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Clusters and fast-tracks DV cases
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Presence of advocates and / or Police officers in courts to advise
and support victim
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Multi-agency partnerships are crucial
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Training is a priority issue
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Victim participation is key to the progression of DV cases
Slide 17
SDVC Performance
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34% guilty plea
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19% conviction
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1% withdrawn
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14% dismissed
» Others still pending or committed for trial
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Increase in convictions & guilty pleas, reduction in withdrawals
Slide 18
Sanctuary Scheme
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A scheme designed to help victims stay in their homes
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Installs free security measures
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Individually assessed and tailored to need
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Available to local authority, housing association and private
tenants; as well as to owner occupiers
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Often carried out in conjunction with civil legal orders
Slide 19
Sanctuary scheme performance
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Clients report they feel much safer with additional security
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Prevents homelessness due to domestic violence
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Maintains local support networks
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Allows children to stay in school
Slide 20
Domestic Violence Intervention Project
(DVIP)
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A perpetrator programme established in 1992 covering Waltham
Forest, Barking & Dagenham and Newham
Nationally recognised as one of the foremost multi-faceted
intervention services
Aims:
– Increase women & children’s safety
– Empower women to make their own decisions about their
safety
– Assist men in stopping their abuse and violent behaviour
– Provide services to child protection agencies where the
perpetrator is still involved with the family
Slide 21
DVIP Performance
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Of women surveyed after involvement with DVIP:
– 70% reported no further violence
– 30% reported that there was further violence, but that it was
less severe or frequent
• With continued intervention repeat incidents were reduced by
between 87.5% and 89.3%
– 65% stated that they felt safer or much safer
– 93% reported that their quality of life was improved or much
improved
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Of referring social workers surveyed after involvement with DVIP:
– 88% assessed the women as “much safer” or “safer”
– 78% assessed the children’s level of safety as “much safer” or
“safer”
Slide 22
Safeguarding Adults at Risk
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Multi-Agency Partnership Board
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Co-ordinates strategic direction for the safeguarding of
vulnerable persons over 18 years of age
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Identifies and manages risks for adults with physical, mental
or learning disabilities (for example)
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Represented at the MARAC and the FJC
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Domestic violence affects all ages and disabilities so its
important to identify and respond accordingly
Slide 23
Barriers to Partnership Working…
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Separate sites
• Practical difficulties such as meeting space
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Different priorities & targets
• Increase safety / reduce homelessness / increase conviction rates
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Information sharing
• Different procedures
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Management
• Team members may have different managers
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Decision making
• Can be difficult and long-winded to get a consensus
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Varying investments
• Does giving more time / money allow a greater input?
Slide 24
Overcoming these barriers
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Find the positive outcomes for every partnership agency
Ensure senior management are committed
Don’t waste time trying to sell partnership working to those
who aren’t interested
Be flexible and ensure everyone knows they will have to
compromise
Keep your eye on the bigger picture
Allow additional time – everything will take three times as long
as it should!!
Celebrate successes
Slide 25
Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership
Policy & Strategy
Presides over all new
policies and changes to
existing policy, funding
allocations and
performance
accountability
CDRP Board
CDRP
Callover
Operational Policy,
Performance &
Budget Management
Sets operational policy
(i.e. how ASB powers
will be used), monitors
performance and
delivery group budgets.
Tactical
Action planning,
operational
deployment, problem
solving.
CDRP Executive
Sub Partnerships
Dedicated strategies, ringfenced funding
Improving
Public
Confidence
Delivery
Group
Offender
Management
Group
Acquisitive
Crime
Delivery
Group
Violent Crime
Delivery
Group
Slide 26
Substance
Misuse
Partnership
Board
Youth
Offending
Team
Management
Board
Counter
Terrorism
Delivery
Group
CDRP
Police
CPS
Courts
Civil Solicitor
Independent DV Advisor/Advocate
Specialist DV Support Services
Women’s Safety Worker
Substance Misuse Services
Social Care Services
Health/Mental Health
Benefits Agency
Victim Support
Employer
Housing
Refuge
SARC
CDRP
LCJB
Community
Friends
Perpetrator
Offender Management
Legal Services Commission
Youth Justice Board
Police
Courts
CPS
Probation
Local Authority
Transport Police
Solicitors
Victim Support
Individual
Family
CYPS
CAFCASS
Schools
Voluntary Sector
Youth Offending
Nursery/Child Care
Educational Welfare
Child Protection Agencies
Educational Psychology
Children’s Mental Health
Connexions
Faith Groups
Youth Groups
Health
Colleagues
Child
Neighbours
Slide 27
Immediate
Network
Primary
Agency
Contact
Individual
Agency Risk
Assessments
Safety Planning
Process
Newham - building on good practise…
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Successful Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC)
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Independent DV advisors (IDVA’s) who support victims at court
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A community based programme (DVIP) for perpetrators
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Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) – to discuss
and put in place interventions for high risk DV
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A Family Justice Centre focussing on the right outcomes for victims
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A dedicated Domestic Violence & Substance Misuse coordinator
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Sanctuary Scheme
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Safeguarding Adults at Risk
Slide 28
Plans for the future
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Possible expansion of FJC to incorporate a rape crisis service
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Roll out of coordinated, accredited training for professionals
across the borough
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More services located within the FJC
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Outreach services provided by the FJC at other locations
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Physical expansion of FJC to accommodate more services,
partners and clients
Slide 29
Overall Outcomes
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Reduction in violence against women
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Performance of services
– Prevention
– Protection
– Provision
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Investment in capacity and scope of services
Slide 30
Any questions?
Contact:
Clare Elcombe Domestic Violence Advisor
[email protected]
Duty Line: 020 3373 3053
Slide 31