To whom it may concern

Middlesbrough Domestic Violence Forum are aware that a research proposal: ‘Comparative Assessment of the Domestic Violence Web Sites of the (current) 43 Police Forces in England and Wales’ is being developed by Professor Jill Radford and Dr. Paul Van Shaik from the University of Teesside.

The Forum has commissioned, and benefited from, several research and evaluation projects in recent years and based on an excellent track record, we are happy to endorse this research proposal. Professor Radford is a nationally recognised researcher in domestic violence services with a long, and well respected, record of publications to her credit.

The proposed area of research addresses an increasingly important and previously non evaluated element of the police response to domestic violence as survivors, and the public generally, look to domestic violence web sites for information and guidance.

The Domestic Violence Forum, as a multi-agency partnership tackling the problem of domestic violence, is well aware of the importance of high quality and up to date information, whatever the format. An evidence based, best practice approach can only enhance the services available to survivors.

Yours faithfully

Becky Rogerson

Chair, Middlesbrough Domestic Violence Forum