Projects

Middlesbrough has a successful Service User Group that meets approximately every six weeks at St Mary’s Centre, Corporation Road Middlesbrough.

The purpose of the group is to consider current service provision and to try to influence policies and practice. This gives service users an opportunity to develop additional skills and gain confidence and self esteem.

If you are considering joining this group please contact Susan Milburn on 01642 223360 – email susanmilburn@mysistersplace.co.uk

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

A MARAC has been developed from national guidelines from CAADA (Co-ordinated action against domestic abuse) and brings together key agencies and groups to share information about the highest risk cases of domestic abuse. This information sharing enables an individually tailored safety plan to be implemented for each case and ultimately provides help and support for victims of domestic abuse and their families, and helps to hold perpetrators to account in criminal cases. Between April 2007 and March 2008 149 new cases were reviewed at the MARAC, in total during this period 344 cases were reviewed. The Middlesbrough MARAC has established an effective system for managing and reducing high -risk cases.

Teesside Specialist Domestic Violence Court:

The specialist court was officially launched on 2nd April 2007. The aim of this specialist court is:

To increase the effectiveness of the judicial system in respect of domestic abuse
To provide protection and support to victims and witnesses, and to improve services to victims and survivors
To provide appropriate sanctions to perpetrators
Increase co-ordination of professional bodies involved in supporting victims and witnesses dealing with perpetrators
Increase the number of successful prosecutions and reduce victimisation

525 cases were completed in the specialist court between January and December 2007.

More completed cases occurred in Middlesbrough than in Stockton or Langbaurgh (53.1% compared to 32.2% and 13.7% respectively).

Of the 525 completed cases the gender of the defendants are predominantly male (505 cases or 96.2%)

Female defendants make up 3.3% of cases (18)

Middlesbrough Sanctuary Scheme:

The Middlesbrough Sanctuary Scheme was launched in September 2007.

The Sanctuary Scheme enables victims of domestic abuse to remain in their own home and feel safer by adding additional security measures to the property. These can include: The creation of a safe room, known as the sanctuary room, fire security equipment, panic alarms, window locks, new door locks and many other products. Ongoing support is also available from My Sister’s Place. The Sanctuary Scheme is delivered in partnership between My Sister’s Place and Erimus Home Choice and is funded by Middlesbrough Council.