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Safer Middlesbrough Partnership action plan

Safer Middlesbrough Partnership Crime, Disorder, Drug & Alcohol Strategy 2005 – 2008 Domestic Violence Theme Group – Action Plan

AIMS

The ‘Domestic Violence Theme Group’ is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategy for partner agencies to reduce domestic violence.

The Aims are to: -

Promote public protection and the preservation of order to enable women and children to live independent lives free from violence and abuse, regardless of their ethnic or socio-economic background.

Improve the quality, co-ordination and effectiveness of services through educating and informing voluntary and statutory agencies, and the public in all aspects of domestic violence, it’s causes, remedies and prevention.

Hold abusers accountable.

Reduce the tolerance of Domestic Violence in our communities.

Improve and collate partnership data recording, collection and interagency tracking systems on domestic violence and deliver performance management information.

The primary objectives are to:-

Reduce the number of domestic violence incidents and offences of assault, criminal damage and other public order offences.

Increase the number of domestic violence incidents that are reported.

To improve the support and Increase safe choices for women and children who experience domestic violence, thereby reducing the fear of crime.

Promote good practice across all agencies that deliver services to those who experience Domestic Violence.

Raise awareness of the effects of Domestic Violence and challenge attitudes of tolerance to this crime.

Annually
Performance Indicators			Targets	Performance Against Targets			Comments
1.	Reduce the number of Domestic Violence victims by 5%		XX in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07				Developing a baseline starting April 2006 as this information was not previously available.
2.	Reduce the number of Domestic Violence incidents by 5%		4081 in 2005-06 to 3877 in 2006-07.
3.	Reduce the number of Domestic Violence repeat victims by 5%		XX in 2004-05 to XX in 2005-06.
4.	Reduce the number of Domestic Violence repeat incidents by 5%		XX in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07.
5.	Reduce the number of perpetrators of Domestic Violence by 5%		XX in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07.
6.	Reduce the number of repeat perpetrators of Domestic Violence by 5%		XX in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07.
7.	Increase the percentage of arrests where the power of arrest exists in Domestic Violence cases		XX % from XX in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07.
8.	Increase the percentage of those arrested for Domestic Violence, who are subsequently charged by the Police by 5%		XX in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07.
9.	Increase the conviction rate of those charged with Domestic Violence by 5%		XX% in 2005-06 to XX in 2006-07.
10.	Reduce the percentage of cases accepted as homeless by the council due to Domestic Violence by 5%		106 in 2005-06 to 101 in 2006-7.	April - June 05 – 39 July - Sep 05 – 28 Oct - Dec 05 – 22 Jan - March 06 – 17 April – June – 13

ACTIONS
List of Actions		Person Responsible			Estimated Timescale	Funding		Outcomes/Comments
Examine and develop a Sanctuary Scheme, providing additional security for women wanting to remain in their homes, where safety can be guaranteed and the violent partner no longer lives there. A main feature being a ‘Sanctuary Room’ (safe room) Where a victim can call and wait for the Police to arrive.		Gill Corbett			Ongoing	75K Secured over 2 years to reduce accepted homeless applications		Outreach Worker (employed though MBC) to work with Registered Social Landlords around encouraging them to include DV as a breech in tenancy agreement. Awaiting MB Council Approval for Job spec & job description.
Improve information to witnesses and victims regarding sentencing, court procedures and outcomes.		CPS, Police, MSP, WSN, Teesside Mags, Crown Court			Ongoing			New Codes of Practice for Victims of Crime launched on 1st April 06 Mapping exercise to be carried out with TMC, TCC and Police for sharing information with victim/witness.
Deliver the "No Witness, No Justice" policy.		Margaret Philips				CPS		The scheme has been piloted in Hartlepool and is to be introduced into Middlesbrough. B Rogerson and M Phillips to arrange meeting to discuss funding and witness care issues.
Examine the feasibility of local Domestic Violence Cluster Courts.		Sharon Hodgson, Ann Harper, Becky Rogerson			Sept 2006	£20,000 (Criminal Justice Funding Providers)		Presented case, fund provided. Additional application required and is being processed. Announcement due in September 2006.
Annually facilitate at least 2 public awareness campaigns within the community until 2008 i.e. National Women’s Day.		MSP, WSN			Public Awareness event in NOV 06	£15,000 secured from GONE for 4 week radio campaign, Dec-Jan		Campaign Opportunity – services can be promoted via Life Channel (SKY TV) on monitors in GP Surgeries. MSP to sign contract and update group. Presentation of Life Channel on 10th June. Both WSN and MSP campaigns displayed on every screen in Middlesbrough (Eston excluded) International event taking place at the University of Teesside in November.
Work with Statutory, Non-Statutory Sectors, Schools, Colleges and Community Groups to raise awareness.		My Sisters Place & Women’s Support Network (Training)			Training ongoing Campaign launched in Nov 05	£10,000 has been secured for Campaign from NSF Funding 2K to be used in East M’bro		Posters distributed, aimed at perpetrators. Further posters to be distributed in Feb. Posters distributed again in June Year 10 children from Unity City Academy to produce posters and leaflets. Gina Sullivan and Emma Thomas to update. SECOS developing safer relationship and sex exploitation packs. Lifestore booked on 20th Sept to raise public awareness around DV and on the 23rd Sept to raise public awareness around sexual violence and rape. WSN facilitating accredited level 1: training programme on the 21st and 22nd September. MSP facilitating level 3 open course in October aimed at a mix of professionals.
Develop and implement a non-court mandated Perpetrator Programme. To include the implementation of support services to partners of perpetrators attending programmes and a mechanism to be put in place to track re-offending rates of perpetrators who have completed the programme for education of the scheme.		Jan Holden (SAFE Project)			Programmes to begin in Nov 05 Ongoing Evaluation	£5,000 secured to continue Jan’s Post till end May 06 Bid in to Lottery Fund is past 2nd stage, if successful, would be core funding to continue project for 4 years		Perpetrator programme now up and running. Middlesbrough and Redcar now merged. 30 referrals have been made. As of beginning of August 9 men were on a group, which is running until December 2006.
Develop ‘Safer’ Supervised, Child Contact Centre		Carole Moffat				10K from CAFCASS (awaiting)		Contact centre to be ran initially at Bridgeway Barnardos. Professional worker will supervise and produce reports for submission to court. C Moffat looking for volunteers to assist.
Raise Awareness & Educate Women Victims/Survivors and relevant Agencies around Sexual Assault and Rape within Domestic Violence intimate relationships		Dilys Davis and Deborah Mills						Life channel booked on 23rd Sept for awareness raising purposes.
Facilitate a Campaign aimed at increased reports of sexual violence and rape within Domestic Violence intimate relationships		Dilys Davis and Deborah Mills						Poster campaign being developed.
Design a folder for the families involved in the case group.		Laura Gourlay			August/Sept 2006			Laura to arrange meeting with Becky Rogerson, Jan Holden, Gillian Wright and Terri Giles. Final draft of Folder presented to the DV Case Group for approval.
Develop report to show domestic violence statistics.		Laura Gourlay			September 2006			Will present to September meeting
Develop monitoring system to monitor the domestic violence case group referrals.		Laura Gourlay			September – October 2006			Ongoing
Develop awareness raising campaign around drug rape in night-time economy.		Dilys Davis (and Paul Higgins)				Funding will need to be identified.		Possibility of poster campaign, beer mats, gazette involvement etc. Update required at August Theme group. D Davy to link with Lifeline Harm Minimisation and discuss Safer Clubbing Initiatives.
Develop a Common Risk Assessment Tool		Police, MSP						Once risk assessment is launched, training is to be facilitated for all referring agencies, to ensure an effective mechanism is being used.

COMPLETED ACTIONS

List of Actions

Person Responsible

Date Completed

Outcomes/Comments

Ensure all women who have been a victim of Domestic Violence, have access to legal protection and support.

Police, My Sisters Place (Becky Rogerson), Women’s Support Network (Dilys Davy), Women’s Refuge and Solicitors.

August 2005

The referral process is established and is being applied through the Women’s Support agencies.

Make appropriate use of civil orders.

Becky Rogerson, My Sisters Place

Action was agreed completed at October 2005 meeting.

Tracking Systems are already in place. These will be reviewed and reported to the Theme Group.

Improve the accessibility of services and information for minority groups, to be measured by the increase in take up of services.

NISSA Project (Salma Castle), My Sisters Place (Becky Rogerson), Womens Support Network (Dilys Davy)

Action was agreed completed at October 2005 meeting.

This is response to the local research carried out by Teesside University.

WSN now a full time worker who also works at My Sister’s Place.

Training will be provided by My Sister’s Place, to front-line staff in Health and local authorities to ensure a good practice response to victims.

Pat Gallagher has given the following stats for the next three years, where the aim is to provide training to the following number of staff on a yearly basis.

2005-2006 – 100 members of staff

2006-2007 – 125 members of staff

2007-2008 – 150 members of staff

Action was agreed completed at October 2005 meeting.

Target – 50 Professionals to be Trained

A full programme is in place. WSN is going to be putting a full time post in place. BR to report to the next meeting.

Conference to be held in November 05 at Teesside University. This Conference will report on the findings of recent research carried out on the appropriateness and accessibility of domestic violence services for women with disabilities. It will take forward the implementation of the recommendations.

Jill Radford

Completed November 05

£1,000 Secured through Middlesbrough PCT.

The aim of this conference is to use it as the launch of partnership work with disability groups to implement the recommendations and improve services for disabled women who experience domestic violence, and take forward SMP/Safer and Stronger Communities equal opportunities commitments on disability.

Conference taking place 30 November.

Develop and implement a Court-mandated Perpetrator Programme.

Teesside Probation Services – Maureen Hall

Programmes to begin in Nov 05

As of 10/02/06 5 men are attending to date, with 22 waiting to start. The group work element is 25 session and with the pre and post group work, the programme will be for 34 sessions, minimum.

NOMS programme is running through Maureen Hall in Middlesbrough. Need more info i.e. partners supported and numbers on programme

To develop a Domestic Violence Case Group

Insp. Dave Smith – Chair

Gill Wright – Case Worker

May 06

2K per month to assist DV cases on a needs basis i.e. target hardening measures.

Information Sharing Protocol signed by relevant agencies

Case Worker to identify cases, manage, Action Plan, Devise matrix and give appropriate support.

Provide additional security through target hardening measures to women who are at risk of violence in their homes.

WMNT Caretakers, Police, SMP

JULY 06

12K from DSG Fund.

£7965.25 Remaining at 24/07/2006

Referrals on line, Service Level Agreement signed by SMP and WMNT

18 referrals made up to August 2006. An average of £225 per case.

Budget to continue through DV Unit when DSG funds run dry. Service ongoing.

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