Chris Cutland Chief Executive Womens Aid Integrated Services Jane Lewis Domestic Violence Strategy Officer Crime and Drugs Partnership

What is domestic violence? Domestic Violence can be defined as “Any incident or 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” (Home Office)

What do we mean? Perpetrators choose to control the survivor in a range of ways: they convince survivors that that if they behaved differently the abuse would stop Survivors usually love the perpetrator and want the abuse to end, it rarely does Domestic abuse is very private and family and friends may not know its happening

Equalities and domestic violence Domestic violence affects people in same sex relationships, people from BME communities and across class equally. Young women and disabled people are disproportionately affected. Domestic violence affects some men, although men are less likely to be afraid, injured or stalked than women survivors

Strategic aim and partners To Improve survivor and child safety and to hold perpetrators to account Criminal Justice System Housing and homelessness Physical, mental and sexual health services Children and young people services Vulnerable Adults

National Drivers National Strategy to end Violence Against Women and Girls 2009 Annual National Domestic Violence Plan Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships Local Area Agreements Local Criminal Justice Board Safeguarding Children and Integrated Services Homelessness & Supporting People strategies Health and Vulnerable Adults policies

Current Activity in Nottingham CDP strategy and action plan Homelessness and Supporting People strategies Local Criminal Justice Board action plan Primary Care Trust policy and action plan Children’s Plan and service commissioning Capacity building of specialist domestic violence services

Local Area Agreement: Nottingham The Nottingham domestic violence Local Area Agreement (LAA) includes a target on domestic abuse in the Young Nottingham theme. The priority outcome is to improve the safeguarding and outcomes of children and families with complex needs. The National Indicator (NI) 32 to reduce repeat incidents of domestic violence at Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). The baseline is based on the national average of a mature MARAC.

Domestic violence to women in Nottingham Nottingham has a population of approximately 133,240 women over 16 at least 10% will be at risk of domestic violence today This is approximately 13,324 women in Nottingham. The figure breaks down into 300 – 700 survivors in each ward. 25% of women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives (33,309 possible survivors in Nottingham).

Male victims of partner violence in Nottingham (gay and heterosexual) out of every 400 men 10 might have experienced an incident of domestic violence and 1 from 400 might have experienced 4 or more incidents from a partner. The data for men experiencing 4 or more incidents of domestic violence ever in a relationship is likely to be 1 in 140. Based on a male population of 100,000 (roughly that of Nottingham) 250 men will experience 4 or more incidents from a partner (male or female) in a 12 month period.

Hot spots and Cold spots of reporting of domestic violence Survivors are assaulted up to 35 times before they contact the Police. In Nottingham crime has reduced by 22% and at the same time domestic violence reporting and crimes have increased Domestic violence is approximately 20% of violent crime Domestic violence is under reported in some areas of Nottingham

Domestic violence and homicides According to Home Office statistics 2 women are killed every week in the UK as a result of domestic violence In 2003/2004 nearly 40% of all female homicide victims were killed by their current or ex-partner compared with about 5% of male homicide victims Stabbing, strangling and head injury were the most likely method of murder There is approximately one domestic violence murder a year in Nottingham

Health and domestic violence It is estimated that 50% of women being treated for mental illness have a history of DV 1:9 women are currently accessing healthcare due to domestic violence. Those experiencing D V are 9 times more likely to abuse drugs and 15 times more likely to abuse alcohol. D V accounts for 1:4 female suicides. 85% of those experiencing DV see a GP in the 1st year of the abuse. 56% in the 2 nd year and 31% in the 3 rd year of the abuse starting. (BMA: 1998)

Children and domestic violence 90% of children in violent homes are in the same room or next room when violence occurs. 60% of children who witness DV are likely to be abused by the same perpetrator 33% of children had seen their mothers beaten up Children survivors may have higher rates of problems such as sleep disturbance, poor school performance, emotional detachment, suicide attempts and aggressive and disruptive behaviour.

Domestic violence sector or 0341 for text phone Women’s Aid Integrated Services 24 hour free phone helpline with language line and text phone. Provides advice, information and support to survivors and agencies working with survivors and their children. Also provides access to refuge, floating support, outreach, drop in service and referral to the Sanctuary Scheme (Housing Aid) and run the Freedom Programme for women.

Domestic violence sector 5 refuges in Nottingham with children's services (2 specialist BME refuges Roshni and Umuada) Floating Support Scheme to enable women to sustain their new tenancies (Shine) Outreach Project for women for whom refuge may not be appropriate (Roshni) Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA’s) working with the highest risk survivors and women involved in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court process (Women’s Aid)

Domestic violence sector Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum Free quarterly seminars Free Training Programme e-newsletter Information and resources (posters, leaflets, books, videos etc) Website with library of resources and links to other sites including for children

Domestic violence sector and children NDVF Impact Project: respectful relationship programmes with hard to reach groups of young people and youth workers NDVF TRI project: respectful relationship programmes in schools Family Care Counselling Service for children survivors NCH Number 28 services for children survivors Women’s Aid Stronger Families Programme

Associated Services Rape Crisis help line and support service SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Centre) POW, Jericho Road and Aspire services for women in and planning to exit prostitution Family Law Solicitors Advice services such as Shelter and CAB ASBO domestic violence specialist

Associated Services Mens Advice Line for male victims Respect advice line for male perpetrators Victim Support support male victims Family Mediation Service (FAME) Relate (do not work with partners where domestic violence is current) Broken Rainbow for same sex domestic violence and abuse

Domestic violence services in the statutory sector Police Domestic Abuse Support Unit Domestic abuse nurse Domestic abuse nurse at A&E Domestic abuse midwife Health Visitor for refuges and hostels Substance misuse midwife Probation Womens Safety Service Probation Perpetrator Programme FIP

If you are worried? If you are worried about your own relationship, you may want to talk to someone in confidence. Please ring the Women’s Aid Advice Centre help line or Male advice line on If you are concerned about your behaviour you can make a change, contact Respect on

Activity for all agencies Training available to all staff on how to recognise domestic abuse, enquire and complete a risk assessment form for referral to MARAC Adopt good practice guidance, including screening, recording and information sharing Include domestic violence in business planning and budgets and reports Monitor the numbers of victims/survivors, children and perpetrators and report this data Resource domestic violence work with in own agency and partners

Further activity for all agencies Identify a member of staff enable them to lead on domestic violence within your organisation. Publish and publicise leaflets, posters, welcome packs and newsletters about local domestic violence help line numbers and services. make a link to the NDVF website. Develop an employee domestic violence policy with responses on victims/survivors and perpetrators, publish it and publicise to paid and unpaid staff. Ensure all communities are considered when developing work on domestic violence