CC(3) DA20

Communities and Culture Committee

Scrutiny Inquiry : Domestic Abuse

Response from Denbighshire County Council

Domestic Abuse Inquiry: Questions to Advisers/Networks on the key roles of Local Authorities in relation to Domestic Abuse

Background Information

Area: Denbighshire (The county of Denbighshire is split into two policing districts (North Denbighshire - Prestatyn, Rhyl, Rhuddlan, St. Asaph, Bodelwyddan, Dyserth & Meliden)  (South Denbighshire - Denbigh, Ruthin, Corwen, Llangollen, and surrounding villages.

Source: NWP Crime & Disorder Partnership Analyst

October 2007 - March 2008

Domestic Related Crime in Denbighshire

234 domestic crimes have occurred during this period, this equates to a 24% reduction compared to the previous 6 month period.  A further 779 non-crime domestic incidents also occurred during this period, a 10% reduction compared to the previous period.

1. What type of services/support does your dept/directorate/policy area provide to victims of Domestic Abuse?

• Monthly MARAC Meetings - (commenced August 2006, average number of high risk cases discussed 14)

Data collected since MARAC commenced in Denbighshire

In Denbighshire MARAC from 08/06 and 03/08 - 194 victims have been discussed at the MARAC, 91 of which were repeat cases.  The repeat percentage at the Denbighshire MARAC in this period was 47%. The Denbighshire MARAC has discussed one case five times.

• Safer Homes - Free Target Hardening Service and advice to all victims of Domestic Abuse.  Service commenced July 2007 and to date 43 homes have received free target hardening equipment and fitting.

• IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) - commenced February 2008 provides service to high risk victims of Domestic Abuse

• Currently Conwy and Denbighshire are striving towards accreditation status for Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts, we have special measures in place at Llandudno and Prestatyn Magistrate Courts for victims insofar as separate entrance and exit/separate waiting facilities/facilities for both adult and child witness’s - screens, video links/ non -guilty pre-trial cases dealt with on set days.  We are currently investigating the feasibility of a Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit facility which will be located centrally within both counties.

• Local Domestic Abuse Forum Website - Public access direct and link via LA Website.

• Women’s Aid Drop in Centre

• Victim Support

• Vulnerable and Intimidated Victims Service

• SARC (Sexual Abuse Referral Centre) - due to open Autumn 2008

• WA provides refuge.

2. What types of preventative work, if any, does your dept/directorate/policy area undertake in relation to Domestic Abuse?

• Freedom Programme for Women - delivered by Women’s Aid + Family Support Team, Denbighshire Social Services

• Freedom Programme for Men - Non- Mandatory Perpetrator Programme

• Choose2Change - - Non- Mandatory Perpetrator Programme delivered via RELATE

• One day basic Domestic Abuse Awareness Course to a multi-disciplinary group of agencies to explore the affects of domestic abuse on adults children and older people.

• One day basic Domestic Abuse Awareness Course Single Agency training as requested.

3. Are there any specific initiatives aimed at different groups of people e.g. women, men, children and young people, older people, people form BME communities, disabled people etc?

• Women’s Aid Groups as above

• WA Children’s Outreach provide 1-1 support with children and young people around domestic abuse and issues of loss

• WA Children’s Outreach - attends PAD (Prevent and Deter Group - Youth Justice) - work with children and young people offenders where domestic abuse is an issue.

• WA - Deliver Building Safe Relationships to Y7 pupils within PSE Programme.

• WA - Facilitate programme for parents struggling with teenage behaviour

• 'Crucial Crew’ - organised by NW Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness of various aspects of safety including domestic abuse to Y7 pupils.

• Currently developing links with BAWSO in Denbighshire to address issues of BME in the county.

• Currently establishing links with the Dyn Project - to address male experience of violence.

• Work closely with Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline which provides a service for all victims of domestic abuse, in terms of promoting the helpline.

• Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for Wales to ensure that children and young people and their families receive appropriate support early before problems escalate and thus they are able to reach their full potential.

4. How does your dept/directorate/policy area work with other agencies in terms of providing services/support to victims and/or undertaking preventative work?

• Refer to responses above

5. What do you think your dept/directorate/policy area does well in terms of

providing support/services to victims of Domestic Abuse and/or undertaking preventative work and why?

Multi- agency working within the county has worked well in terms of getting initiatives as outlined above off the ground.  The Community Safety Department are committed to tackling the crime of domestic abuse and improving the lives of all victims.

6. What are the difficulties/challenges for your dept/directorate/policy area in

terms of providing support/services to victims of Domestic Abuse and/or undertaking preventative work and why?

Raising awareness of the issue of domestic abuse and encouraging reporting of incidents impacts heavily on front line services dealing with the issue, and therefore resources are stretched constantly.  

Denbighshire geographical area encompasses large pockets of rural areas whose access to various services including domestic abuse may be limited.  Services for victims and perpetrators tend to be in areas where access to all services is readily available.

7. Are there any other comments that you would like to make with regards to the role of local authorities in relation to Domestic Abuse?

No