Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is an abhorrent crime often carried out in the place you should feel the most safe, in your home. The definition of Domestic Violence is often misunderstood.

The Home Office definition of domestic violence is:

Domestic violence is any threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between adults who are or have been in a relationship, or between family members. It can affect anybody, regardless of their gender or sexuality.

The violence can be psychological, physical, sexual or emotional. It can include honour based violence, female genital mutilation, and forced marriage.

Prior to 2004 there had been very little strategic direction tackling Domestic Abuse. Intervention by individual agencies usually meant working in isolation. Partnership working was on an adhoc basis. It will not come as a surprise that Domestic Violence has the highest repeat victimisation rate than any other crime. In 2009 we can boast a very different story. Below are some achievements:

• MARACs (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) are a forum for agencies to discuss high risk cases of domestic abuse. These are well established in York and have achieved an excellent partnership working arrangement. MARACs (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) assess risk and produce a plan to ensure victims and children remain safe.
• The York Domestic Abuse Forum is perhaps the best represented forum in York and North Yorkshire. www.ydaf.org
• Reduction in repeat victimisation from 56% in 2004 to 33% in 2009 was achieved whilst increasing the reporting of Domestic Violence, this would suggest that agencies are being proactive with victims.
• Specialist Domestic Violence Courts and Independent Domestic Violence Advisers are in place. In York a dedicated court has been set up with Trained Magistrates, Prosecutors and Advisers that assist victims along the often confusing court process. The Advisers will remain a support for victims from start to finish.
• Making Safe Scheme is a victim focused scheme which supports Victims, Children and Perpetrators. Email: york@foundationhousing.org.uk
• Police and partnership working arrangements are strong which is essential for victims to remain safe.
• Services for Children that are living with or who have lived through Domestic Violence /abuse . www.idas.org.uk

If you are suffering Domestic Violence and want advice please contact IDAS Independent Domestic Abuse Service 01904 646630, Victim Support 01904 696455, or in an emergency phone 999.

Domestic Violence and the World Cup

The Safer York Partnership and our partners including IDAS (the Independent Domestic Abuse Service) are teaming up to raise awareness and combat domestic violence and support its victims during the World Cup. The partnership-led operation called ‘Give Domestic Abuse the Red Card’ aims to cut the level of domestic violence during the World Cup and beyond, and we will be advertising these phone numbers so victims of Domestic Violence can get advice or help:

Independent Domestic Abuse Service (01904 646630)

Victim Support (01904 696455)

Or in an emergency please contact 999

To see our ‘Give Domestic Abuse the Red Card’ posters please visit this page

Download the
Domestic
Abuse Strategy
here

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