From Despair to Repair...?

Introduction to the Research

In Tameside a multi-agency steering group has been set up to take forward crime and disorder reduction in the borough. A crime audit and consultation with agencies and the public resulted in the production of the Tameside Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 1999- 2002. Domestic violence was identified as one of the 7 priorities, which agencies in Tameside agreed to tackle. The information from this research will inform the next strategy for 2002-2005.

A Tameside Domestic Violence Forum was already in existence however, it was felt that the strategy and its actions for domestic violence needed a group of practitioners that could commit resources and support the work. Consequently a focus group was set up to replace the forum.

The focus group of was made up of representation from Greater Manchester Police, Health Authority, Tameside Council's Community Safety Unit, Greater Manchester Police Authority, Tameside College, Housing Aid, Youth Offending Team, Victim Support, Beevers Solicitors, Probation Service, Women's Project, Social Care and Health and Benefits agency.

Within the work of the forum workers from Greater Manchester Police Authority and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Community Safety Unit identified a gap in consulting victims of domestic violence. Prior to this report, victims of domestic violence had not been targeted for their views on service provision in Tameside. It was felt that to inform the work of the Domestic Violence Strategy and agencies individual work consultation with victims of Domestic Violence would be beneficial to informing and improving such services.

It was felt that more local knowledge of the issues surrounding domestic violence needed to be sought to inform agency provisions in the borough. Initial discussions at Tameside Women's Project (Refuge for women and children fleeing violence) with both workers, residents and ex residents of the project informed the methodology of the research. In a focus group discussion with the Project, we found that the women consulted felt that one to one questioning would be preferable for them and other victims. It was also felt that this method of questioning would ultimately prove more conducive to the acquisition of more in-depth information. It was agreed that once this initial information had been acquired focus group sessions concerning the outcome of the research and possible solutions would also be helpful. Due to the nature of the research the participants were offered total anonymity and consequently a chance to offer their views and experiences of services. This should be considered when analysing the results of the research.

A research brief was compiled outlining the aims, methodology and timetable of the research (please see appendix one). The brief was discussed at the Domestic Violence focus group. The brief was agreed and all agencies signed up to be involved in the research.

For the basis of this research the working definition below was applied domestic violence is seen as:

'Any incident of 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'.

(Greater Manchester Police)

Methodological support was sought from Bolton Institute of Higher Education Psychology Department, particularly, help with the production of the pro forma and guidelines for the interviewers.

Greater Manchester Police Authority, Greater Manchester Police, Tameside Primary Care Group, Tameside Council's Early Years and Community Safety Unit financed the research. The research was also assisted in kind by all other agencies.

It was agreed that the research would be conducted in one to one interviews with a questionnaire pro forma. The interviews would take on average between 30 to 90 minutes dependent on the interviewee's responsiveness. Each agency would identify possible participants for involvement in the research and approach them direct. The interviews would be carried out by a representative from each agency, preferably the person who had previously worked with that participant in order to maintain and build on the trust that had already developed. Each participant however, was given the option of being interviewed by a representative from the Community Safety Unit if they felt more comfortable discussing issues with an independent worker. All agencies were given support for interviewing if they felt that they did not have the time or resources.

Participants for the research were sought through contacts at;

• Tameside College
• Greater Manchester Police
• Tameside Victim Support
• Tameside Women's Project
• Local Health Visitors
• Child and Family Centre
• Youth Offending Team
• Beevers Solicitors
• MIND
• NSPCC
• TMBC

The questionnaire pro forma was compiled by the Community Safety Unit combined with suggestions for questions given by other agencies. Interviewer guidelines were also produced and these provided instructions for all interviewers. Both were produced with assistance from staff at Bolton Institute of Higher Education.

The questionnaire pro forma was piloted with 12 participants at the Women's project, amendments were then implemented and the Domestic Violence Focus Group agreed the final pro forma. A security pack containing a personal alarm, spy hole, door chain, crime prevention advice, support information leaflets and travel expenses were made available for all participants. Crèche facilities also were available.

In deciding upon the scope of this research, we formed the view that it is impossible to reduce the scale of the violence without any robust information that points to how that can be achieved.

The aim of the research was to:

• Identify gaps in service provision
• Identify how provision should be best directed
• Investigate the reasons why victims of domestic violence left at that particular point in the relationship
• Investigate provisions for young people affected by domestic violence
• Investigate provision for men experiencing domestic violence
• Identify the needs of any particular groups e.g. disabled people, people with alcohol and drug related problems
• Assist in the development of future plans for domestic violence strategies and the local Crime and Disorder Strategy
• Inform agency decisions on future service delivery

Issues such as: What is it that makes it difficult for men and women to leave the abusive relationship? Why do men and women return to an abusive partner? Is the perpetrator abusive to others or involved in other crimes? What do victims of domestic violence want from different agencies? What do victims feel about the level of service they received from agencies? are all-important questions that would inform local agencies of how best to support victims of domestic violence.

We believed that by concentrating questions around these key areas, we would obtain information on which services work, which do not and which services should be provided but currently are not.

Background | Participant Demographics