Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel

Service Improvement Performance Monitoring of the Community Safety Improvement Plan - Review of Violent Crime

Consultation with Victims of Domestic Violence - Appendix Three

• Overview of the Aims and Methodology of the Scrutiny Panel's Consultation with Victims of Domestic Violence
• The Questionnaire
• The Police
• Victim Support
• Housing Provision
• Tameside Women's Refuge
• Qualitative Consultation - Number and Profile of Participants
• Feedback from Discussions with Victims
• Legal Proceedings
• Housing Provision and Support
• Women's Refuge
• Publicity / Availability of Information relating to Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence amongst Young People

1. Overview of the aims and methodology of the Scrutiny Panel's consultation with victims of domestic violence

1. The purpose of the Scrutiny Panel's consultation with victims of domestic violence is to gather victims' experiences and opinions regarding the service they have received from voluntary and statutory agencies; and their views regarding the Council's approach to tackling domestic violence. It aims to provide victims with an opportunity to inform service improvement and policy development.
   
   
2. The Scrutiny Panel's consultation project is an important part of the review as victims of domestic violence are often a hidden minority whose views are largely unheard and unrepresented. The Scrutiny Panel's consultation is only the second consultation project with victims of domestic violence in Tameside and it is the first attempt of its scale.
   
   
3. Victims of domestic violence are a "hard to reach" group for the purpose of consultation. Domestic violence is an under-reported crime and very few victims access support services, consequently the majority of victims remain ‘hidden" and are difficult to engage in consultation. National research shows that young victims of domestic violence, male victims, victims from BME communities and victims from more affluent areas are especially difficult to engage, as the number of victims from these groups who access support services is particularly low.
   
   
4. The Scrutiny Panel's consultation programme included the following activities:
   
   
   • 2 discussion groups with residents at Tameside Refuge;
   • 2 discussion groups with young victims of domestic violence from the Young Parent's Group;
   • Case studies with 2 victims of domestic violence (one young victim, and one victim from a BME community);
   • 600 self completion questionnaires distributed through the Police to victims of incidents of domestic violence reported to the Police (500 questionnaires were sent to new incidents reported to the Greater Manchester Police Tameside Domestic Violence Unit over a 4 week duration, and 100 questionnaires were sent to a cross section of domestic violence incidents from the past 3 months police database);
   • Self completion questionnaires sent, via New Charter Housing Trust, to residents involved in the Sanctuary Housing Project;
   • Self completion questionnaires sent to residents at Tameside Refuge and victims of domestic violence receiving outreach support from Tameside Women's Project;
   • Questionnaires distributed to young victims of domestic violence through Connexions Personal Advisors.
     
     
5. The Scrutiny Panel's programme of consultation was designed to represent victims from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible. Victims who were already using support services were accessed through Tameside Refuge and the Sanctuary Housing Project; and it was hoped that the questionnaires distributed through the Police would enable the Panel's consultation to represent victims from a diverse range of backgrounds with different experiences of domestic violence.
   
   
6. In addition, the Panel was also keen to ensure that this programme of consultation included victims of domestic violence from some particularly "hard to reach" groups, including young victims and victims from BME communities. To this end, the Panel targeted young victims through Connexions and the Young Parents' Group; and held in depth discussions at Tameside Refuge with victims of domestic violence from BME communities.
   
   
7. The findings of the consultation and the key issues they raise are outlined below.

2. The Questionnaire

2.1 Response rate and profile of respondents

1. A total of 76 completed questionnaires were returned:
   • 8 questionnaires were returned by victims attending the Young Parent's Group;
   • 10 questionnaires were returned by residents of Tameside Women's Refuge;
   • 3 questionnaires were returned by residents involved in the Sanctuary Housing Project;
   • 55 questionnaires were returned by victims accessed via the Police.
   
   
2. The graphs below and overleaf show the profile of respondents.
   
        
   
   
   
   
   
3. The graphs show;
   • The vast majority of respondents are female (92%) and classify themselves as "European."
   • Proportionally, the highest number of respondents fall into the 16-18 age range (17% of all respondents).
   • The high proportion of young people represented in the Scrutiny Panel's consultation is, in part, due to the fact that young people were specifically targeted through the Connexions Young Parents' Group.
     
     
4. The following graphs provide an insight into the respondents' experiences of domestic violence:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. The graphs show that the questionnaire data includes the views of victims whose experiences of domestic violence vary widely:
   
   
   • The majority of respondents experienced domestic violence for between 1 and 5 years.
   • However a significant number of respondents suffered domestic violence for a much longer duration and a smaller number reported experiencing domestic violence for less than 1 year;
   • In the vast majority of cases, the perpetrator was the husband or male partner of the victim; and in the majority of cases the perpetrator lived with the victim during the abuse.
   • However, a smaller number of respondents reported suffering domestic violence perpetrated by their wife, girlfriend, son, daughter and Father.
   • 40 out of the 56 respondents who answered the question had left the abusive relationship. However 16 respondents remained in the abusive relationship at the time of completing the questionnaire.
   • The majority of respondents who had left the relationship (57.5%) reported leaving within the previous 12 months; - 9 respondents had left the relationship within one month, 9 respondents had left between 2 to 6 months and 5 respondents had left between 7 to 11 months.
   • However a significant number of respondents had left the abusive relationship for a longer duration of time - 12 respondents had been out the relationship for between 12 and 24 months and 5 respondents reported leaving the relationship more than 2 years ago.
   
   
6. The low response rate and the low number of male and BME respondents means that the questionnaire findings cannot be considered representative of the opinions and experiences of victims of domestic violence in general. However, the data does reflect the views of a cross section of victims from a diverse range of backgrounds with different experiences of domestic violence. When considered in conjunction with the Panel's qualitative consultation, the questionnaire findings provide an important insight into the views and experiences of a minority whose views are largely unheard and unrepresented.

2.2 Questionnaire Findings -

1. The questionnaire is divided in to 4 key sections covering:
   1. The Police;
   2. Victim Support and the Witness Service;
   3. Housing provision and support;
   4. Tameside Women's Refuge
   
   
2. The main findings for each section are outlined below.

3. The Police

1. 90% of respondents had reported domestic violence to the Police, 94% of these cases were reported to the Police in Tameside.
   
   
2. Respondents' were asked to rate their experiences of the Police in relation to 4 criteria:
   
   
   1. Length of time taken for the Police to arrive after an incident was reported;
   2. How the Police dealt with the victim during the initial response;
   3. How the Police dealt with the perpetrator;
   4. The long term support provided for the victim by the Police;
   
   
3. The results for all 4 criteria are displayed in percentage form in the graph below:
   
   
   
4. The graph shows mixed ratings for all 4 criteria. The criteria dealing with the Police's response time and the way in which the victim was dealt with during the Police initial response to the report of abuse received the highest proportion of "good" and "very good" ratings:
   
   
   • 33% of respondents rated the length of time taken for the Police to respond to an incident of domestic violence as "very good" and 23% rated it as "good." A further 23% of respondents rated response time as "fair." However 11.5% of victims who responded to this question felt the Police response time was "poor" and 9.6% of respondents felt it was "very poor."
   • Meanwhile 36% of respondents felt the support they received from the Police during the initial response to the report of abuse was "very good and" 23% felt it was "good." A further 23% rated it as "fair." However 13.2% of respondents felt the support they received was "poor" and 5.7% of respondents rated it as "very poor."
     
     
5. Respondents' opinions regarding the way in which the Police dealt with the perpetrator were particularly inconclusive. 28% of respondents rated the Police's action as "very good," 20% rated it "good," 28% felt it was "fair," whilst a further 20% rated it as "poor." 2 of the 50 respondents felt it was "very poor."
   
   
6. The long term support offered by the Police received the highest proportion of "poor" and "very poor" ratings. 30% of respondents felt the support they received from the Police following the initial report of abuse was "poor" or "very poor." 19% felt it was fair," 25% rated it as "good" and 25% rated it as "very good."

3.2 Respondents' comments relating to the Police

1. The questionnaire provided respondents with an opportunity to make additional comments regarding their opinions and experiences of the Police. 32 respondents provided additional comments.
   
   
2. The nature and content of the respondents' comments were very mixed: 4 respondents provided positive comments regarding:
   
   • The "sensitive and considerate manner" in which the respondents' case was handled by the Police;
   • The "fantastic support" provided by the Officer dealing with the respondents' on-going case;
   • The "good clear advice" provided by "counter staff at the Police Station;"
   • The "very prompt response" of the Police in arresting the offender.
     
     
3. However the vast majority of comments were critical of the Police. The key criticisms raised are summarised below:
   
   
   • Domestic Violence is not taken seriously by the Police
     This was the most common criticism - twelve respondents made comments regarding the Police's attitude towards domestic violence. Typical comments include:
     

     "They weren't really interested - they just said I should find somewhere else to live if I wasn't safe."

     "They don't always come when you need them. Domestic violence doesn't seem to be a big issue to them."

     "I told the Police I thought he'd come back and I feared for my safety and they just advised they would visit me the following day as the Police Officer was going off duty."

     "Although there were evident bruises, the perpetrator was not removed from the situation because he was asleep when the Police arrived."
     

   • Lack of communication with the victim
     Six respondents made criticisms relating to Police communication with the victim:
     
     4 respondents criticised the lack of feedback they received from the Police regarding the progress of their case;

     1 victim felt "the Police don't talk to you properly. They just tell you what they think you want to believe;"

     1 victim felt that the Police's lack of communication with victims "means many women are scared of following the case through to Court…women should be made aware that it is zero tolerance with domestic violence."
     
     
   • Poor response time
     Five respondents made critical comments regarding the Police's response time to reports of domestic violence. Typical comments include:
     

     "I believed the Police waited to long to respond to a call out when I was being attacked and verbally abused by my daughter. The Police took two days to attend my home from the time of my phone call. In this time one of us could have been severely injured."

     "It took them over a week to arrest my ex;"

     "On some occasions it's taken over 24 hours to respond to a 999 call."

     "It took the Police over a week to arrest my ex as the officer that dealt with it was on holiday."
     

   • Lack of support for the victim
     Four respondents felt the Police neglected to attend to the victim's needs. Two typical comments include:
     

     "The night the Police called they didn't bother about what happened to me, just to get him as he was wanted for arrest anyway."

     "They [the Police] assumed that because the perpetrator was asleep he was the victim…and accused me of breach of the peace. I was angry with the fact they didn't look into the past occasions I had to call the Police about his past record. I felt like a criminal not the victim."
     

   • Police not interested in male victims
     One male respondent felt that the Police approach to tackling domestic violence experienced by male victims and Police support for male victims of domestic violence is neglected. The respondent commented:
     

     "Police are not interested in male victims of domestic violence. They are only interested in the female. Two sides not given the same attention and publicity is only for female victims."
     

   • Support for Police taking a more proactive approach to dealing with the perpetrator
     The majority of respondents felt that the Police should take a more proactive approach in arresting offenders

3.3 The role of Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officers

1. Respondents were asked whether they had seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer and whether they were aware of the Greater Manchester Police Domestic Violence Unit. 56 respondents answered this question;
   
   
   • Only 11 respondents (19.6%) replied that they had seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer;
   • 40 respondents (71.4%) stated they had not seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer;
   • 5 people (8.9%) "didn't know;"
   • No respondents between the ages of 16-18 had seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer.
   • Of those respondents who had not seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer, 19 (47.5%) "had not heard" of the Greater Manchester Police Domestic Violence Unit.
     
     
2. The graph below compares the ratings given by respondents who did see a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer and those who didn't, in relation to the support they received from the Police following the initial report of an incident.
   
   
   
   
3. The graph shows that the 11 people who had seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer rated the long term support they received from the Police slightly more positively than those who had not seen a Specialist Officer:
   • 60% of respondents who had seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer rated the long term support they received from the Police as "very good" or "good;" and a further 20% felt it was "fair." 20% of these respondents rated the support they received as "poor" and none of these respondents rated it as "very poor."
   • In comparison, 25% of respondents who had not seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer rated the long term support they received from the Police as "poor," whilst 9.38% of respondents felt it was "very poor."
   • However the low response rate prevents the formation of generalised conclusions.

3.4 Breakdown of data according to Gender, Ethnic Origin and Age

1. The data indicates no potential correlation between gender or ethnic origin and victims' rating of the Police. However the low response rate from male victims of domestic violence and victims from BME communities render it impossible to formulate generalised conclusions.
   
   
2. The graphs below and overleaf show a breakdown of the ratings given to the Police according to age, for each of the 4 criteria.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. The graphs show:
   
   
   • The highest proportion of "poor" and "very poor" ratings was recorded by the 16-25 age group. This age group account for over 56% of the total number of "poor" and "very poor" ratings given;
   • The highest proportion of "good" and "very good" ratings was recorded by the 26-35 age group.

4. Victim Support

1. Respondents were asked whether they have used Victim Support. The results reveal only a small proportion of respondents have accessed this service:
   
   
   • Only 19 of the 63 people who responded to this question reported that they have accessed Victim Support;
   • 4 respondents have used the Witness Service;
   • 2 respondents have used the Criminal Injuries Compensation Service provided by Victim Support;
     
     
2. All of the respondents who accessed Victim Support were female and of European ethnic origin; none of the male respondents or respondents from BME communities reported using the service.
   
   
3. The number of respondents accessing Victim Support was low in all age groups; however the proportion of younger people who had used the service was particularly low - only 1 respondent in the 16-18 age range reported using the service and only 2 people in the 19-25 age range had used the service.
   
   
4. A significant number of respondents indicated that they were not aware of the services provided by Victim Support;
   
   
   • 18 respondents reported they "had not heard" of the Witness Service;
   • 21 respondents reported they "had not heard" of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Service;
   • 2 respondents commented that they "had never heard of Victim Support before now;" and 1 victim remarked "I don't know of the support available from Victim Support;"
   
   
5. In addition respondents were asked whether they had been contacted by Victim Support after reporting domestic violence to the Police. 22 of the 53 (41.5%) victims who responded to the question claimed that they had not been contacted by Victim Support after reporting an incident of domestic violence to the Police.
   
   
6. The 19 respondents who have used Victim Support were asked to rate the overall assistance they received. The results are displayed in the graph below:
   
   
   
7. The graph shows that 79% of the respondents who had accessed Victim Support rated the assistance they received as "very good" or "good." Only 2 respondents felt the assistance they received was "poor" and no respondents felt it was "very poor."

4.2 Respondents' comments relating to Victim Support

1. The questionnaire provided respondents with an opportunity to make additional comments regarding their opinions and experiences of Victim Support. 8 respondents provided additional comments, 2 of these respondents had accessed Victim Support.
   
   
2. The comments made by the 2 respondents who had used Victim Support were very positive. They made the following comments;
   
   
   • Victim Support volunteers are "very supportive and understanding" and "very helpful;"
   • "Victim Support provides someone to listen to you, it helps you so much;"
   • In addition these respondents valued the independent and confidential nature of Victim Support -
     
   "When families get involved in situations it can be difficult to talk to them. I found I could talk about my situation more because no-one knew me at Victim Support."
   
   
3. However the comments made by respondents who haven't used Victim Support may indicated the following reasons why some victims fail to access the service:
   
   
   • 2 respondents cited not "knowing what support is available" as the main reason for not accessing Victim Support;
   • Meanwhile 1 respondent felt Victim Support is unable to offer practical assistance - "they are there if you need to talk to them but they can't do anything else to help you;"
     
     
4. In addition, a misconception was to view Victim Support as an offshoot of the Police rather than an independent agency. Two typical comments include:
   
   

   " At Court I dropped out of giving evidence, but I am still being harassed, but I feel if I went to Victim Support they wouldn't help me because I dropped out."

   "The Police don't listen to you, so why should I tell Victim Support."

5. Housing Provision and Support

1. Respondents were asked whether they received help from Housing Options to be re-homed as a result of domestic violence. 10 of the 61 people who responded to this question indicated that they had received help from Housing Options as a result of domestic violence. All 10 respondents were female, 9 classified their ethnic origin as "European" and 1as Afro-Caribbean.
   
   
2. The 10 respondents were asked to rate the help they received; 9 gave ratings, as shown in the table below:
   
   

   Help provided by Housing Options?
   Very Good	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
   3	4	0	2	0

   
   
3. 4 respondents felt they had been offered suitable accommodation, 4 respondents were currently waiting and 1 respondent felt they had not been offered suitable accommodation.
   
   
4. Respondents were asked how long they waited to be re-homed. Of the 6 respondents that answered, 1 secured accommodation within 3 months, 2 waited between 3-5 months, 2 waited between 6-11 months and 1 respondent waited over 12 months.

5.2 Respondents' comments regarding housing provision and support

1. Two of the 3 respondents involved in the Sanctuary Housing Project provided positive comments regarding the impact of the scheme:
   

   "I can't thank the people involved in the Sanctuary Housing Project enough, it has saved my sanity."

   "My Ex can see the CCTV that New Charter have put in and the Sanctuary Housing Scheme staff regularly give me a ring to see how I'm doing. It has helped me to feel safer in my house."

6. Tameside Women's Refuge

1. The 10 respondents that have used Tameside Women's Refuge were asked to rate the Refuge in relation to the following services:
   
   
   1. The standard of accommodation;
   2. Security;
   3. Counselling and advice provided at the Refuge;
   4. Facilities for children;
   5. Children's Workers;
   6. Outreach support
      
      
2. The results for all 6 criteria are displayed in the graph below.
   
   
   
   
3. The graph shows that the majority of respondents rated the services provided by the Refuge as "good" or "very good:"
   
   
   • The criteria for the standard of accommodation and Children's Workers received the highest ratings - 90% of respondents rated the standard of accommodation and the Children's Workers based at the Refuge as "good or "very good;" and one respondent rated them as fair.
   • 81% of respondents felt the security provided at the Refuge was "good" or "very good;"
   • Facilities for children, counselling, and outreach support received slightly more mixed results.

6.2 Respondents' comments

1. 8 respondents made additional comments regarding the Refuge.
   
   
   • 3 respondents praised the security at the Refuge and commented on the "supportive" staff.
     
     
   • 3 respondents praised the facilities for children and commented on the need to secure funding to develop such facilities further;
     
     "The children's services are an asset and should be an ongoing concern"
     "It's a real shame that the future of children's workers is in jeopardy"
     "There should be more activities for children as the children get bored."
     
     
   • Two respondent felt that the greater outreach support needs to be developed;
     
     "I felt very safe at the refuge, but I am scared of being on my own"

7. Qualitative Consultation - number and profile of participants

1. The Scrutiny Panel carried out a range of qualitative consultation with victims of domestic violence including:
   
   
   • 2 discussions groups with residents at Tameside Women's Refuge
   • 2 discussion groups with young victims of domestic violence from the Young Parents' Group run by Connexions;
   • 2 individual interviews with victims of domestic violence
   
   
2. Participants were asked about their experiences and opinions relating to the following:
   
   
   1. The Police;
   2. Legal proceedings;
   3. Housing provision and support;
   4. Tameside Women's Refuge
   5. Publicity / availability of information relating to domestic violence;
   6. Domestic violence amongst young people
   
   
3. The two discussion groups held at the Refuge involved a total of 12 participants; 7 participants classified their ethnic origin as "British," 3 described themselves as "mixed race" and 2 were "Asian;" 2 participants had left the Refuge and were currently receiving outreach support. The discussion groups with members of the Young Parents' Group involved 7 participants who had experienced domestic violence; all were female and classified themselves as "European."
   
   
4. The limited number of participants involved in the discussion groups means that the opinions and experiences expressed cannot be considered representative of victims of domestic violence in general. However, these discussion groups do provide detailed information which helps to develop and enhance our understanding of the quantitative data provided in the questionnaires.
   
   
5. Feedback from the discussions with victims of domestic violence in relation to each of the subjects discussed and the key issues raised are outlined below.

8. Feedback from discussions with victims

8.1  The Police

1. The vast majority of participants were critical of the Police. The key criticisms raised include:
   
   
   • Lack of communication between the Police and victims
   • The majority of participants felt the Police fail to keep the victim informed of developments in relation to their case.
   
   
2. Lack of support for the victim
   
   
   • Participants felt that the Police fail to provide victims with adequate support and protection after they have reported a case.
   • They felt that Police Officers fail to establish "trust" and positive relationships with victims.
   • In addition participants agreed that lack of support from the Police is often a contributory factor for victims' retracting their statement. The majority of participants reported feeling particularly vulnerable after reporting domestic violence to the Police - they commented on feeling afraid of the perpetrators' reaction, "dependent" upon the perpetrator, "scared" of leaving the relationship and uncertain about court proceedings; and felt the Police failed to allay these concerns.
   
   
3. Police policy for targeting perpetrators
   
   
   • The majority of participants felt the Police policy for "targeting" or "cold calling" on perpetrators of domestic violence still living with the victim, inflames abuse.
   • Two participants described incidents when their partner became more abusive following Police intervention of this type.
   
   
4. Perpetrators' too often bailed by the Police
   
   
   • The majority of participants felt that perpetrators of domestic violence are too often released on bail by the Police, for example one participant commented:
     

     "If the perpetrator was kept in custody for longer, it would prevent the victim from having to face him straight away and it would give her time to get stronger."
     
     

   • Participants revealed that abuse intensified when the perpetrator was released on bail; one participant explained:
     

     "The Police kept arresting him when I phoned, but they kept letting him go. This made him angrier and increased the abuse."
     
     

   • Many participants reported returning to their partner after reporting an incident of domestic violence to the Police, because they feared the perpetrator's reaction after bail.
     
     
5. Domestic violence is not taken seriously by the Police
   
   
   • Some participants felt domestic violence is not taken seriously by the Police. Typical comments included:
     

     "Nobody in the Police believed me when I told them anything. They think I'm crazy."

     "I feel like I'm fighting the Police as well."

     "I kept phoning the Police but they wouldn't arrest him because he hadn't hit me. He had his hands around my throat but nobody did anything."

9. Legal Proceedings

1. Participants discussed the implications of;
   
   
   1. New legal powers allowing the Police to take a case to court without the victim's consent;
   2. Probation programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence;
   3. Support for victims in Court.
   
   Participants' views and experiences in relation to the above issues were very mixed.
   
   
2. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004)
   
   
   • Some participants welcomed new legal powers contained in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act, which allow the Police to take a case to court without the victim's consent.
   • For example, some participants claimed that victims fail to press charges because they fear the perpetrators' reaction. These participants felt that the new legal powers will provide an opportunity for perpetrators to be brought to justice whilst distancing the victim from the case. One victim summarised:
     

     "[The new powers] will provide a way of taking forward a case and dealing with the offender, whilst taking the emphasis off the victim."

   • However other participants felt that Police interference could exacerbate tensions as the perpetrator would blame the victim regardless of whether the victim had given consent to the court case.
   • Participants felt this would be a particular problem if the perpetrator was bailed or court sentencing was not strong enough. For example one participant commented:
     

     "It will make things worse unless there is stronger sentencing afterwards…otherwise the perpetrator will be angrier and resent the victim and cause the victim more grief"

3. Probation Service Anger Management Programmes
   
   
   • Participants had mixed experiences and views regarding the impact of Probation Programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence. For example 3 victims felt that the Probation Service Anger Management Programme had an adverse effect on their partner's abusive behaviour. They commented:
     
     

     "He was ashamed to be attending but he believed he was right and justified. He said he was angry because of what I had put in through."

     "The programme is a bad idea. My partner blamed me for being forced to do the programme and he became more violent at home."

     "He felt he was forced to go through probation because of me, the programme doesn't make him admit to any problems…it has just made him worse."
     
   • However participants agreed that the impact of Probation Programmes ultimately depends on the perpetrator's character and their commitment to rehabilitation. In particular, participants felt that Anger Management programmes may be more influential for perpetrators involved in isolated incidents of domestic violence.
     
     
4. Support for the victim in Court
   
   
   • One participant criticised the lack of support she received whilst giving evidence in Court;
     

     "I would have liked a video link but I wasn't allowed one because of my age. They put up a screen but he [the perpetrator] could easily see around it."

     "They let him [the perpetrator] walk out of court 10 minutes after me, so we were waiting for the same bus home. It was handled very badly."

10. Housing provision and support

1. Some participants expressed frustration regarding the length of time it had taken / was taking to secure permanent accommodation as a result of homelessness caused by domestic violence.
   
   
2. Furthermore participants agreed that difficulty in securing suitable accommodation is one of the main issues which deter victims from leaving an abusive relationship. One typical comment was:
   
   "You need to find a proper place to stay, but it takes a long time to get a house, especially if you have a child…this makes it very difficult to leave."
   
   
3. However participants who had been re-homed were satisfied with the accommodation they had received.
   
   
4. 1 participant had received assistance from the Sanctuary Housing Project and praised the scheme and staff for helping her feel safer in her own home. This participant commented;
   

   "The Police wouldn't install a panic alarm at my house, but Sanctuary have installed CCTV, security lighting and a panic alarm."

   "The CCTV is very visible and one of the workers from Sanctuary regularly rings me to see how I'm doing…He [the perpetrator] hasn't been around to the house since and I feel safer."
   

5. Participants agreed that the Sanctuary Housing Project seems to offer a valuable opportunity for victims to stay in their own homes and avoid the stresses caused by homelessness and the need to relocate.

11. Tameside Women's Refuge

1. Participants who were residents or ex-residents of Tameside Women's Refuge praised the security and facilities provided at the Refuge. However, they agreed that "shared living can become difficult at times" and "you need your own space."
   
   
2. Participants who had not used the Refuge expressed negative perceptions of Refuges, as "horrible," "dirty" and "not a nice place."
   
   
3. Residents and non-residents agreed that refuges do have a negative image and they felt that this may put people off leaving an abusive relationship. Participants felt that more work needs to be done to dispel popular perceptions of refuges and the "type" of people that use them.

12. Publicity / availability of information relating to domestic violence

1. Participants felt that publicity information relating to domestic violence focuses too heavily on the potential implications of not reporting domestic violence, rather than informing victims of what support is available to help them leave the abusive relationship. Participants felt that victims would be more likely to leave an abusive relationship if available support services were publicised more widely. Typical comments included:
   

   "Support after victims have taken the initiative and reported domestic violence is most important, but leaflets and posters just try to scare people into reporting;"

   "Women don't report domestic violence because they don't know what they can do after leaving their partner. If they understood better what would happen more women would leave domestic violence."
   

2. In addition, participants felt that publicity information places too greater emphasis on physical abuse. Participants felt that more work needs to be done to raise the profile of different types of controlling behaviour, including psychological abuse and financial control. Typical comments included;
   

   "Many victims don't even know they are experiencing abuse until it becomes physical.

   "It was a gradual build up of abuse over about 6 months. I didn't notice what was happening and I wasn't physically attacked at first, but I was getting more and more isolated and cut off from my friends and family - he checked all my phone calls and wouldn't let me out of the house on my own. I began to feel as though I was dependent upon that person for everything, but I didn't realise I was experiencing domestic violence."
   

3. Some participants felt that it would be useful to have "a one stop shop" which brings together information and advice on services available to help victims of domestic violence.
   

4. However other participants preferred accessing information at an anonymous outlet which forms part of a neutral facility. For example, many participants felt that Health Centres, GPs' Surgeries and Dentists are ideal places for providing information on support services available for victims of domestic violence. They explained that GPs' surgeries or antenatal appointments offer victims respite from a controlling relationship and provide them with an opportunity to access information without the perpetrator being present.

13. Domestic violence amongst young people

1. Participants agreed that preventative work in schools is essential in tackling domestic violence. The vast majority of participants felt their partner had a derogatory perception of women in general and believed that is important to encourage in children respect for others and healthy relationships from an early age.
   
   
2. In addition participants felt that schools provide an ideal forum for:
   
   
   • Raising awareness of domestic violence and the different forms it can take;
   • Helping young people who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence access support services. For example, one participant suggested including contact details for the domestic violence helpline in student diaries.
     
     
3. Participants felt "Crucial Crew" is a particularly valuable initiative that may help children from abusive households "open up" and access support. However they felt that it is important to ensure adequate support and counselling is available at these events for children who may need it.
   
   
4. Young participants sited Connexions as the service they approached, or would be most likely to approach, for help relating to domestic violence. The reasons they cited include:
   

   "They [Connexions] are easy to speak to"

   "I found it easier to talk to someone you don't know"

   "They have lots of information about places you can go to for help."