Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel

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

Part 2 - Domestic Violence

• Terms Of Reference
• Methodology
• Background Information
• Dealing With Domestic Violence
• The Role Of Health Services In Helping To Tackle Domestic Violence
• The Role Of The Police In Tackling Domestic Violence
• Housing Provision And Support For Victims Of Domestic Violence
• Support Services For Victims Of Domestic Violence
• Specialist Court System For Victims Of Domestic Violence
• Borough Treasurer's Comments
• Borough Solicitor's Comments
• Recommendations - Domestic Violence

1. Terms Of Reference

The following Terms of Reference were agreed at a meeting of the Panel held on 1 st December 2005. A copy of the Project Plan for the review is appended to this report as Appendix 2.

Aim Of Scrutiny Review

To review the impact of current measures to tackle domestic violence in Tameside and to consider future plans, in order to inform policy development and help ensure that targets are met.

Objectives

To consider the development of Tameside's approach to tackling domestic violence in Tameside;

To evaluate the impact of current policies and procedures to;

1. Increase reporting and detection of domestic violence;
2. Support victims surviving domestic violence;
3. Prevent domestic violence amongst young people;
4. Deal with perpetrators;

To consider measures for dealing with domestic violence in minority groups, including BME communities and victims with disability.

To assess the CDRP's progress towards meetings its targets, including the Best Value Performance Indicator for Domestic Violence.

To consider future plans for tackling domestic violence and supporting victims.

To assess measures for tackling domestic violence in relation to value for money.

To identify examples of best practice in Tameside and other Local Authorities; and make any recommendations for improvement.

2. Methodology

1. The Panel met with the Domestic Violence (Strategy) Co-ordinator in order to discuss the CDRP's approach to tackling domestic violence in Tameside.
2. The Panel met with police representatives from Greater Manchester Police Domestic Violence Unit (Tameside Division) to discuss the impact of Greater Manchester Police policies and procedures for dealing with domestic violence in Tameside. Members received information on the current procedures for dealing with reported cases of domestic violence; current measures to help increase reporting and detection of domestic violence and current measures to tackle domestic violence in hard to reach groups together with any future plans.
3. The Panel met with representatives of Tameside Victim Support to discuss services provided to victims of domestic violence.
4. The Panel met with representatives of New Charter Housing Trust Limited to discuss the Sanctuary Housing Project and a representative of Accent North West to discuss the homeless register in Tameside.
5. The Panel met with the Head of Antenatal Services, Antenatal Unit Manager and representatives of the Children's Centre Health Project to discuss the role of the health service in helping to tackle domestic violence.
6. The Scrutiny Panel consulted with victims of domestic violence in order 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.
7. 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 Black Ethnic Minority community);
   • 600 self completion questionnaires distributed to victims of domestic violence through 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 Advisers.
8. A total of 76 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 12%. The views and opinions contained throughout the report represent those who have returned a questionnaire or took part in discussion groups. A full copy of the consultation document is appended to this report as Appendix 3.

3. Background Information

1. The "Tameside Domestic Violence Strategy 2005-2008" adopts the following definition of domestic violence;
   
   "any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between people who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality."
2. There is no specific "domestic violence" criminal offence. Domestic violence is a generic term used by the police as a marker to describe a wide range of criminal offences and incidents ranging from common assault to rape. Typically domestic violence involves a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour, which tends to get worse over time. It can take a number of forms such as physical assault, financial control, mental and verbal abuse, humiliation and deprivation.
3. Domestic violence has profound implications on victims, their families and the community in general. For example national research shows;
   
   
   • Domestic violence claims 150 lives each year and causes 25% of all suicides;
   • It has more repeat victims than any other crime; Home Office statistics show on average a victim suffers 35 assaults before calling the police;
   • Over 50% of women in contact with mental health services have experienced domestic abuse;
   • 80% of victims are forced to seek help from the health service at least once due to injuries directly related to domestic violence;
   • Domestic violence is the main single cause of homelessness in Tameside;  ¹ 
   • Fleeing an abusive relationship often has a detrimental effect on the victim's employment and family and social networks;
   • In addition, many children are affected by domestic violence. National studies show 90% of cases of domestic violence are witnessed or overheard by victims' children. This often has a damaging impact on their health, educational attainment and emotional well being.
   • Furthermore there is a strong link between domestic violence and child abuse. 1 in 5 child abuse cases dealt with by the NSPCC also involve domestic violence between adults in the household;  ² 
   • Domestic violence costs the nation in excess of £23 billion each year.  ³ 
4. Therefore domestic violence has a wide range of consequences which have cross-cutting implications upon a range of services, including housing, education, the youth service, health and social care and the voluntary sector.
5. Evidence shows that victims are usually women. During the first quarter of 2006/7, over 79% of victims of reported incidents of domestic violence in Tameside were female and over 81% of perpetrators were male. However, domestic violence is not confined to any one particular group of people; it occurs across the social spectrum regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality and wealth.  ⁴ 
   
   
6. In addition, domestic violence can take place in all types of relationships. The majority of incidents take place between intimate partners, however Police data for the first quarter of 2006/7 shows that 6.74% of recorded incidents of domestic violence in Tameside took place between son and parent and 3.90% of cases took place between daughter and parent.  ⁵ 
   
   
7. Nationally, domestic violence related incidents account for ¼ of all violent crime. A report produced by the Council of Europe claims 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence at some point during their life time; and between 6-10% of women suffer domestic violence each year. In addition, Home Office estimates suggest 1 in 6 men also experience some form of domestic violence during their life time.  ⁶ 
   
   
8. On average, Greater Manchester Police attend 500 reported incidents of domestic violence in Tameside per month. However many of these incidents do not result in a criminal offence. The graph shows the number of domestic violence related incidents in Tameside between 2000/2002 and 2004/05, which resulted in a criminal offence.
   
   
9. The graph shows the number of domestic violence related crimes in Tameside recorded by Greater Manchester Police increased by 62% between 2000/01 and 2004/05. Police data for the first quarter of 2006/7 indicates that domestic violence crimes have continued to increase - 296 crimes were recorded as domestic violence related during the first quarter of 2006/7, compared to 187 in the same period during 2005/6.
10. The Crime Disorder Reduction Partnership believe this rise may be the result of the partnership's initiatives to increase reporting and police investigation of domestic violence related incidents. Details of initiatives undertaken to increase reporting of domestic violence are contained within the remainder of this report.
11. However, domestic violence remains an under-reported crime; therefore the CDRP believe police statistics of recorded cases of domestic violence significantly underestimate the scale of the crime.

4. Dealing With Domestic Violence

4.1 National Measures

1. Due to the prevalence and cost of domestic violence, Central Government has made dealing with domestic violence a national priority. The Local Government Association is running a 3 year project (2005-2008) funded by the Home Office, aimed at promoting the good practice of councils and partner organisations in tackling domestic violence. In addition the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act passed in November 2004 and implemented in April 2005, is central to the government's strategy.
2. The Act places dealing with perpetrators of domestic violence at the heart of the criminal justice system. Police are given more power to positively intervene in incidents of domestic violence; and the Act makes it easier for perpetrators to be taken to court, convicted and sentenced.
3. Key measures contained in the Act include:
   
   
   • Breach of non-molestation orders is made a criminal offence;
   • Common assault is made an arrestable offence. This gives police the power to immediately remove an offender from a domestic disturbance. In addition, as part of the bail condition, police may prohibit the perpetrator from returning to the family home.
   • The Act also extends the availability of restraining orders to include all violent offences; and cases where there has been an acquittal in court but where there is sufficient evidence to warrant a restraining order.

4.2 Local Authorities

1. Central Government has placed increased expectation on the role of Local Authorities in dealing with domestic violence. Home Office guidance identifies two key roles for local authorities;
   
   
   1. Commissioning and delivering services to tackle domestic violence and support victims.
   2. Working in partnership with other local agencies in order to co-ordinate a multi-agency approach to dealing with the cross-cutting implications of domestic violence.
2. The Government regards the CDRP as the forum for co-ordinating multi-agency work between key council services and other partnership agencies.
3. In 2005, the Government set a new Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) to measure Local Authorities' performance in tackling domestic violence. The BVPI assesses Local Authorities' performance in relation to 11 questions, including:
   1. Has the local authority produced a directory of local services that can help victims of domestic violence?
   2. Is there in the Local Authority area a minimum of 1 refuge place per 10,000 population?
   3. Does the Local Authority employ directly or fund a voluntary sector based domestic violence co-ordinator?
   4. Has the local authority produced and adopted a multi-agency strategy to tackle domestic violence developed in partnership with other agencies?
   5. Does the Local Authority support and facilitate a local multi-agency domestic violence forum that meets at least 4 times a year?
   6. Has the Local Authority developed an information sharing protocol and had it agreed between key statutory partners?
   7. Has the Local Authority developed and launched a sanctuary type scheme to enable victims and their children to remain in their home, where they choose to do so and where their safety can be guaranteed?
   8. Has there been a reduction in the number of cases accepted as homeless due to domestic violence?
   9. Does the Council's tenancy agreement have a specific clause stating that perpetration of domestic violence by a tenant can be considered grounds for eviction?
   10. Has the Local Authority developed and funded an education pack in consultation with the wider domestic violence forum;
   11. Has the Local Authority carried out a programme of training in the last 12 months for front line and managerial staff;

4.3 Tameside Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

1. The 2004 Audit Commission Report identified Tameside's approach to dealing with domestic violence as an area of weakness. The report raised the following concerns;
   
   
   • The Council's approach to tackling domestic violence was unclear;
   • A multi agency approach to tackling domestic violence was still in its early stages;
   • Domestic violence was not currently mainstreamed into day to day service delivery.  ⁷ 
2. Since 2004 a full time Domestic Violence Co-ordinator has been in post in the Community Safety Unit and the CDRP has introduced a number of measures intended to improve Tameside's approach to dealing with domestic violence. These measures and their impact are outlined in the following sections of this report:-

4.4 The Domestic Violence Forum

1. The Domestic Violence Forum was launched in April 2004 in response to the Audit Commission's recommendations. The Forum is a sub group of the CDRP, it is administered by the Community Safety Unit and chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to the Cabinet Deputy for Co-ordination Services.
2. The Domestic Violence Forum is an umbrella organisation which aims to achieve a co-ordinated multi-agency approach to tackling the cross cutting implications of domestic violence, as required by the new BVPI for domestic violence.
3. Membership is open to any person or agency involved in tackling domestic violence and/or supporting victims. The Forum currently includes representatives from:
   
   
   • Housing agencies - New Charter Housing Trust Limited, Threshold Housing Project, Supporting People;
   • Social Services - Asylum Seeker Team and Race and Diversity Team;
   • Health Services - The Acute Trust Maternity Service, Pennine Care, Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust;
   • Young People's Services - Traveller, Refugee, Asylum Seeker Support Team (TRASST), Children and Young People Service, Youth Service and Branching Out;
   • Education - Education Welfare, Sure Start;
   • Victim Support;
   • Tameside Women Project - Refuge for women and children
   • Beevers Solicitors;
   • National Offender Management Service (Probation);
   • Greater Manchester Police;
   • Community Safety Unit.
4. The Forum holds quarterly meetings, which provide an opportunity for Forum members to:
   
   
   • Share information with other agencies and practitioners;
   • Develop recognition and respect for the work of different member agencies;
   • Co-ordinate policies and practices wherever possible.
5. In addition the Domestic Violence Forum has carried out a number of other measures to help tackle domestic violence in Tameside and meet the requirements contained in the new BVPI, including:
   
   
   • Measures to support the development of a multi-agency approach to tackling domestic violence, including multi-agency training sessions for frontline staff and "train the trainer sessions"; the development of a good practice guide for dealing with domestic violence; and the publication of a directory of local service providers for victims of domestic violence;
   • Measures to raise public awareness of domestic violence and the support services available, including the production and distribution of publicity leaflets, posters and contacts cards. In addition, the Forum funded an enhanced publicity campaign to coincide with the World Cup, in order to raise public awareness of domestic violence at what is traditionally a peak time for incidents of domestic violence.
   • Production and distribution of publicity materials translated into appropriate languages for BME communities;
   • Production of guidelines to help schools identify and deal with domestic violence.

4.5 The Domestic Violence Forum Action Plan 2006/07

1. The Domestic Violence Forum has produced an Action Plan for 2006/07 which identifies other ways in which the group aims to help tackle domestic violence during 2006/7.
2. The Action Plan contains measures to:
   
   
   • Help develop educational programmes for dealing with domestic violence in schools;
   • Explore the issue of young people as victims and perpetrators of domestic violence;
   • Explore the possibility of developing local provision for perpetrators of domestic violence, including those not convicted;
   • Explore the issue of Forced Marriage with a view to developing a protocol for dealing with the issue.
3. The action plan also highlights the need to develop a system to capture victim satisfaction with local support services.
4. Furthermore, at the time of this review, the Forum was discussing plans to extend its remit by developing an information sharing protocol to allow for the discussion of individual cases of domestic violence. This will allow the Forum to take a more proactive approach to dealing with specific perpetrators and victims, and is required as part of the new BVPI for domestic violence.

4.6 The Domestic Violence Strategy 2005 - 2008

1. The Domestic Violence Forum has contributed to the production of a Domestic Violence Strategy which integrates existing policies and procedures for dealing with domestic violence.
2. The Strategy also contains further key issues relating to domestic violence in Tameside, which will inform domestic violence action plans for the next 3 years. The key issues identified in the Strategy are listed below:
   
   
   • There is a need to find additional funding to help support the services provided by the Tameside Women's Project;
   • Domestic Violence is an under-reported crime. In addition, a large proportion of victims retract reports, and 49% of victims fail to provide enough evidence to enable prosecution;
   • There is no special help for male victims and disabled victims of domestic violence;
   • A high proportion of young people in their early teens are getting involved in abusive relationships. The Forum believe there may be a link between teenage pregnancies and abusive relationships;
   • There are no local early intervention programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence.
   • The Probation Services provides an "Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme," however this is only available to convicted offenders.

5. The Role Of Health Services In Helping To Tackle Domestic Violence

1. The health service is in a unique position to contribute towards tackling domestic violence. Healthcare professionals come into contact with victims of domestic violence on a regular basis. For example:
   
   
   • NHS guidance states that health professionals deal with the after-effects of domestic violence "everyday;"  ⁸ 
   • Research shows that 80% of victims are forced to seek help from health services due to injuries directly relating to domestic violence;
   • Over 50% of women in contact with mental health services have experienced domestic abuse;  ⁹ 
   • 40%-60% of victims of domestic violence experience abuse whilst pregnant and more than 30% of cases of domestic violence actually start during pregnancy.  ¹⁰ 
2. In addition, for many victims the health service is their first or only point of contact with professionals who can help ensure they get the support they need.
3. Furthermore, research suggests that victims of domestic violence want the health service to take a proactive role in identifying cases of domestic violence and signposting victims to appropriate support services. A report produced by the NHS states:
   
   "Time and time again victims of domestic abuse have said they wish somebody had asked them if they were experiencing problems in their personal relationships."  ¹¹ 
   
   
4. The results of the Scrutiny Panel's consultation with victims of domestic violence in Tameside mirror the NHS' findings. Discussion groups with victims at Tameside Women's Refuge and Connexions Young Parents' Group revealed many victims wanted someone to take the initiative and raise the issue of domestic violence. They reported feeling "embarrassed," "ashamed" or "scared" to admit they were experiencing domestic violence and said they would have felt more comfortable discussing the issue if it was introduced by someone else. One victim said:
   
   "I wanted to tell a midwife or someone at my antenatal appointments, but I didn't know what to say and didn't feel safe - I wanted someone to ask if everything was alright."
5. The Scrutiny Panel felt 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.

5.6 National Guidance

1. The Department of Health published a handbook in December 2005, entitled "Responding to Domestic Abuse - A Guide for Health Professionals." This handbook aims to clarify the role and responsibilities of health professionals in relation to domestic violence, and helps to formalise a consistent and effective approach across the NHS to dealing with domestic violence.
2. The handbook identifies 5 key roles for the health service in relation to dealing with domestic violence:
   
   
   • Identify the signs of domestic violence and actively encourage disclosures through routine and selective enquiries;
   • Provide appropriate information to help victims explore their options and make referrals to relevant local agencies;
   • Assess the extent of danger a victim faces and inform the Police in "high risk cases" or where there is reason to suggest a child's safety is at risk;
   • Keep accurate records to indicate the harm domestic violence has caused to the victim (health records may be used as evidence in court prosecutions);
   • Work with partnership agencies as part of a multi-agency approach to tackling domestic violence.
3. The handbook also contains guidance to help health professionals fulfil their responsibilities and develop a policy for dealing with domestic violence.
4. However the Scrutiny Panel acknowledge that health professionals' role in supporting victims of domestic violence is intermediary. Health professionals are not responsible for advising victims and they are not caseworkers for victims once they have been referred to sources of help.

5.7 Local measures

Primary Care Trust

1. The Panel felt that work on domestic violence within the PCT has been slow, but has started to pick up pace since the publication of the Department of Health Guidance.
2. The PCT has recently appointed a permanent Sure Start / Children's Centre representative to the Domestic Violence Forum.
3. In addition, Tameside Children's Centre Health Project has recently produced domestic violence guidelines for Children's Centre Workers and Health Visitors, based on the Department of Health Guidance.
4. The Guidelines outline the role and responsibilities of Children's Centre Workers and Health Visitors in relation to domestic violence. They provide advice and examples of best practice to help Children's Centre Workers and Health Visitors carry out the following duties:
   
   
   • Identify signs of domestic violence;
   • Support victims of domestic violence;
   • Provide information to empower victims to make informed choices about their safety and lifestyles;
   • Protect children;
   • Work with multiple agencies to achieve the above.
   
   The Panel was informed that the Children's Centre have had one disclosure of domestic violence since the publication of the Guidelines; this victim was successfully referred to other agencies.
5. Furthermore, representatives from Sure Start have attended "Train the Trainer" courses delivered by the Domestic Violence Forum. It is intended that this training will now be rolled out to all Children's Centre Workers and Health Visitors, in order to support the implementation of the Domestic Violence Guidelines.
6. The Children's Centre Project Lead is currently working with Public Health to extend these Guidelines to General Practitioners; and to raise GPs awareness of their roles and responsibilities in relation to domestic violence. There are currently no formal guidelines to support GP's in identifying and dealing with cases of domestic violence.
   
   The Acute Trust
   
   
7. Antenatal Services at Tameside and Glossop NHS Acute Trust is represented on the Domestic Violence Forum, though due to staffing issues are not always able to send someone to meetings.
8. The Head of Antenatal Services informed the Panel that community midwives carry out routine enquiries regarding domestic violence at all first antenatal appointments. However, antenatal services have limited opportunities to talk to victims away from their partner and consequently find it difficult to establish the necessary environment for victims to disclose abuse.
9. The Panel found that there are currently no formal procedures in antenatal services for responding to disclosures of domestic violence, however the Panel was informed that community midwives would usually liaise with the appropriate Health Visitor and GP subject to the victim's consent.
10. Midwives have received training on domestic violence in the past; however the Panel felt that this training needs updating.
11. The Panel was informed that posters and help cards for victims of domestic violence are displayed in Antenatal Services and distributed to GP's surgeries and Children's Centres.
12. The Scrutiny Panel felt that there is a need to develop a standardised approach across the PCT and Acute Trust for dealing with domestic violence. In addition there is a need for improved communication between the PCT and Acute Trust regarding disclosures of domestic violence or suspected cases of domestic violence.
13. The Scrutiny Panel felt that more work needs to be done to support GPs in dealing with domestic violence. The Panel's consultation with victims of domestic violence revealed victims' views regarding the support they received from their GP were mixed. The Panel was informed that Tameside Women's Refuge used a GP's surgery as an anonymous meeting place to help one victim make arrangements to leave an abusive relationship.
14. However some victims expressed dissatisfaction regarding the support they received from their GP. For example one victim approached her GP for "practical advice, but was only given anti-depressants." Furthermore, the majority of victims felt uncomfortable discussing the issue of domestic violence with their GP. Reasons cited include:
    
    
    • "GPs cannot help;"
    • "They judge you;"
    • "They can't do anything unless you want treating for the physical effects of domestic violence."
15. In addition many victims felt that there was limited information about support services available to victims of domestic violence in many surgeries.

6. The Role Of The Police In Tackling Domestic Violence

6.1 The National Policing Plan 2005 - 2008

1. Tackling domestic violence has become a national priority in recent years due to its prevalence and cost. The Domestic Violence National Report produced by the Home Office in March 2005 states:
   
   "Over the last 30 years domestic violence in the UK has gone from being a largely unspoken subject to one which is being tackled and confronted by Government, statutory bodies and the voluntary sector."  ¹² 
   
   
2. The National Policing Plan for 2005 - 2008 reflects the increased profile of domestic violence as a national issue. The Plan identifies reducing violent crime, including domestic violence, as 1 of 5 "key national priorities for police action."  ¹³ 
   
   
3. The plan states that the police have a duty to contribute towards tackling domestic violence in 4 key ways. These include;
   
   
   1. Investigating all reports of domestic violence;
   2. Facilitating effective action against offenders so that they can be held accountable through the criminal justice system;
   3. Providing support services for victims of in order to protect the lives of both adults and children who are at risk of domestic violence;
   4. Working in partnership with the local council, other statutory agencies in the CDRP and voluntary organizations in order to produce a multi-agency approach to tackling domestic violence.
4. A training pack has been provided by CENTREX, which complements the National Policing Plan and aims to help Police carry out their responsibilities in relation to dealing with domestic violence. Training covers:
   
   
   • Initial handling of 999 calls;
   • Sensitively dealing with victims;
   • Working with the local community to raise awareness of domestic violence;
   • Working as part of a multi-agency approach;
   • Risk assessing offenders.

6.2 The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004)

1. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) is central to the role of the police in tackling domestic violence and has been described as "the biggest overhaul of domestic violence legislation for 30 years." The Act gives the police the power to positively intervene in incidents of domestic violence; and consequently allows the police to adopt a proactive approach to dealing with offenders and supporting victims.
2. Key measures contained in the Act include;
   
   
   • Common assault is made an arrestable offence. This gives police the power to immediately remove an offender from a domestic disturbance. In addition, as part of the bail condition, police may prohibit the perpetrator from returning to the family home.
   • Breach of civil non-molestation orders is made a criminal offence and the law is changed so that the police can always make an arrest for breaches.
   • Police are given the power to take offenders to court without the victim's consent;
   • The Act also extends the availability of restraining orders to include all violent offences and cases where there has been an acquittal in court but where there is sufficient evidence to warrant a restraining order.

6.3 Greater Manchester Police policies and procedures for dealing with Domestic Violence

Greater Manchester Police Authority's Best Value Review on Domestic Violence

1. Greater Manchester Police policies and procedures for dealing with domestic violence were considered by the Greater Manchester Police Authority as part of their Best Value Review of Public Protection carried out in 2005.
2. The Review focused on the processes for the investigation of domestic violence and victim care, including current levels of satisfaction, accessibility, partnership working and future service requirements.
3. A number of areas for improvement were identified in the Review including:
   
   
   • The current process for investigating domestic violence does not comply with guidelines issued by the National Centre for Policing Excellence and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
   • There is no regular consultation with staff, users or victims of public protection services.
   • There is no performance management framework in place to assess progress towards achieving statutory performance indicators relating to domestic violence.
   • Consultation with public protection staff suggests low morale, high workloads and a lack of management accountability and support.
4. The Review culminated in the production of a Best Value Improvement Strategy for 2005 - 2008, which contains the following actions;
   
   
   • Produce a revised domestic violence policy by December 2006, which ensures that the force adopts a proactive approach to the investigation of domestic violence offences.
   • Consult with victims and service users to gauge their satisfaction with public protection services and identify future needs.
   • Provide specialist training for all domestic violence police officers.
5. The Panel acknowledged that the above recommendations had been incorporated into the Greater Manchester Policing Strategy for 2005-2008. However, lack of resources means specialist domestic violence training is only available for Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officers; though basic training on dealing with incidents of domestic violence is included the initial training programme for all Police Officers.
   
   Greater Manchester Police Strategy
   
   
6. 6 The Greater Manchester Policing Strategy for 2005 - 2008 gives considerable weighting to the national policing priority for tackling domestic violence. The GMP Strategy commits the Force to:
   
   
   • Increasing the detection rate for domestic violence;
   • Reducing the overall number of incidents of domestic violence;
   • Providing protection for victims
7. The Tameside Division of GMP has introduced a number of measures intended to improve the borough's performance in relation to the objectives contained in the Greater Manchester Policing Strategy.
8. Greater Manchester Police Tameside Division aims to promote a proactive approach to dealing with reported incidents of domestic violence. On-duty Police Officers, who are the first to attend reported incidents of domestic violence, are required to take positive action in all cases. The diagram summarises GMP's procedures for dealing with reported incidents of domestic violence.
   
   
   
   First Response
   
   

   • on-duty police officer responds to the report;
   • makes arrest / deals with offender;
   • takes statements;
   • assesses level of risk posed by offender and grades the case as high, medium or low risk;
   • the police officer records the incident on the GMP database with a domestic violence marker.

   

   
   

   Subsequent Action

   • Further investigation;
   • The Crown Prosecution Service decide whether to take the case to court.
   
   
   Whenever an arrest is not made, the on-duty Police Officer must justify why arrest was not considered the appropriate course of action.
9. In addition, the Force currently has a policy of targeting or cold calling on known persistent perpetrators still living with their partner. The Panel was informed that the impact of this policy was due to be reviewed later in 2006.
10. The GMP Domestic Violence Unit based in Ashton, aims to promote and co-ordinate this proactive approach to policing domestic violence. The Unit's main responsibilities include:
    
    
    • monitoring all reported cases of domestic violence in order to ensure on-duty police officers take appropriate action when incidents are reported;
    • carrying out any necessary follow up action, such as tracking offenders, making referrals to other agencies and advising victims about available support services. The Unit completes a "welfare check" before closing a case of domestic violence - which involves ensuring the offender and victim are located;
    • The Unit employs Specialist Domestic Violence Officers who personally contact victims involved in "high risk" domestic violence incidents to provide information about procedures for Police investigation and available support services. All victims of reported incidents of domestic violence receive a letter from the Unit;
    • In addition the Unit is often a port of call for victims unable to contact the Officer in charge of their case.
11. However the Sergeant of the GMP Domestic Violence Unit, Tameside Division, informed the Panel that lack of resources makes it difficult for the Unit to ensure all victims are regularly updated on developments throughout their case.
12. The Sergeant of the Greater Manchester Police Domestic Violence Unit, Tameside Division, would like the Unit to employ specialist officers trained to deal with incidents of domestic violence from the initial call through to subsequent investigation. The Scrutiny Panel felt that the combination of Uniformed Officers and support staff in the Unit would make the Unit better placed to provide victims with continuity of care and improved communication about the progress of their case and may help to reduce retraction rates.
13. During the Scrutiny Panel's consultation with victims of domestic violence, 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;
14. The results for all 4 criteria are displayed in percentage form in the graph below (the graph only shows the responses relating to GMP, Tameside division):
    
    
15. The graph shows mixed results for all four criteria, indicating that victims have very different experiences of Police involvement. The criteria dealing with police 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. The long term support offered by the police received the highest proportion of poor and very poor ratings. Respondents opinions regarding the way in which the police dealt with the perpetrator were particularly inconclusive.
16. 32 respondents provided additional comments relating to the role of the police. 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 case was handled by the police
    • Support provided by the officer dealing with the respondents ongoing case
    • The advice provided by counter staff at the police station
    • The prompt response of the police in arresting the offender
17. However, the majority of comments were critical of the police. Key criticisms raised included:
    
    
    • Domestic violence was not taken seriously by the police
    • Lack of communication between the police and victim
    • Poor response time
    • Lack of support for the victim
    • Police not interested in male victim
    • The majority of respondents felt the police should take a more proactive approach in arresting offenders
18. The issues raised in the questionnaire were mirrored in discussion groups held with victims of domestic violence. In addition, the following issues were also raised:
    
    
    • Victims felt the police policy for targeting or cold calling on perpetrators of domestic violence still living with the victim can inflame abuse
    • Perpetrators too often bailed by the police
19. For most victims, the first point of contact with the Police is the on-duty Police Officer responding to a reported incident. Therefore the Scrutiny Panel felt that high quality training on domestic violence for on-duty Police Officers is essential for helping to ensure that all victims of domestic violence receive a consistent level of Police support.
20. 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.
21. The Scrutiny Panel recognise that some of the respondents who reported that they had not seen a Specialist Domestic Violence Police Officer also reported that they had "not heard of the Greater Manchester Police Domestic Violence Unit." Therefore the number of respondents reporting that they had not seen a Specialist Officer may be affected by victims' lack of clarity about the role of the Specialist Officer and whether they have had contact. The Scrutiny Panel feels that this should be explored further; and measures should be taken to raise awareness of the Specialist Officers and the role of the GMP Domestic Violence Unit.

7. Housing Provision And Support For Victims Of Domestic Violence

7.1 Implications of domestic violence on victims' housing needs

1. Homelessness is one of the most common and destructive implications of domestic violence:
   
   
   • National statistics estimate domestic violence accounts for about 16% of homelessness each year;
   • Nationally, more than 130,000 homeless households were re-housed between 1995 - 2002 as a direct result of domestic violence;  ¹⁴ 
   • Domestic violence is the largest single cause of homelessness in Tameside. Between 2002-2003, 193 of the 616 cases of homelessness recorded in the borough were caused by domestic violence;  ¹⁵ 
   • However these official figures for homelessness are likely to under-estimate the number of victims who lose their home as a result of domestic violence. Many victims turn to family and friends as an immediate respite from abuse and are consequently never recorded as homeless;
   • Leaving home in order to flee an abusive relationship has a detrimental effect on many victims' employment and family and social networks. In addition victims' children are often forced to change schools and move away from friends, which can have a destabilising influence on the child's wellbeing, education and behaviour.
   • Furthermore, recent research suggests a significant number of victims of domestic violence experience "repeat homelessness. "For example, a survey of 4,000 applications for re-housing made by homeless victims of domestic violence revealed 27% of applications were the victim's second or subsequent homeless application.
2. A report produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2002 states that domestic violence often initiates a cycle of homelessness. For example;
   
   
   • Many victims are pursued by their violent partner after leaving the family home. This often forces the victim to leave their new property or return to the perpetrator;
   • Fear of living alone and the difficulties of coping without family and friends also often prevents victims from settling in their new home and may result in the victim moving home again or returning to the perpetrator;
   • In addition many victims are financially dependent upon the perpetrator and consequently feel unable to independently support themselves and their children;
   • Research indicates that it takes an average of 6 attempts for a victim of domestic violence to permanently leave an abusive relationship.  ¹⁶ 

7.2 National Legislation and Guidance relating to housing support for victims of domestic violence

1. In recent years national Government has placed increased responsibility on Local Authorities and Housing Associations (also known as Registered Social Landlords) for addressing the housing needs of victims of domestic violence, in order to reduce homelessness and prevent "repeat homelessness." Guidance published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2002 states:
   
   "Someone is statutorily homeless if they do not have accommodation that they have a legal right to occupy, which is accessible and physically available to them (and their household) and which it would be reasonable for them to continue to live in.
   
   It would not be reasonable for someone to continue to live in their home, for example, if that was likely to lead to violence against them (or a member of their family.)"  ¹⁷ 
   
   
2. The Homelessness Act passed in 2002 places a statutory duty on Local Authorities to find temporary emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence. In addition the Act requires that Housing Agencies treat homeless victims of domestic violence as "priority" cases for re-housing.
3. Furthermore recent legislation also encourages Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords to prevent homelessness by developing initiatives to help victims remain in their own homes. For example, the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act passed in 2004 presents moving home or going into a refuge as the last option, and the new Best Value Performance Indicator for Domestic Violence assesses Local Authorities' performance towards:
   
   
   • Developing a sanctuary type scheme to enable victims and their children to remain at home if that is the choice;
   • Reducing the % of cases accepted as homeless due to domestic violence.

7.3 Local measures for addressing the housing needs of victims of domestic violence

7.3.1 Tameside Women's Refuge

1. Tameside Women's Project is a voluntary organisation which runs a purpose built refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence. It is the only refuge in Tameside for victims of domestic violence.
2. The refuge contains 20 rooms with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Boys under the age of 15 and girls of any age are permitted in the refuge and there are a number of family units available. During 2004 the refuge housed 128 adults and 129 children.
3. Residents are given access to 3 key workers who offer support in relation to the following issues:
   
   
   • Health and social care,
   • Resettlement and aftercare,
   • Children's Play Workers and Counsellors
   
   The Resettlement and Aftercare Worker maintains outreach links with women after they have left the refuge.
   
   The refuge also offers a 24 hour telephone helpline and counselling service for non-residents.
4. Women may be referred to the refuge from a range of agencies and can be self referred. Many residents come from outside Tameside. The refuge admits a large number of women from BME communities. These are usually from outside the borough because of the need to escape extended families.
5. The refuge is funded by the voluntary organisation Tameside Women's Project. The Project received £25,000 per annum from the "Supporting People" fund, which is used to part finance the wages of the play workers and children's counsellor. The Panel was informed that this funding ceased in March 2006, however alternative funding for the Children's Workers at the refuge had been secured for the next three years.
6. Residents and ex-residents of Tameside Women's Refuge, when consulted, agreed that refuges do have a negative image and they felt that this may put people off leaving an abusive relationship. However, participants praised the security and facilities provided at the Refuge.
7. The graph below shows how respondents rated the services provided by the Refuge
   
   
8. 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."

7.3.2 Housing Options

1. Housing Options is a housing support and advice service run by New Charter Housing Trust Group Limited (NCHT) on behalf of Tameside MBC. The service has been commissioned by the Council to fulfil the Council's statutory duties under the Homelessness Act:
   
   
   • To find temporary emergency accommodation for priority homeless cases;
   • To assess homeless applications in order to identify "priority" cases for re-housing.
2. In addition Housing Options employs of housing advisors who offer information and guidance on a wide range of housing issues, including homelessness / threatened homelessness, re-housing options and housing benefit; and they can refer clients to other appropriate agencies. In addition, advisors process homeless applications for re-housing and monitor and track the progress of applications on behalf of the client.
3. Furthermore, the Housing Options team includes a specialist advisor specifically employed to assist victims of domestic violence regarding housing and other associated issues. For example, the specialist advisor can arrange accommodation at Tameside Women's Refuge and provide victims with legal advice. The specialist advisor also holds a weekly surgery for residents at the Refuge.

7.3.3 Accent Housing Association / The Homeless Register

1. The Council transferred responsibility for managing the homeless register from NCHT to Accent Housing Association in March 2005.
2. The homeless register comprises of a list of all cases, judged by advisors at Housing Options, to be statutorily homeless; together with details of available properties. Registered Social Landlords in Tameside are required to allocate 50% of their available housing stock to the homeless register.
3. Accent is responsible for:
   
   
   • Interviewing all applicants contained in the homeless register to acquire an understanding of their specific housing needs, including the location and size of property they require;
   • Matching applicants with appropriate properties
4. The Scrutiny Panel was concerned that some victims of domestic violence experience difficulty in securing permanent housing in Tameside. Workers and residents at Tameside Women's Refuge expressed concerns that some victims experience problems in getting re-housed. They felt that this often results in a lengthy stay in the Refuge or another form of temporary accommodation and leaves victims more susceptible of returning to an abusive relationship. Residents agreed that difficulty in securing suitable accommodation is one of the main reasons which deters victims from leaving an abusive relationship, especially if a child is involved.
5. Some victims had experienced difficulty in securing new accommodation because of rent arrears on the property they have left. This is a particular problem for victims of domestic violence as many victims are financially dependent upon the perpetrator, or the perpetrator often remains in the family home.
6. In addition residents at the Refuge felt that some Registered Social Landlords may be reluctant to offer accommodation to victims who have left a number of previous addresses in order to escape domestic violence.

7.3.4 Sanctuary Housing Project  ¹⁸ 

1. The Sanctuary Housing Project is a joint initiative between the CDRP, Tameside MBC's Housing Strategy Team and NCHT, designed to reduce homelessness by helping victims of domestic violence remain in their own homes.
2. The scheme is jointly administered by NCHT and Greater Manchester Police and is funded by Tameside MBC Housing Strategy and the CDRP. The Project involves making security improvements to the properties of victims who wish to stay in their own home but are still in fear of domestic violence, or who wish to move to alternative accommodation but still fear the threat of domestic violence.
3. The Project was launched in Autumn 2005 as a pilot scheme available to tenants of New Charter. However following positive feedback and the provision of further funding, the scheme has been extended to private houses and tenants of other Registered Social Landlords.
   
   
4. Victims must meet the following criteria to be considered eligible for the scheme:
   
   
   1. The victim must have experienced domestic violence or be at "serious risk" of domestic violence;
   2. The victim has to actively want to stay in their property and must not be living with the perpetrator;
   3. There must be evidence to show the victims has made contact with the Police and the GMP Domestic Violence Unit;
   4. The victim must agree to police involvement in the case.
5. Applications for the Sanctuary Housing Project may be made directly by the victim or via another agency such as the Police or Victim Support. All applications are initially received by the designated NCHT Officer with responsibility for the scheme, who makes an initial assessment of the case based on the above criteria and then refers the application to the GMP Crime Reduction Advisor.
6. The GMP Crime Reduction Advisor visits the victim's property with the designated NCHT Officer in order to identify what (if any) security improvements are required. The Crime Reduction Advisor will endorse the application with one of the following recommendations:
   
   
   • Recommend work to be carried out;
   • Recommend that the risk to the tenant is too high for them to remain in their own home;
   • Recommend that the risk is not high enough to warrant additional security.
7. In cases where security improvements are recommended, NCHT carry out any necessary work. The type of work carried out ranges from installing alarms, window or door locks, to improving security lighting or cutting down hedges. Initial work is funded by TMBC Housing Strategy and the CDRP, but residents are responsible for the long term maintenance of all security improvements made to the property.
8. In addition, all physical security improvements are complemented by enhanced Police support. The Police place a "marker" on all addresses involved in the Sanctuary Housing Project to ensure the Police response is "prompt" if they are called out to any incidents at the address. In addition NCHT continue to monitor all cases for 6 months following the implementation of security improvements. NCHT and the Police have re-visited one property to install additional security equipment in response to further incidents of domestic violence.
9. At present 57 properties have benefited from the project, this includes properties from NCHT, West Pennine, Jonny Johnson, Ashton Pioneer Homes, Accent and 2 private properties. NCHT are currently monitoring the outcomes of the scheme and are in the process of collating formal feedback on the project. A full evaluation of the project is due to be completed later this year.
10. The Scrutiny Panel felt that this scheme offers victims a valuable opportunity to feel safe in their homes, thereby reducing the upheaval caused by re-locating due to domestic violence. During consultation with victims of domestic violence 3 participants praised the scheme and staff for helping them to feel safer in their own homes.
11. In addition, many participants who had not accessed the Sanctuary Housing Project felt that the scheme seemed 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.

8. Support Services For Victims Of Domestic Violence

8.1 Victim Support  ¹⁹ 

1. Victim Support is an independent national charity for anyone affected by crime. The service comprises of local volunteers who are specially trained to provide support, information and practical help to people who have been threatened or abused. The Tameside branch of Victim Support currently employs 6 full time workers and 1 part time worker along with 25 community volunteers and 15 Court volunteers.
2. The range of assistance and advice provided by Victim Support is extensive and determined by the needs of the individual victim. The services most frequently accessed by victims of domestic violence include:
   
   
   • Impartial advice, either anonymously over the telephone or in person, to help victims explore the choices available to them;
   • Access to contact details and information about other agencies to help with housing, benefits, counselling and legal advice, and if necessary community volunteers may liaise with these agencies on the victim's behalf;
   • Help with supporting children;
   • Advice on personal safety.
3. Furthermore, the Tameside branch of Victim Support has a designated worker specifically employed to help victims of violent crime apply for Criminal Injuries Compensation. The designated worker provides victims with information and advice on applying for compensation and processes all administration related to the claim. The post is currently funded for 3 years through a grant from the "Big Lottery Fund."
4. Victim Support also runs a Witness Service in every Crown Court and Magistrates' Court in England and Wales. The service aims to offer victims and witnesses emotional support and practical information before, during and after a court hearing. For example, volunteers are trained to provide information on court proceedings and accompany victims in the courtroom if required.
5. In addition the Tameside Witness Service is currently involved in an enhanced "Witness Care Scheme" in collaboration with Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. This scheme aims to bring together all agencies involved in the criminal justice system to establish a co-ordinated and proactive approach to supporting victims and witnesses throughout the entire criminal justice process, from the initial charge to sentencing in court.
6. The scheme is part of a national initiative which aims to increase the number of victims and witnesses giving evidence in court, and thereby reduce the number of ineffective trials and help to bring more offenders to justice.  ²⁰  The scheme aims to improve the accessibility and quality of information, reassurance and support available to victims and witnesses in order to increase witness engagement in the criminal justice process. The scheme targets victims and witnesses of all types of crime. However, domestic violence has a high retraction rate, therefore the Scrutiny Panel felt that initiatives to increase the number of victims giving evidence in court are particularly relevant to tackling this type of crime.
7. The scheme was initially piloted in Essex, Gwent, North Wales, South Yorkshire and West Midlands during 2004 and was rolled out across Greater Manchester in 2005.
8. The Scrutiny Panel acknowledged that Victim Support also proactively aims to meet the specific needs of victims from BME communities and younger victims. They produce a variety of advice leaflets, which are accessible in English, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, Urdu and Welsh. Translators are available for victims from BME communities. In addition, Victim Support also proactively targets younger victims by producing small information cards specifically designed to appeal to children and young people.
9. The Scrutiny Panel's consultation with victims of domestic violence showed that the number of respondents accessing Victim Support was low in all age groups. The number of young people was particularly low. In addition, all respondents that had accessed Victim Support were female and of European ethnic origin.
10. A significant number of respondents indicated that they were not aware of 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."
11. 22 of 53 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.
12. However, the Panel's consultation showed that Victim Support provides a valuable service for victims who do access the service. Respondents who accessed Victim Support were asked to rate the assistance they received by the service. 79% rated the assistance they received as "very good" or "good."
    
    

9. Specialist Court System For Victims Of Domestic Violence

9.1 The aims and key features of the specialist court system for victims of domestic violence

1. A pilot project to establish a specialist court system for victims of domestic violence was funded by the Home Office in 7 courts throughout England and Wales during 2004.
2. The objective of this specialist system is to recognise and meet the specific needs and special concerns faced by victims of domestic violence, in order to:
   
   
   • Decrease the number of retractions made by the victims of domestic violence;
   • Increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice.
3. There are 3 key elements to the specialist court system:
   
   
   1. Specialist court sessions specifically allocated for cases of domestic violence
      
      • These specialist courts can be used to fast track cases of domestic violence; or cluster pre-trial hearings, pleas, pre-sentencing reports and sentencing into one court session. "Fast tracking" and "clustering" reduces the length of time the victim is forced to wait between the pre-trail hearing and the trial; and thereby aim to lower the number of retractions made by victims.
      • Prosecutors, Magistrates and Police attending the specialist courts have extensive knowledge of domestic violence crimes;
      • Special provisions, such as separate entrances for the victim and perpetrator and screens between the victim and perpetrator, are provided in all court rooms.
   2. Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)
      
      The MARAC is a multi-agency forum comprising of representatives from agencies involved in tackling domestic violence, including the Police. The MARAC is responsible for:
      
      • Producing a standard risk assessment protocol to enable agencies to identify "high risk" cases of domestic violence;
      • Discussing cases of domestic violence identified as "high risk;" and taking measures to proactively prevent further harm to the victim and their children. This may include gathering evidence for use in court, making referrals to social services and ensuring the most vulnerable victims are provided with appropriate support.
   3. Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA)
      
      The IDVA comprises of independent advisors (provided by Victim Support and the Witness Service) who are responsible for providing a "one stop shop" holistic support service to meet the diverse needs of victims of domestic violence throughout the entire criminal justice process. This involves advisors working with multiple agencies in order to actively support and co-ordinate service provision to meet the specific needs of the victim. This may include:
      
      
      • Providing objective advice and support in court;
      • Helping to arrange housing and/or education;
      • Helping to arrange legal, financial and/or health advice;
      • Liaising with service providers and/or the Police on behalf of the victim.

9.2 The impact of the pilot project

1. The evaluation of the pilot project highlighted a number of significant benefits brought about by the specialist courts, including;
   
   
   • An increase in the number of incidents of domestic violence reported to the Police that result in a case in court;
   • An increase in convictions - Data from the Crown Prosecution Service shows there was an overall increase in the percentage of cases ended in conviction, from 46% in December 2003 to 59% in December 2005. However 71% of the cases tried in specialist courts ended in conviction;
   • An increase in guilty pleas;
   • A reduction in the number of retractions;
   • More appropriate sentencing;
   • Cases strengthened through the use of evidence provided by MARACs;
   • Victims felt safer and had more confidence in the criminal justice system.
2. Following the positive evaluation of the pilot scheme, the Home Office has recently extended funding for the specialist court system to over 50 court areas throughout the UK, including 9 North West court areas:-
   
   Salford, Wirral, Halton, Wigan, Manchester , Bolton, Liverpool, Merseyside and Lancashire.

9.3 Developments in Tameside

1. Tameside was not included in the Home Office scheme; however Government Office North West is encouraging areas not covered by the Home Office programme to consider independently establishing specialist courts modelled on the Home Office pilot.
2. A new group has recently been formed to discuss domestic violence and the criminal justice system in Tameside, with a view to considering the possibility of implementing a specialist court system in Tameside for victims of domestic violence.
3. The new group comprises of representatives from:
   
   
   • The Judicial Support Unit;
   • The Witness Care Unit;
   • The Criminal Prosecution Service;
   • Greater Manchester Police Domestic Violence Unit;
   • Victim Support and the Witness Service;
   • Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Domestic Violence (Strategy) Co-ordinator
4. The group held its first meeting in October 2006.

10. Borough Treasurer's Comments

1. The funding of the Community Safety team is dominated by external grants and serious consideration regarding the ongoing work needs to be made if mainstream funding is not achieved or the grants are not made more permanent.

11. Borough Solicitor's Comments

1. The Council has been under an overarching statutory duty under sections 5 and 6 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to formulate and implement strategies for the reduction of crime and disorder in the Borough. In addition, as identified in the report, it has particular powers and duties relevant to the subject matter of the report in connection with taxi, alcohol and entertainment licensing and in relation to ASBOs.
2. The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 has been enacted but not yet brought into force. It contains powers for the Council, together with the Police, in accordance with guidance to be issued by the Secretary of State, to designate alcohol disorder zones where there has been nuisance annoyance or disorder associated with the consumption of alcohol supplied at premises in the area and that the nuisance etc is likely to be repeated. On designating a zone, the Council and the Police must prepare an action plan setting out what action they will take in the locality if the plan is implemented. The Secretary of State can, by regulations, make provision for the imposition of charges payable to the Council each month by licensed premises and clubs in the area and for how such sums can be used in the zone.
3. Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 makes provision for local authority scrutiny of crime and disorder matters. It has also been enacted, but not yet brought into force. It will require Councils to have a crime and disorder committee with power to review and scrutinise decisions and actions of the Council in connection with its crime and disorder functions and to make reports or recommendations to the Council in respect of them. This report anticipates this prospective duty.
4. The Council, as the Housing Authority, has statutory duties under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Act 2002. The 1996 also places a duty on registered social landlords to co-operate with housing authorities in exercising their homelessness functions. These are covered in the report.

12. Recommendations - Domestic Violence

1. That a protocol be developed in order to ensure all relevant agencies nominate a lead representative to attend Domestic Violence Forum meetings and report back to their service area.
2. There should be closer working relationships between the PCT and Acute Trust in relation to procedures and initiatives to identify and cases of domestic violence and refer to appropriate support services.
3. That GP's health visitors and community midwives be encouraged to attend multi agency training sessions run by the Domestic Violence Forum, including specific issues affecting male victims and victims from BME communities.
4. That the Panel receive an update on progress made towards implementing the actions contained in the Best Value Improvement Strategy 2005 -2008 produced by the police authority.
5. Where cases are not dealt with by the attending on-duty police officer in accordance with the GMP Domestic Violence Unit policies and procedures, refresher training including issues affecting male victims of domestic violence should be provided.
6. That greater publicity is given to the GMP Domestic Violence Unit and the role of specialist domestic violence officers and that Greater Manchester Police explore ways to improve communication with victims of domestic violence.
7. That the Council assists the Tameside Women's Project in exploring opportunities for mainstream funding for Children's Workers before the current means of funding expires.
8. That all Registered Social Landlords develop more flexible policies to meet the specific needs of victims of domestic violence.
9. That the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership continue to support the Sanctuary Housing Scheme.
10. That Victim Support be encouraged to explore alternative means of promoting the service amongst young people. For example, by distributing promotional material through the Youth Service and in schools.
11. That the Scrutiny Panel be updated on the progress relating to the development of a Specialist Court system in Tameside for victims of domestic violence 3 months from the publication of this report.