Domestic Abuse
As LCC Cabinet Support Member for Community Safety, one of my duties is to Chair the Leicestershire Domestic Abuse Strategy Board. This involves overseeing the board’s responsibility to bring organisations together to ensure Leicestershire has a more consistent and coordinated approach to domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse can include the physical, sexual, psychological, social or economic abuse or neglect of an individual by a partner, ex-partner, carer or one or more family member. This can be in an existing or previous domestic relationship.
Key National Statistics show that domestic abuse:
• accounts for 25% of all violent crime
• claims the lives of, on average, 2 women every week and 30 men per year
• has the highest rate of repeat victimisation of any crime
• will affect one in four women and one in six men during their lifetime
• affects nearly three quarters of children on the ‘at risk’ register
• costs in excess of £23 billion a year through costs of public services and lost economic output
• is a significantly under reported crime with only 40% of incidents being reported to the police
As these statistics show, it is imperative that all agencies involved work together. Board membership consists of representatives from Leicestershire Constabulary, Criminal Justice agencies, Local Authority departments, Voluntary Organisations and the NHS. The Strategy Board is currently working towards Leicestershire’s first Multi Agency Domestic Abuse Strategy. Once completed, the strategy will ensure that there is a co-ordinated and joint response from agencies and organisations who have all committed to reduce the incidents of domestic abuse and its impact on communities and individuals in Leicestershire.
One of the current key pieces of the Boards work is reviewing the support services available to victims to ensure that the people of Leicestershire get the best services possible with the resources that we have. This has been difficult owing to the current financial climate, but has recently resulted in the board securing £80,000 additional funding from Leicestershire County Council to ensure service provision for victims of domestic abuse is maintained to its current high standard.
If you, or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please contact the Domestic Violence Helpline on 0116 255 004 who will provide confidential advice and support.