Partnership approach aims to reduce domestic abuse in Warwickshire
Partners in Warwickshire including police, health, housing, refuges and support services such as WDVSS, Victim Support, and Children Young People and Families are launching monthly Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences also known as MARACs, aimed at better protecting high risk victims of domestic abuse in Warwickshire.
Partners in Warwickshire including police, health, housing, refuges and support services such as WDVSS, Victim Support, and Children Young People and Families are launching monthly Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences also known as MARACs, aimed at better protecting high risk victims of domestic abuse in Warwickshire.
The purpose of Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) is to reduce repeat offending and increase the safety of domestic abuse victims and their children, at the same time improving the level of professional support they receive.
DCI Debbie Tedds said "MARACs are all about increasing the safety of victims and their children and reducing repeat victimisation. MARACs are currently held on a case by case basis but we are now embedding this process within the county's existing arrangements. Working together in this way will allow us to increase the number of victims we are able to help by providing a long term coordinated response and at the same time ensuring the victim and children receive the maximum range of support and protection available to them.
"The Conferences will also provide a framework for all agencies to manage the behaviour of the perpetrator. Together we will review the perpetrator’s bail conditions, licence conditions, and also try to get them to take part in programmes to address their behaviour.
Teri Watts, WDVSS said "It’s not just about protecting the victim who can be male, female, young or old, it’s about protecting any children in the house. Research shows that in 8 out of 10 cases children either hear or witness the abuse.
Davina Lytton, Victim Support said "Long term support and protection involves a joint response by a number of organisations to ensure effective and timely communication exists between all relevant partner agencies. As a result, all victims - regardless of the type of Domestic Abuse relationship they may be in - will receive coordinated, seamless support and information to help keep themselves and their families safe."
The bulk of cases forming the agenda of the MARAC will originate from the 600 incidents of domestic abuse reported to the Police each month, but any member agency can refer a case to the next MARAC.
Each month it is estimated that between 25 and 30 high risk domestic abuse cases will be reviewed.
A case is normally assessed as high risk because the perpetrator, who can be a current or ex partner or family member is considered violent or obsessive and there is concern for the safety of the victim and children. Domestic abuse can involve a woman abusing her male or same sex partner or a younger person abusing a parent or grandparent.
DCI Tedds said "Domestic abuse requires a quick response from officers attending an incident to deal with the perpetrator and offer protection to the victim, so some of the work to reduce the immediate risk will already be in place before the MARAC. The MARAC will review the action that has already been taken and decide what further action is needed to protect the victim and children over the longer term.
The MARAC will be chaired and administered by the Public Protection Unit of Warwickshire Police. Other agencies will take part when they are involved with the victim, the perpetrator or a child in the family.
The sharing of information will be carried out under the Warwickshire Sharing of Information Protocol to which all partners to the MARAC process are signatories and those who attend the meeting will sign a confidentiality agreement.
Sue Ingram, Domestic Abuse Manager at Warwickshire County Council explained "Working closely together in this way will improve the level of support victims receive. We can only achieve this through a process of information sharing between agencies, assessment of the risk to the victim and children and by agreeing a joint risk management plan which involves controlling and addressing the offending behaviour of the perpetrator as well as supporting the victim.
Public services, charities and organisations in Warwickshire are also working together on a new campaign to encourage everyone affected by domestic abuse to talk2someone and seek support or help. The talk2someone message will appear widely across Warwickshire in months to come, including on posters, buses and in public buildings, giving those affected the opportunity to note the helpline telephone number 0800 408 1552 - and website address www.talk2someone.org.uk
