CC(3) DA29
Communities and Culture Committee
Scrutiny Inquiry : Domestic Abuse
Response from Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
Introduction
1. The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) represents the 22 local authorities in Wales, and the three national park authorities, the three fire and rescue authorities, and four police authorities are associate members.
2. It seeks to provide representation to local authorities within an emerging policy framework that satisfies the key priorities of our members and delivers a broad range of services that add value to Welsh Local Government and the communities they serve.
3. The WLGA welcomes the Communities and Culture Committee’s decision to hold an inquiry into Domestic Abuse and is pleased to be able to submit written evidence. Domestic Abuse is a hugely important issue which will affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime. Domestic Abuse involves not only physical violence but can also include sexual and/or emotional abuse. The vast majority of victims of domestic abuse are women (77%), however, men are also victims as are children and young people living in homes where domestic abuse occurs.
While most forms of Domestic Abuse are first and foremost a crime, tackling it requires the response and cooperation of a large number of services, including key Local Government services.
4. The WLGA is committed to working with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and its other partners on advancing the Domestic Abuse agenda in Wales. The WLGA is a member of the Domestic Abuse Working Group which was established to oversee the development of the All Wales Domestic Abuse Strategy and which now oversees its implementation. The development of the Strategy was a significant step forward for addressing the issue of Domestic Abuse in Wales. The Strategy recognised the need and importance of key agencies - including local authorities - working together to help tackle Domestic Abuse. The Strategy also correctly identified Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) as the driver for its aims and objectives.
5. Since 2005 each CSP in Wales has prioritised Domestic Abuse within their Community Safety Strategy and it will continue to feature in the new three year annual rolling plans currently being prepared by Partnerships. Taken together, there is a myriad of work ongoing amongst CSPs in Wales to address Domestic Abuse locally.
6. The WAG recognises that CSPs across Wales are making good progress towards achieving the aims and objectives of the Strategy in terms of raising awareness and supporting victims. The number of reported incidents of Domestic Abuse in Wales has increased since 2005, which is a welcome reflection of the effort made by the Polcie and partners to encourage victims to report incidences of domestic abuse. CSPs and local authorities are also providing a range of services to victims as well as seeking to prevent abuse from occurring in the first place.
7. The coordination of Domestic Abuse activity within Local Authorities and CSPs has been greatly enhanced by the creation of Domestic Abuse Coordinator posts within every Local Authority in Wales, which are funded by the WAG. One of the principle role of Domestic Abuse Coordinators is to coordinate local Domestic Abuse Forums which develop the domestic abuse strategies and plans for the local area.
Local Authority Services
8. In addition to community safety services, other core local authority services play an important role, both individually and in partnership with other agencies, in terms of addressing domestic abuse locally in Wales.
9. Housing: Domestic Abuse is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and local authorities have a statutory duty to provide emergency temporary accommodation and settled accommodation for applicants who are homeless, in priority need of accommodation and are eligible for assistance, which includes those who are fleeing Domestic Abuse. In the case of Domestic Abuse, local authority housing officers arrange temporary accommodation together with support in liaison with partner organisations as necessary. Temporary accommodation may be in a refuge setting e.g. Women’s Aid or BAWSO, in hostel accommodation, or other temporary accommodation in Council stock or leased properties. If necessary, for example when a victim needs to leave the local area, temporary accommodation can also be arranged outside of the local area.
10. Housing Management staff also offer existing Council tenants who are victims of domestic abuse a number of options to enable them to stay in their own homes including target hardening services (target hardening is also available to private tenants and homeowners e.g. via the Gwent Bobby Van Scheme). Housing Management Staff can also arrange for a transfer to an alternative property in the local area. Arrangements also exist for transfers to be made to another local authority area where this is necessary.
11. One of the challenges facing local authority housing officers and partner Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) is the early identification of domestic abuse to enable a full range of homelessness prevention measures to be offered and/or implemented. Domestic Abuse is a hidden issue and often only becomes apparent when the victim presents as homeless, at which point the decision has already been made to leave the home. Awareness raising training for housing staff, which operates in a number local authorities e.g. Cardiff, aims to help staff identify signs of abuse and to offer appropriate advice and assistance at an earlier stage when prevention may be an option.
12. Another key challenge for local authorities is the pressure on accommodation and refuges and the lack of resources and finance to provide more refuge spaces and move on housing. Furthermore, the introduction of the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (Wales) Order 2006 setting minimum standards for temporary accommodation has significant implications for refuge accommodation where currently refuge accommodation does not meet those standards. Some areas have indicated that there could be a danger of a loss in bed spaces.
13. A further key area of concern is the limited spaces available for victims of domestic abuse with no recourse to public funds e.g. due to immigration status.
14. Social Services: In the vast majority of cases Domestic Abuse occurs in households where there are children and young people present. It is recognised that these children and young people are also victims of domestic abuse and that the matter is a child protection issue. Under the Children Act 2004 Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) were established in each local authority in Wales, which bring together representatives of key agencies responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in different circumstances, including Domestic Abuse. Under guidance issued by the WAG responsible agencies working with women and children are required to be alert to the inter-relationship between domestic abuse and the abuse and neglect of children. As CSPs have the lead role in the coordination of action at the local level to deal with problems of domestic abuse, it is imperative that there are effective and efficient links between CSPs and LSCBs. Similarly, ensuring effective links across all other partnerships dealing with domestic abuse and/or children and young people e.g. Children and Young People Partnerships, is vital.
15. Local authority Social Services also play a role in supporting adult victims of domestic abuse. A number of authorities have introduced a Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment Tool to assist in identifying a vulnerable adult’s level of risk. Dependent on the level of risk, Social Services can refer victims to Women’s Aid or other support services. If a victim is regarded as being at very-high risk then they can be referred to the local Domestic Abuse Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).
16. Education and Learning Services: Local authorities’ Education and Learning Services play an important role in helping to raising awareness of Domestic Abuse issues amongst children and young people. The All Wales Police School Liaison Programme includes a module on domestic abuse and this currently reaches 97% of primary and secondary schools in Wales. A number of other awareness raising programmes are also delivered in schools across Wales. For example, in Rhondda Cynon Taf a Building Safer Relationships programme is being delivered in some primary and secondary schools in the area and a Positive Relations Programme is also being delivered within specific schools as part of Welsh Baccalaureate. Similarly, a Gwent Safer Relationships Programme led by Torfaen has been developed for Schools, Youth Clubs and Youth Offending Teams in the Gwent Local Authority areas.
17. Schools can also play in important role in terms of being responsive to the needs of children and young people who experience domestic abuse e.g. when children and young people have to move schools as a result of a parent/guardian leaving the family home due to domestic abuse.
18. Youth Services: The Youth Service also provides innovative ways of raising awareness and exploring the issues of domestic abuse in a supportive atmosphere with children and young people across Local Authority areas in Wales. For example, in Monmouthshire the Youth Service’s Media Arts Project have produced a film 'A Game of Two Halves’ exploring safer relationships and domestic abuse issues. Also, in Wrexham a CSP funded project delivered by the Youth Service and the NSPCC provided education and support to young people in secondary school settings and included a peer education element. The City and Council of Swansea have recently employed an officer to address the issues of domestic abuse and its impact on children and young people based at Swansea’s Info-Nation centre.
19. The Youth Service also provides counselling services to Young People e.g. Monmouthshire’s Young People’s Counselling Project which offers counselling for young people following referrals from agencies including schools, youth workers and social services.
20. Local Authorities as Employers: The All Wales Domestic Abuse Strategy identified the important role that employers can play in helping to address Domestic Abuse. Local authorities in Wales employ over 160,000 people, or 1 in 8 of the workforce in Wales - 75% of whom are women. A number of local authorities in Wales have developed Domestic Abuse policies and procedures that raise awareness of domestic abuse and its implications for the workforce and provide guidance to managers on how to respond to the needs of employees experiencing domestic abuse.
Key Home Office Initiatives
21. Local authorities and CSPs in Wales are involved in a number of key Home Office initiatives which have greatly enhanced services to victims of Domestic Abuse. While these initiatives has been developed in England and Wales it is fair to say that Wales has played a significant role in their inception and development and the WLGA would support the roll-out of these projects across all of Wales.
22. Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) were pioneered by Cardiff Women’s Safety Unit and the Home Office now intends to roll the model out across all areas of England and Wales. The aim of the MARAC is to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide for a victim and to increase the safety, health and well being of victims. In a MARAC local agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in their area. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the resources available locally are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies.
23. Thirteen Local Authority/CSP areas in Wales are involved in the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts Programme (SDVC). The Programme promotes a combined approach to tackling domestic violence by the police, crown prosecutors, magistrates, courts and probation, together with specialist support services for victims. Agencies work together to identify, track and risk assess domestic violence cases and better share information so that more offenders are brought to justice, victims are protected and better supported, and further violence is prevented. Measures which the courts have introduced include:
dedicated prosecutors and police and trained magistrates and legal advisors who specialise in the issues involved in domestic violence cases;
either a fast-tracking of domestic violence cases, or a clustering of cases together on a designated day each week or month to make courts run more effectively and speed up justice for victims; and
separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so that victims are not confronted by their attackers.
24. SDCV areas in Wales have also received funding for Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). IDVAs give professional support to victims throughout the process of their case and are an important element of the specialist system that has been introduced. Their role is to ensure the safety of the victim is coordinated across the criminal justice system while giving expert advice on accessing essential services such as victim and witness agencies, housing, health, counselling and child care.
25. There are currently three Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Wales, with another three due to be opened during 2008. SARCs offer victims of sexual crime an integrated service where victims can receive medical care, psychological counselling, legal advice and other support in one place from professionally trained staff.
Issues for Consideration
26. Tackling Domestic Abuse requires a multi-agency response and local authorities have a key role to play both in terms of its core services and in working in partnership with other agencies. In terms of delivering against the aims and objectives of the All Wales Strategy, local authorities and CSPs are making good progress. Domestic Abuse remains a serious problem in Welsh society, however, and much work remains to be done.
27. There are some key challenges facing local authorities and CSPs in their endeavour to address domestic abuse, not least of which is funding. While the WAG has increased funding to support domestic abuse initiatives over recent years resource issues remain problematic and the reliance on grant funding can sometimes lead to uncertainty and hamper long term planning. Another key challenge is ensuring that the different partnerships and process dealing with domestic abuse e.g. CSPs, LSCBs, CYPPs etc are effectively aligned.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Morgan, Community Safety Policy Officer
Welsh Local Government Association
Local Government House
Drake walk
Cardiff
CF10 4LG
Tel: 029 2046 8600
