Domestic Violence

• What is Domestic Violence? | Reporting and getting assistance | MARAC | Staying safe |Local picture | What we’re doing | Partnership structures | Leaflets | Newsletter

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence involves the misuse of power and is based on a range of control mechanisms. This can be by a partner, an ex-partner, a carer or one or more family member.

It is physical, sexual and psychological violence that forms a pattern of coercive, controlling behaviour and takes place between adults who are current or former partners and/or their immediate family members regardless of gender or sexuality.

This includes:

Physical violence – including slaps, shoves, punches, pushing, kicks, burns, stabbing, etc. Physical violence can sometimes start off with a ‘minor’ incident, but can often lead to serious injury or worse.
Sexual violence – including rape, sexual abuse and being forced to engage in unwanted sex acts or prostitution.
Psychological and emotional abuse – including being constantly humiliated and degraded, being made to keep the house to exacting standards, kept short of money, threats to children and threats to oneself.
Forced marriage – this is when someone is forced in marrying someone against their will. Sometimes victims may encounter physical, emotional violence from family members. Emotional violence can take the form of being blackmail.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – This comprises of procedure that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs.
'So called' Honour based violence – This is where family member(s) and maybe community members act to control and punish perceived misbehaviour.

Domestic violence has a devastating effect on victims, their families and the wider community, regardless of race, geography or social background. The total cost to society is an estimated £23 billion a year in England and Wales.

Children and young people can be adversely affected by domestic violence. The majority of children witness the violence that is occurring, and in 90% of cases they are in the same or next room.

All children witnessing domestic violence are being emotionally abused. They can experience both short and long term developmental effects as a result of witnessing domestic abuse. However, each child will respond differently to trauma and some may be resilient and not exhibit any negative effects.

Reporting and getting assistance

If you are being abused, threatened, physically or sexually assaulted by a partner, ex-partner or family member, this is domestic violence.

It is important to recognise this is happening to you, accept you are not to blame, and get help and support. You can call:

• Always call 999 if you feel in or at risk of immediate danger
• Call the Police on 0845 6070999 otherwise
• Rise – 01273 622822 or visit http://www.riseuk.org.uk/
• National Domestic Violence Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (Freephone 24 hrs)
• Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 032
• Broken Rainbow 03009995428 or 08452 60 44 60 (Monday: 2 – 8pm, Wednesday: 10 – 1pm, Thursday: 2 – 8pm).

For the city's new resource for LGBT people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence please  click here.

MARAC – Helping high risk victims of domestic violence

Staying safe

You can’t stop your abuser’s violence and abuse – only they can do that – but there are things you can do to increase your own safety and your children’s safety.

• Don’t isolate yourself from family, friends, co-workers or any type of support system
• Contact the agencies above for further information and support
• Take threats seriously. Don’t minimise them.
• Develop a safety plan to help you protect yourself and your children. Know where you will go in a crisis and how you will get there. Should you need to leave quickly have a bag packed including an extra set of car keys, ID documents, birth certificates, insurance cards, medication, etc.

The local picture

In 2010/11, Brighton and Hove Strategic Partnership led by the city council piloted an intelligent commissioning process for the city. As part of this, an in-depth needs analysis, service and investment mapping, and outcomes for commissioning framework was developed and can be accessed here.

Brighton and Hove Chief Executive's Summary Report of the Domestic Violence Intelligent Commissioning Pilot can be read here.

What we're doing

Domestic Violence is a priority for Brighton & Hove’s Community Safety Partnership.

In 2010, the multi-agency Domestic Violence Senior Officers Strategy Group changed to become the Domestic Violence Intelligent Commissioning Pilot Steering Group and alongside the Domestic Violence Forum, this group have led on the development of the Domestic Violence Intelligent Commisioning Pilot Project.

The Community Safety Partnership through the Senior Officers Stratgey Group developed the city's coordinated community response and the specialist domestic violence court programme to deal with domestic violence. There is a draft three year action plan (2011-2014) which focuses on the four city-wide outcomes:

• An increase in the safety of survivors;
• A reduction in the risk of harm from perpertrators;
• A decrease in the socail tolerance of domestic violence;
• an increase in the knowledge and skills of children, young people and adults about forming healthy relationships.

In order to meet these outcomes, there are thirteen areas of work in the Domestic Violence Strategy to achieve over the next three years. The work requires focused contributions from the wide range of organisations detailed in the membership of the Domestic Violence Forum as well as from specific working and operational groups. (Please see next section for diagram of partnership structures).

The Domestic Violence Strategy for 2011-14 will soon be published within the Brighton and Hove Community Safety, Crime Reduction and Drugs Strategy 2011-14 and wil be based on the Domestic Violence Needs Assessment 2011.

Partnership Structure

The partnership structure related to dometsic violence which includes agencies involved in work to tackle domestic violence is shown here.

Leaflets

The Amber Card, is a useful pocket sized card with details of how women, men, young people and children can access domestic violence services in the city. The card is circulated to statutory and voluntary organisations throughout the city. See the card here.

If you require Amber Cards (English version) or further supplies, please contact: [email protected] with your contact details, the number you require and the address to which they are to be sent. We would then be pleased to supply these.

Newsletters – Keep informed

A newsletter is produced to help keep you up to date with issues related to domestic violence and sexual violence. The most recent newsletter can be read here.

Content and articles for Newsletter always wanted.

If you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please email details to [email protected]