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Transcript of the expert chat 'What campaigns are you planning locally to reduce alcohol related crime and in particular related domestic abuse incidents over the winter festivities?’ 9th October 2007, 12:00-14:00

 

Moderator	Good morning everybody! Today’s chat will start at 12pm and we are discussing the link between the increase in alcohol related offences and domestic abuse over the festive season.
Moderator	Thanks for joining us everybody. The lead question for today’s chat is ‘What campaigns are you planning locally to reduce alcohol related crime and in particular related domestic abuse incidents over the winter festivities?’ Perhaps we could start by the panel members introducing themselves and giving a brief outline of their role in relation to alcohol or domestic abuse.
Samantha Ingram	Good afternoon, I’m Sam Ingram, a policy adviser on domestic violence at the Home Office.
Martin Goodall	Good Afternoon, I am the Domestic Violence Lead within the Police and Partnership Standards Unit and was responsible for the Domestic Violence Enforcement Campaigns during 2006. Since that time I have been compiling the guidance for the Police use of Body Worn Video (Head Cameras). I have also been involved in recent Alcohol campaigns from PCSD such as the TUSAC.
Sarah Graham	Hello everybody, I am a Community Safety Officer with Stockton Council. I am responsible for monitoring Stockton’s Alcohol harm minimisation plan and I work on our safe drinking campaign Think B4U Drink.
DCC Moore	Good afternoon, I am Brian Moore, Deputy Chief Constable in Surrey Police and I have the National Policy Lead for the Police on Domestic Abuse.
Diana Barran	Good afternoon, I am Diana Barran, Director of CAADA and we are responsible for implementing MARACs around England and Wales
Wendy Green	I’m Wendy Green and I am the Domestic Violence Co-ordinator at Rushcliffe Borough Council which is in the south of Nottinghamshire. I have both a strategic and service delivery role and would be very interested in sharing ideas/projects etc that colleagues are involved with in relation to tackling the issue of domestic violence.
Stella project	Hi there - I’m Karen Bailey - I coordinate the Stella project at ­the Greater London Domestic Violence Project - we look at the links b­etween domestic violence and substance misuse.
Guest_97649	This is Claire Sibson, London Borough of Lewisham, working in alcohol arrest referral with alleged DV perpetrators within custody suite at Lewisham Police Station. Whilst there are a few other alcohol arrest referral schemes running nationally, I gather that our project is unique in its focus on domestic violence.
Shaz	I am the DV Co-ordinator within the Safer Communities Team at Sunderland Council
MK CSP	Good afternoon, I am the Reducing Violence Project Manager for Milton Keynes CSP. Responsible for co-ordinating actions on Public Place and Domestic Violence.
Samantha Ingram	Claire Sibson - I was interested to hear about your arrest referral for DV perpetrators in your borough. Can I ask which interventions do you refer them on to?
Moderator	DCC Moore as we have you on the panel for the first hour only I wonder if you can tell us more about your role as national lead?
DCC Moore	My job is to provide advice to Chief Constables on how the police can be more effective at preventing and detecting domestic abuse in partnership with other criminal justice and voluntary sector partners. Basically I am looking to ‘spot the gaps’ and help the police to close them.

Topic 1: How is ACPO working to ensure a consistent domestic violence risk assessment across all police forces?

Moderator

Here is a question received earlier: DCC Moore what work are you undertaking to ensure a consistent domestic violence risk assessment across all forces?

DCC Moore

Regarding the question of a consistent domestic violence risk assessment, this is a timely and relevant question because we have noticed that some forces have been adapting the two evaluated risk models by adding new or different risk factors or weighting the factors differently. This means that I cannot be sure that all forces are using thoroughly evaluated risk identification and assessment models. To remedy this, I have established an expert group which will examine any models about which we have doubt and then provide advice to the responsible Chief Constable

 

Topic 2: Seasonal reporting of domestic violence over the Christmas Holiday period

Martin	Has anyone undertaken a problem profile to highlight the specific alcohol related crime or Domestic Violence issues over the Christmas holiday period?
Stella project	Martin - regarding domestic violence reporting - we know that reported incidents reduce over the immediate Christmas period when family and kids are around and when January begins - women start seeking help.
Martin	There is potentially a lag between the incident and victims seeking assistance over the Christmas period, Police reporting is at the time of the incident whereas victims may seek assistance at a later time. I know that many victims will not seek police help at the time but there is an apparent increase in reports to police during the festive season.
Sarah Graham	We’ve recently expanded our Think B4U Drink campaign to include a series of posters highlighting the issue of DV and the role alcohol plays.

 

Topic 3: Timing of poster and helpline campaigns

Moderator	To all the practitioners out there do you base local campaigns on seasonal peaks or does this simply come down to resources and funding?
Sarah Graham	Where funding allows, we try to develop new Campaign materials around seasonal and sporting events such as Christmas and last football World Cup.
Moderator	Sarah - perhaps you can tell us what makes your campaign different to all the others?
Sarah Graham	We believe our Campaign has a more holistic approach to the problems surrounding excessive alcohol consumption as it is developed by a multi-agency team consisting of myself, a Police sergeant, PCT officer and Trading Standards & Licensing, so we are able to cover a range of issues including crime & disorder, health, personal safety, drink driving, road safety, etc.
Katy	Does anyone have any advice regarding opening hours of a telephone helpline over the Christmas period? We are closing ours under the belief that calls are higher after the holiday period, would everyone agree with this?
Moderator	Katy a previous post would support this, reporting tends to increase in January when children are back at school.
Katy	Thanks, is it worth having it open at all during the holiday periods?
Master	Katy, I don’t think you can turn the help off and on. If you want to build up trust, then they need to know that they can get help anytime I think.
Moderator	Katy perhaps you could look into the possibility of working more closely with crime stoppers rather than try to sustain a separate hot line. Anyone tried this? I know Wendy mentioned the success rates in Notts above.
Wendy Green	Hi Katy, in relation to cases where individuals are working with substance misuse worker, do these people identified as having DV as an issue get referred to specialist DV services and are you able to use this data to enhance service delivery?

 

Topic 4: Poster campaigns

 

Moderator	Sarah I understand you are doing a Christmas campaign linking domestic abuse and alcohol - can you tell us more?
Sarah Graham	As I mentioned, we’ve produced a series of posters to be displayed discreetly in pubs and GP surgeries over the festive period, alongside a local helpline number.
Stella project	Sarah - I would be interested in get hold of some copies of your posters too
Shaz`	Sarah Ditto for me regarding your posters
MK CSP	Ditto re posters
Sarah Graham	I would be happy to send you some examples of the artwork, which is based around love letters; however I am unable to send out large quantities of printed posters due to cost implications.
Moderator	Can people purchase the artwork your team have created? If so if you post a link people can follow it up after the chat. I know you have created a range of radio adverts and other products.
Stella project	That would be great Sarah - just to get an idea of what you are doing and what messages you are putting across?
Sarah Graham	All of our artwork is available to buy, and people are then able to source their own printing to reduce costs, if people are interested in any of the materials I can send them a DVD showcasing everything we have produced so far. Email me at Sarah.Graham@stockton.gov.uk and I‘ll send you more details on request.
Moderator	Sarah is this the first time you have organised a campaign over Christmas or have you had previous success?
Sarah Graham	We launched the Campaign at the end of October 2005, and ensured additional materials were displayed in licensed premises throughout the festive period, the Pubs seem to like our light hearted approach.
Master	I have produced posters over the festive period and there were also a great many posters available from Women’s Aid.
Stella project	Notts CC have a good poster as well - very simple with a picture of a glass of beer and the statement NO EXCUSES. - please note that this poster originates from the Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum - TRI Project and was not produced by NCC although it is used extensively through the city and county of Notts.
Sarah Graham	We did also broadcast a series of radio ads over Christmas 2005, and 2 TV ads broadcasted on ITV earlier this year.

 

Topic 5: Role of domestic violence co-ordinator

Wendy Green	Hi Shaz, how long have you been in post as a DV Co-ordinator and has it integrated well into the Community Safety Team? The DV Co-ordinators locally in our area are all fairly new in post although many of us work in Housing teams.Could you tell me a little about how your role has been utilised in your team/area please?
Shaz	I have been with the team for 2 years and work in the same office as DV is a cross cutting theme so I work with the Drugs Intervention Team, the Safer Sunderland Partnership (Police, Probation, Health, Voluntary Sector agencies writing a stand alone strategy that fits into the wider strategy, action planning with partners, ensuring DV is always on the agenda and raising it as an issue at every opportunity.
Wendy Green	Shaz, you seem to have really good cross-partnerships in your role, are you doing specific work around DV during the festive period or any link in to the White Ribbon Campaign? http://www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk

 

Topic 6: Engaging Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) with substance misuse agencies

Samantha Ingram	Diana Barran - substance misuse agencies are integral to the MARAC process. Do you know of any areas where they have been effectively engaged in the process, and how has the MARAC engaged them?
Stella project	There are a number of MARACS in London which have drug/alcohol agencies taking part - it’s really important that DV Coordinators and MARAC Coordinators actively engage the drug/alcohol agencies because most of them have no idea what a MARAC is and how to get involved.
Diana Barran	You are right that substance misuse agencies are integral to MARAC. It can help to encourage them to engage if you send a list of the last 3 months of cases, for example, and it will highlight the overlap with their work.
Master	With regard to MARAC’s and substance misuse agencies, am I right in thinking that the perpetrator would have to voluntarily attend a substance misuse session(s)?
Diana Barran	Yes, you are right that a substance misuse session would typically be voluntary. But 85% of perpetrators at MARAC are under known to probation too which can influence this. Also, victims can be prioritised for support with substance misuse issues.
Master	There has to be a firm condition from a court or part of bail conditions whereby the offender must attend a substance misuse session. The voluntary aspect of it works but only in some cases. It also gives the perpetrator a sense of going above and beyond...i.e...I can imagine him trying to get back with his partner and using the fact that he VOLUNTEERED for the sessions as leverage to show he has ‘changed’.
Diana Barran	As you rightly point out, perpetrators can be very strategic. The point of MARAC is to share information so that all agencies are informed of the full picture, of which substance misuse may form a part.
Master	Quite often though, DV cases will only come to light once the victim has stepped forward, which usually makes co-habiting difficult/impossible anyway? The offender would be removed from the premises and then an injunction sought from the police if the victim wants.
Diana Barran	Master, I am not sure if I follow your question. In theory someone might be removed from the premises but as we all know, separation is probably the most dangerous time for a victim. The MARAC is there to address these very high risk cases.
Master	I’m not sure I follow you either! Separation is dangerous in what sense? Self-harm or perpetrator trying to seek vengeance? In the latter case, if this is a risk (and it SHOULD be risk assessed and taken as ‘likely’ in every case) then the Sanctuary Project or similar should be introduced. Can I also confirm, in terms of MARAC’s, who leads on these meeting (i.e., who calls the agencies around the table, who knows the identity of the persons?)
Diana Barran	Dangerous because 76% of domestic homicides occur at the point of separation. The MARAC is normally chaired by the local Detective Inspector.
Master	Thanks Diana. So can a MARAC be ‘called’ by any agency? If an offender has come to the attention of Women’s Aid workers, or through other means but not raised with the police, are they in a position to call a meeting or must it becomes a crime first?
Samantha Ingram	MARAC referrals can be made by any agency if they consider someone to be high risk. MARAC is usually chaired by a police officer at Inspector rank or above.
Diana Barran	If you require further information on the MARAC process there is guidance available, please contact marac@caada.org.uk for more info.

 

Topic 7: Future ‘Tackling Violent Crime Projects’ & Domestic Violence Enforcement Campaigns (DVECs)

IreneWard	Good afternoon: I’m Irene Ward, Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator in Salford. Martin may be able to address this point. We were part of the second tranche of TVCP. Whilst this focused on DV & Alcohol-Related Crime, the enforcement campaigns were quite separate. Was this a missed opportunity, and are there plans to have future Tackling Violent Crime Programmes, which might draw the two together?
Martin	The tackling Violent crime Programme asked areas to take action towards both more serious violence in the night time economy and domestic violence. The TVCP is now being coordinated at regional levels by the Government Offices. The former DVEC was held in areas where the TVCP was operating at the time and the lessons learned document produced afterwards was circulated to all forces and GO’s.

 

Topic 8: Alcohol abuse – mitigating or aggravating factor?

DCC Moore	I have an issue to raise please. Why is it acceptable that domestic abusers can use alcohol abuse as mitigation when they are being sentenced when in fact abuse of alcohol should be considered an aggravating factor? Why do we think society and the criminal justice system tolerate this view? What can be done to change the way people perceive drinking this context?
Master	I would also like to highlight something. Aside from DV work that we have undertaken, we have also funded work from a group known as RELATE. They talk to couples (through a GP usually, though can be contacted directly) and try to solve relationship issues before can reach ‘boiling point’. We have had a big uptake of this service.
DCC Moore	Where a person is convicted of violence (obviously including domestic violence and drink played a part) why can’t they be banned from consuming alcohol for a period determined by a court on pain of further punishment if in breach? This could be policed through supervision along the lines of the sex offender scheme or as a result of a complaint that the person has consumed alcohol in breach of the order. What do you think
Sarah Graham	DCC Moore - I agree with your comment regarding the role alcohol plays in DV, and we make it clear that alcohol is not an excuse!
Martin	It is strange that offenders use Alcohol as the excuse in DV and this is taken as mitigation yet in night time economy violence alcohol is seen as no excuse and offenders need to be held responsible for their actions.
DCC Moore	Do colleagues think we should lobby government to require an alcohol banning order in serious or repeat violence cases (especially in cases like domestic abuse)?
Stella Project	I certainly think there needs to be the development of programmes, as part of a Community Order, which address alcohol and DV - and challenge some of the myths. It is important to address both the alcohol and the domestic violence - otherwise there is a danger that we are giving the message that it is the alcohol causing the DV. We also need to determine what type of drinking behaviour is - e.g. alcohol interventions will be different if someone is a dependent drinker.
DCC Moore	I totally agree with the Stella Project. We must not allow alcohol to be the excuse. We should seek to prosecute in each and every incidence of domestic abuse and should also be able to hold an abuser to account for consuming alcohol in breach of a court order

 

Topic 9: Drinking Banning Orders and ASBOs

Master	Have ASBO’s ever been used in such a case? There is also scope to use a Drinking Banning Order, which came in under the Violent Crime Reduction bill...“such an order may impose any prohibition on the subject which is necessary for the purpose of protecting other persons from criminal or disorderly conduct by the subject whilst he is under the influence of alcohol”.
DCC Moore	Master thank you for your response. It seems to be that if this approach was considered by investigation officers and prosecutors in respect of those cases which go to court, we would have greater ability to manage DA perpetrators who offend in drink or claim that drink is a factor. This is a useful idea which I shall be pleased to try to develop. In answer to the question of ASBO’s I am not aware of them being used in DA cases because generally it is difficult to get serial offending against multiple victims proved in a DA context. Martin, can we suggest that as a criterion in the DVEC, that alcohol banning orders are sought in appropriate cases.
Samantha Ingram	Community Orders can include restrictions on alcohol consumption and related interventions. Attaching such conditions needs to be as a result of detailed assessment by probation, not as a general requirement.
DCC Moore	Samantha Ingram: Why? If the defendant advances alcohol as mitigation or the court finds on the evidence that alcohol was an aggravating feature then this should be sufficient grounds and should be readily applied to enforce the DA sanction. This should not be rocket science as it is coming from the lips of the defendant.
Martin	I do not believe that drinking banning orders under the violent crime reduction act are in force yet, I have just checked the commencement schedule for the act and they do not yet appear, any action to ban would have to be through local pub watch schemes or via the ASBO route
DCC Moore	Martin, thank you for your reply.
Samantha Ingram	Should clarify my earlier point in relation to what martin has said: Community orders can require curfews, restrictions (on location) or treatment. Banning orders not yet in place. Alcohol is an aggravating factor in the DV sentencing guidelines.
Sarah Graham	We work in partnership with our local Pubwatch groups to obtain ASBO's against people involved in violent crime on licensed premises which prohibit them from entering any of our Pubwatch premises.
Master	That stops them from entering pubs; it doesn’t stop them from obtaining alcohol. We have a situation here with a person banned from entering any pub in the country, yet we know full well that he gets alcohol. The ASBO should have restricted him from drinking, but it didn’t go far enough, in my humble opinion.
Martin	An ASBO can place any reasonable restriction on a person, but bear in mind it must be ‘policable’ by the police and other partners, Preventing someone from drinking would be unenforceable in my opinion.
Sarah Graham	ASBO’s have been used in domestic violence cases in the past but there is always the issue that for an ASBO the person subject of the anti social behaviour must be ‘not of the same household’ as the other parties - this can prevent ASBO use in many DV cases I’ve read somewhere where an ASBO was obtained in a DV case where the couple were still living together, the application relied on evidence from the neighbours as they could hear everything that happened and were distressed by this, unfortunately can’t remember where this happened!
DCC Moore	If anybody would like more information about the Think B4U Drink campaign or the Pubwatch ASBO scheme, please email me at Sarah.Graham@stockton.gov.uk Please accept my apologies but I have to leave the discussion due to other commitments. Thank you very much for inviting me to join the discussion. Kind regards Brian Moore.

 

Topic 10: Improving detection rates

parmy	Good afternoon. I am Inspector Mark Parmenter and I am researching various issues within the Plymouth area connected with demand versus resource over the forthcoming festive season. Question for C/I Martin Goodall please "I am particularly interested in improving detections for domestic and violent crime. From your project lead on Body Worn Video Devices have you collected evidence of best practice to assist officers to achieve and improve detection rates?” I appreciate some of the comments made on posters and will be chasing them up.
Martin	It is highly probable that DV offenders will be also offenders in night time economy settings and other areas of criminality, this brings me back to compiling an effective problem profile within partnerships to identify the top (or bottom depending on your viewpoint) 10 offenders and to ensure that these are subject of appropriate action form relevant agencies and that other offending habits are used to prevent DV offending through bail conditions and all legal means possible. The Head Camera Guidance was published on 12 July and is available here . There is information in there on use in relation to DV and the legal implications of using video in homes.
Master	Martin, are you suggesting that police/partnerships look into the domestic lives of their top 10 felons to investigate domestic violence possibility? Seems a bit Orwellian!
Martin	I am suggesting that if you have a prolific DV offender then they may well be involved in other criminality. The other criminality may bring other partners such as NOMS to bear and they may be subject of other orders which could be used to modify their behaviour in the home as well as other areas
Stella project	Martin - this sounds similar to the RAMP (Risk Assessment Management Process) that was being discussed a while back?
Martin	My understanding is that RAMP and MARAC look at the two ends of the situation, Offender (RAMP) and victim (MARAC) it is highly likely that if you have a high risk victim you have a high risk offender dealing with one without the other is risky, there are also probably high risk children and children’s services should be and are often involved.

Topic 11: DV & Alcohol workers in custody suites

Stella Project	Martin - I noted that the last DVEC tried to monitor alcohol related DV - how about taking a further step and incorporating a further initiative similar to that in Lewisham - having a DV and alcohol worker based in custody suites ...?
Martin	Having a DV worker in custody could be a good idea provided there is the back up service of having suitable perpetrator programmes locally that the offender could access. During the DVECs we tried having DV workers in the police response cars but this was not particularly successful as the police and other agencies have different agendas and needs at the scene of the incident.
Master	Again, this is voluntary is it not? It’s a good sentiment, but we have to get the priorities straight. If he is booked into a custody suite, we have to look at ways of making him attend an alcohol session as part of bail conditions, not ‘ask’ him.
Diana Barran	To Master - yes it is voluntary - and only a pilot - I like your thinking about enforcing it though! - its not about just attending any alcohol session though- but needs to be one which addresses the link between the drinking and the violence - the strength of Claire’s post in Lewisham is that through doing screening - she has also managed to do quite a bit of educating - I also understand, that despite being voluntary she has had a lot of success of getting perpetrators to speak to her. there is a strength in having someone onsite to catch people at the point of arrest.
MK CSP	There appears to be an emphasis tackling alcohol problems by enforcement alone, I feel there needs to be a balance struck between enforcement and treatment. In our area there are few alcohol services and no money appearing from central government still to accompany the Models of Care on Alcohol.
Stella Project	Well the focus of Claire’s role is to address alcohol - and through that route she can open up conversations about DV...
Master	In my area we fund Cornwall Alcohol and Drugs Agency to send a substance misuse worker here on a weekly basis to talk to persons normally referred by their GP. At the end of the year we get a breakdown of what problems were raised. Even though they are there to help with substance misuse problems, about 20% of the persons in attendance also raised DV issues during the session.
Sarah Graham	I agree, I think this is a national problem, unless someone is a poly user, it is very difficult to get them into suitable treatment.
Stella Project	to Martin and Sam - but the alcohol agencies could also play a role - as we know there simply aren’t enough perpetrators programmes - therefore some alcohol agencies could do a lot of the education and challenging about DV and alcohol.
Samantha Ingram	Agree with Martin about needing to have the interventions for a DV custody worker to refer onto. Is the Lewisham project still on line? Would be good to know where their referral pathways go.
Martin	There is a need to ensure the DV offending is not considered in isolation, in my experience DV offenders are offenders across the piste of violence and other criminality any perpetrator programme or support package needs to address the wider criminality and social issues involved.
Parmy	Question for Wendy please, from a multi-agency perspective have you a view on the answer supplied by Martin? Kind regards
Moderator	Parmy - sorry can you elaborate on the question for Wendy?
Parmy	Does Wendy agree with domestic violence perpetrators being targeted by the police to reduce/prevent re-offending in the public arena?
Wendy Green	Yes Parmy, absolutely.

 

Topic 12: Survivors identified by third parties

Wendy Green	Open question for those who are working in community safety partnerships - how are you helping survivors who have been identified by a 3rd party (e.g. ASB Officers called in for noisy neighbours, where the noise is suspected DV)?
Master	our CDRP doesn’t help those people. If they don’t report it, they are not known to us to be ‘survivors’, they are simply not known. 3rd parties would not raise the issue with us anyway, they would either go to the police or call Women’s Aid and ask advice I think. Either way, the case would then stay in-house and would bypass the partnership.
Wendy Green	In relation to CDRPs/ASB teams trying to get help to \"noisy neighbours\" where ASB officers feel one may be experiencing DV, one tool is to encourage the use of the Crimestoppers freephone no to report - a recent local Notts trial saw 7 survivors identified and receiving support.

 

Topic 13: Perpetrator programmes

Master	Did everyone see the Sunderland Perpetrator house? Very good idea, very good scheme, very jealous...no money to do anything similar though...and this is the real problem with DV.
Moderator	Master can you enlighten those who haven’t heard about this?
Master	Let me just find the info...
Samantha Ingram	Completely agree that there’s still not enough perpetrator programmes around and there’s definitely a role for substance misuse interventions to also work address the complexities of misuse and DV.
Moderator	Do we have anyone from the Sunderland Council or CDRP logged on?
Master	I could be wrong about it being in Sunderland, but I’m sure it is...
Samantha Ingram	It’s a perpetrator hostel where they undergo interventions. It’s funded directly by the Treasury through the Invest to Save budget. I don’t know of any further details.
Stella project	Do they operate under the Respect guidelines?
Samantha Ingram	I’m not sure whether they do or not. I will contact our lead in the region and add some further details into the transcript of this
Stella Project	could I put out a request - that if anyone has any data/stats about the dual issues based on initiatives in their area - could they send along to me - I can then try and collate this data to build up a better picture for the UK
Moderator	Alternatively any additional info people have about their local campaigns or initiatives can be emailed to me alex.blackwell@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk and I will attach details, websites etc to the chat transcript which you will all be emailed in the next few weeks. Also the Ideas Exchange is available on the Crime Reduction Website to add local project details and view what other areas have carried out (http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/iex/). This database is being upgraded in to the Effective Practice Database over the next few months.
Wendy Green	In our part of the county, we don’t have programmes for non-convicted perpetrators - for those areas who have self-referral programmes - how successful have they been in reducing offending?
MK CSP	Anecdotal evidence from voluntary perpetrator programmes in Thames Valley seems to be that a third of those who attend a 3 month programme continue to offend, a third reduce the level of the abuse and a third stop. This seems to be in line with the efficacy of residential/structured day programmes in drug treatment in my experience.
Moderator	How would these results compare with the MARAC process which is about getting the victim out of the situation or are they impossible to compare?
Samantha Ingram	They’re not really comparable. In relation to the data being supplied to the MARAC implementation programme, we’re seeing an average reduction of repeat victimisation among those cases brought to MARAC of around 50%.
Master	I would say that the point of the MARAC process is to find out what can be done, rather than the point being to get them ‘out’. I think if it has got to the stage of a MARAC, the perpetrator and victim would not be living together.
Martin	There are many cases recorded where although it has got to MARAC the couple are still together DV reports to police are often about stopping the violence and still living together not about criminalising the partner, therein lies the dilemma of agencies trying to support victims and prevent recidivism.
Diana Barran	I don’t think that comparing MARAC and Perpetrator Programmes is straightforward. But as Sam says, the outcomes are v good, especially as MARAC deal only with Very High Risk cases
Wendy Green	Thanks for info on evidence from the TV perpetrator programme - a concern I share with colleagues about perpetrator programmes is that the proportion who \"reduce\" level of abuse are increasing their use of psychological abuse. Views anyone?

 

Topic 14: In your opinion how should the government be addressing the issue of domestic violence over the next 3 years?

Samantha Ingram	To all: What would you like to see the government doing in relation to domestic violence in the next three years?
Stella project	LDVP would like the government to really get a coordinated community response going rather than just a coordinated agency response - we’d like to know how, with the dropping of BVPI 225 and bringing on board a set of new 35 local indicators for LAAs, - how dv will remain a priority for boroughs? - how are the government going to ensure a full range of sentencing options from the Probation Service and with the derisory sentences being handed out at present - what measures will be taken against the Sentencing Advisory Panel to encourage women to use the CJS?
Samantha Ingram	Thanks Stella Project: I can understand your concerns about the LAAs, but we’re hoping that the new suite of PSAs with the emphasis on seriousness and not volume will have a direct impact on the priorities set locally and action/resources will follow. I can also very much understand your concern about sentencing after the recent high profile cases where sentencing appeared to be disproportionate. NOMS are working on extending the range of DV interventions under Community Order and we would hope to see a fuller range of options encouraging further take up. A further concern around sentencing is that there are very few DV perpetrator programmes in prisons (I believe only 5 prisons currently have such programmes) and we are keen to work with MoJ on this further to see how such interventions can be expanded across the estate.
Moderator	Anyone else got a wish list for the government to focus on over the next 3 years? - in relation to domestic abuse?
Diana Barran	Our wish list is a national IDVA service and national coverage of MARACs.....please!
Martin	After the DVEC last year we recommended all areas undertake MARAC, there is not the need to wait central funding, once agencies in a locality can see the benefit in cost saving from effective service coordination they should be able to start and maintain a MARAC within local resources.
Moderator	See the attached lessons learned from the DVEC 2006 report which may be of use to the group. http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/operational-policing/lessons-learned-dv.pdf.
Wendy Green	This is a wish list from Wendy re Government funding for next 3 years: Accredited perpetrator programmes for non-convicted offenders, mainstream funding for survivor support, including children’s outreach and the infrastructure that supports services; increase options for temporary/emergency accommodation particularly for complex needs and survivors with older teenage boys. Enable schools to develop work around promoting healthy relationships in primary schools/younger end of comprehensives.
Katy	Our wish list for the government would be to respond to cases where victims have no recourse to public funds. This is a serious problem for us locally where we have women with absolutely no money and nowhere to go.
Master	Couldn’t agree more. Our local MARS programme has folded after ONE YEAR..and it was well used!
Sarah SDVF	Response to Samantha Ingram: We would definitely like to see the Government offering longer term funding opportunities for local work on dv, linked to national priorities and developments, like IDVA’s and specialist courts.

 

Topic 15: Outcome of today’s chat & stakeholder consultation

Master	Can I ask, is anything going to come of this online meeting? Are any recommendations going to be made, and if so, to whom? I wholeheartedly applaud events like this but I think we tend to drop the baton when we approach the finishing line. The hard part is getting everyone together; the easy part should be using this group to lobby for changes.
Moderator	The main aim of these chats is to get groups of practitioners together to share effective practice rather than as a lobbying force! The edited transcript will stay on the crime reduction chat homepage as part of the work on seasonal crime and will be available to anyone who wants to use it more as a FAQ document.
Master	Fair enough, and valuable it is too, but I think we all agree that we are talking about a field that needs a lot more work and a lot more direction from Whitehall. I would love to see a consultation exercise on DV facilities, staff, ideas, shortcomings, etc distributed so that we can get a national picture of DV.
Samantha Ingram	We (Home Office Violent Crime Unit) are starting to develop our business plan proposals for next year ­and do draw on stakeholder consultation for this through a variety of ­ways. These issues raised here will be taken back to the DV Team at th­e Home Office for further consideration of what issues the sector is facing and what government can do about it.
Master	Samantha - I suggest that the stakeholder consultation is spread to CDRP chairs. You then nail 5 agencies on the head in one meeting.
Samantha Ingram	Master - we engage in ongoing communication with CDRP Chairs via our Government Office DV leads. We’ve also run regional road shows this Summer and Autumn in all regions asking for feedback on our Coordinated Community Response (CCR) to DV. I can share the link to the CCR model in the transcript to this chat. Samantha please can you send me the link Also, very much take your point that the CDRPs are often the locus for change locally and we hope that they are able to use the CCR model to develop their own local response. It rather neatly (in 2 slides) outlines the various agencies, multi-agency groups and the appropriate responses based on tiers of risk.
Wendy Green	Where were the regional road shows run Sam - who was invited along please?
Samantha Ingram	The regional road shows were run in the Government Offices. The GO DV leads invited DV Coordinators and other stakeholders. I can liaise with you re. your own regional event.

Topic 16: Publicising future online expert chats

Sarah SDVF	Could I ask that future events around dv and/or drug/alcohol use are communicated to the dv sector and other voluntary sectors - I only received information about this from an Alcohol Coordinator 5 minutes before this was due to start!
Moderator	Hi Sarah I take your point unfortunately I do not have access to networks within the dv sector - the monthly chats are being publicised via the crime reduction websites and the seasonal calendar which was sent out via GOs to nearly 2000 community safety/crime reduction practitioners.
Samantha Ingram	In addition to police forces being notified of the campaigns, DVEC information was cascaded down via Government Offices to the Domestic Violence Coordinators locally. Not sure what the blockage was with GLDVP but we will ensure you know well in advance for the next one!
Sarah SDVF	Sorry Sam - I meant this chat event wasn’t communicated to GLDVP.
Moderator	Dates and topics for future online expert chats which are held usually in the first week of every month can be found here together with more information on seasonal increases in particular crime types http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/tilley/seasonalcrimecalendar.htm.

 

Topic 17: Awareness/education programmes within schools

Wendy Green	What success have colleagues had in tackling Dv at grassroots level through school programmes please?
Stella project	Wendy - there are numerous prevention programmes across London and we held a prevention work conference where 31 boroughs were represented. We just finished a successful pilot involving peer educators in schools through drama - evaluation on our website www.gldvp.org.uk and for more info on this subject contact joanna.sharpen@gldvp.org.uk , the Children’s and Young Persons Services Development Officer here at the GLDVP.
Sarah SDVF	In Southampton we’ve carried out 2 pilot projects in primary schools, really successful. Evaluated using an electronic voting system with the children before and after. Delivered by a partnership of local Women’s Aid, STAR project (rape / sexual assault prevention project) NSPCC and schools. We’re now using this to develop a pack for schools to roll out citywide.
Master	I would be very interested in gaining some info on your schools work. Can you send me some info?
Sarah SDVF	Yes, we have a draft pack and an evaluation report - how do I send this to you?
Moderator	Sarah - do you have an online version on your website? Then we can post the link and it can be shared more widely.
Sarah SDVF	No sorry the pack is still draft so not published on line yet! The evaluation report I have in PDF but not online.
Moderator	Sarah if you prefer you can email it to me (alex.blackwell@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk ) and if you agree I will email a copy together with the transcript to everyone on line today. Sarah SDVFs schools pack can be downloaded here
Wendy Green	We have a programme of training PHSE teachers in Comprehensives to run sessions in curriculum about anti-bullying/dv and promoting non-=abusive relationships. Funded through CDRPs - central training days for teaching staff and local support to put into effect. Also have an educational pack put together by young people living in Refuge who had experienced DV.

 

Topic 18: Link between football and other sports and domestic violence

Martin	Has anyone tried to work with men’s groups (local football clubs for example) to encourage them to put peer pressure on team mates to reduce violence?
Moderator	I am interested to know why campaigns are targeted at football and not rugby, is this simply due to the nature of the event e.g. World Cup or is there evidence to suggest football fans are more likely to be DV perpetrators?
Master	Good point. But will we get the point where we are looking at Test Cricket, Olympics, etc...where is it appropriate to draw the line? I think bookmakers and betting shops are often forgotten places to highlight DV issues. It’s a place of broken dreams, high emotions, money worries, desperation...
Sarah Graham	We are not suggesting that Football fans are more likely to be DV perpetrators. However statistically more violence occurs around football and football related events than rugby events, which is part of the reason we focused on the Football World Cup last year, but not produced any specific rugby materials this year.
Martin	There have been studies in New Zealand and Wales that indicate that DV increases after Rugby Matches, The DVEC during the Football World Cup also showed increased levels of DV reporting during and after key matches, there is evidence in the USA that it increases during the Superbowl. Our recommendation was that areas ensure they have resources to cope with high demand and I know that South Wales police were looking at service during this rugby world cup.
Wendy Green	Note from Wendy about sports related DV campaigns - we did use betting shops to display posters and put helpline cards into Women’s toilets - however response from many bookies to placing posters was quite negative.
Master	"however response from many bookies to placing posters was quite negative" Isn’t that exactly why they SHOULD be placed in bookies?
Wendy Green	Absolutely, however we can’t force owners to put info up on their walls - much better to have a discussion about \"why\" and bring them on side - and the more we work out in communities, the more this becomes possible.
Martin	The theory on sporting events and DV is that the increase is due to excessive alcohol misuse during the game and that if your side wins you drink more and stay out later and on return home the emotional high of winning is replaced by the everyday concerns and the mood swings rapidly downwards leading to violence
Stella Project	I would appreciate these references - every research study we have looked at proves this not to be true - and the DVEC campaign did cherry pick its stats - because it did not include any of the London campaigns which did not show an increase.
Stella Project	none of the London DVEC campaigns showed an increase of dv incidences during the football
Wendy Green	Hi re poster campaign aimed at World Cup - the World Cup Campaign originated from statistics from the World Cup in 2002, which showed when England fared badly in games, DV reporting had a peak. Coincidentally, last year, when England beat Paraguay in 06, incidents rose - perhaps as a colleague here suggests, it is to do with a type of \"pack mentality\", not winning or losing.
Master	I think there is a bandwagon to jump on in terms of footy as well. DV figures are closely monitored during this time. Do Non Crime Domestics count towards DV figures?
Stella Project	Wendy - re those statistics from the 2002 World Cup - I presume you are talking about the Cardiff the study which was specifically talking about men’s violence towards other men and NOT domestic violence?
Wendy Green	Hi re your comment about where the 02 stats came from - I’ll get back to you on this and let you have the source - as far as I can remember it was DV stats and not general violence against the person.
Stella Project	We have to take into account that increased reporting during DVEC campaigns during football matches may be largely due to the fact there was increased information out there to encourage reporting
Martin	The DVEC campaign increases around sporting events compared like with like in that we looked at days in the first DVEC when there was also lots of advertising about to encourage reporting with days in the second DVEC so the ‘DVEC factor’ can be disregarded. The DVEC increases in DV around the world cup 2006 were national figures and there were regional variations. The DVEC report was not a full scientific study, the important issue is that sporting events may lead to increased service requirement and services should ensure they can respond to need if required.
Martin	It is also important to note that not all football and rugby fans or players are DV offenders just because they win or lose. A DV offender may be more likely to commit acts after a match but the winning or losing of games does not make anyone a DV offender.
Moderator	Interesting but it still reinforces the link between alcohol and domestic violence doesn’t it? Can domestic violence be tackled in isolation - what do you think?
Shaz	I don’t believe DV can be tackled in isolation. it is such a big issue and has so many complexities that we need to work in a co-ordinated way to make others understand how far reaching DV is and how many areas of work are affected.
Wendy Graham	Re reinforcing the link between alcohol and DV - our posters reinforced the link between domestic violence and the \"excuses\" perpetrators use - never give out messages that Dv is due to a loss of control, but that it is a deliberate, focused and controlled act.
Sarah Graham	I think the point that’s being alluded to in terms of sporting events is that it doesn’t have anything to do with winning or losing, it’s the fact that alcohol plays such a big role in these events! Whether people go to the pub to watch a match or have few cans at home in front of the TV, their team losing a match is just unacceptable another excuse!
Martin	I agree sport, alcohol or anything else is an unacceptable excuse - in fact if anyone can think of an acceptable excuse to be violent to your partner or anyone else I would love to hear it?!?!???!!!
Moderator	Be quick you have 1 minute to respond to Martin!
Moderator	OK well thanks everyone for taking part - apologies if you only received short notice about the chat - the full schedule of the monthly chats can be viewed at http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/chat_index.htm where if you scroll down you will see future events and transcripts of previous ones.
Stella Project	thanks to everyone for an interesting discussion
Moderator	I will email a transcript of the chat in the next few weeks to everyone who has submitted their email address when registering.

Last update: Wednesday, October 17, 2007