Joined-up approach enlisted to help tackle domestic violence

Barnsley Council has drawn 
up a strategy and action plan for a more co-ordinated approach to dealing with the issues.

Council leaders say that because money is stretched, it is more important than ever that agencies work closer to ensure effort is not duplicated. The aims of the three-year strategy are:

To improve services and support for all victims.

To develop a multi-agency response.

Educate children, young people and the wider public that abuse is wrong.

To increase awareness of domestic and sexual abuse and 
the measures in place to help victims.

Ensure that abusers are accountable.

Members of Barnsley Council’s Cabinet committee will discuss a report at a meeting tomorrow.

The report notes that the number of incidents of domestic crimes rose by five per cent in Barnsley in 2011.

The total number of domestic crimes and incidents in 2010 was 3,766 but this had risen to 3,971 in 2011.

Of those, 11 per cent involved serious crimes such as causing 
actual bodily harm or wounding.

The report notes: “During the calendar year 2011, South Yorkshire Police recorded a decrease in the number of rape offences in Barnsley in comparison to 2010 (57 offences, down 12 per cent on the 2010 figures) and there was also a decrease in the number of recorded serious sexual violence offences (115 offences, down by 19 per cent on the 2010 figures).”

But the real number of victims is believed to be far more as many people do not report incidents to police.

“It is estimated that in South Yorkshire over 15,504 women and girls have been victims of sexual assault in the past year.

“These figures are estimates based on the population size.”

During the year 2010, around 13 per cent of referrals to the South Yorkshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) were from the Barnsley area.

“If we use this figure as a rough guide to estimate the overall level of violence against women and girls in the borough (Barnsley) based on the estimating tool, then there may be up to 2000 victims of such crimes.”

Achievements to date in dealing with the issues in Barnsley have included the development of a specialist domestic violence magistrates court where magistrates and specialist prosecutors are trained to deal with domestic abuse.

The council and partners 
have also funded Pathways, a domestic violence agency, 
which runs a voluntary scheme of “behaviour change” for men 
who perpetrate violence and abuse.

The council report also points to increased arrest rates of alleged perpetrators and detections of domestic and sexual violence 
cases.

It says that, before now, the council has been without an overarching strategy.

“This strategy brings together national and local evidence of best practice and highlights the key areas of action required across the borough if we are to make a positive impact on reducing offending and protecting victims of abuse.

“In the current climate of financial austerity it is vital that the council works effectively with all involved agencies to maximise resources and skills in delivering a cohesive approach to tackling this significant social issue within our communities.

“National evidence supports the fact that the vast majority of victims of crime receive better standards of service when the agencies involved in supporting victims, act cohesively under a unified strategic approach.

“One of the key outcomes of this strategy is to bring the relevant organisations together to achieve a joint action plan.”