Agenda item

(To receive an update report from Jade Sullivan, Community Safety Strategy Co-ordinator – Domestic Abuse Lead, which provides the Committee with an overview of the work that is being undertaken in relation to Domestic Abuse within Lincolnshire)

SITTING AS THE CRIME & DISORDER SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

The Committee received a report, which provided an update on the response to domestic abuse in Lincolnshire, in light of the introduction of the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and advised of future developments that were likely to have an impact for the County's response to domestic abuse.

The Chairman invited Jade Sullivan, Community Safety Strategy Co-ordinator – Domestic Abuse Lead, to remotely present the item.

It was reported that the latest available estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales suggested that 5.5% of adults aged 16-74 would have experienced domestic in the year ending March 2020.  This national figure would equate to roughly 30,200 adults 16-24 suffering domestic abuse in Lincolnshire, (assuming a similar prevalence in Lincolnshire compared to the England and Wales average).

The Committee noted the true number of victims of domestic abuse was likely to be higher when children were included.

In Lincolnshire in the last five years, on average there had been over 10,000 domestic abuse incidents reported to Lincolnshire Police each year.  Given the prevalence of domestic abuse and the very serious effects it can have on individuals and families, the Council had considered this as a priority area of business; committing resource and leading the domestic abuse agenda with partners in Lincolnshire.

The report made reference to: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the changes the new Act would deliver.  These were set out on pages 156 to 158 of the report pack; the actions taken by Lincolnshire to the Act; what the next steps and further developments were; Domestic Abuse Commissioned Services; and the Domestic Abuse Related funding opportunities.

In conclusion, it was noted that work being carried out in Lincolnshire, as well as the commissioned domestic abuse service complimented each other to provide a holistic response to victims, perpetrators and children affected by domestic abuse.

During consideration of the report, the following comments were noted:-

·       The impact of domestic abuse on children and young people.  The Committee was advised that there was additional support available for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse;

·       Some questions were raised pertaining to who defined who a victim was; and how easy was it for a victim of domestic abuse to report abuse; and how victims got their support.  The Committee was advised that there was more than one route to report domestic abuse.  The contract for specialist domestic abuse services in Lincolnshire was delivered by Ending Domestic Abuse in Lincolnshire (EDAN Lincs), which now meant that residents could now access the same support provision from the same provider, wherever they resided in Lincolnshire.  Access could be made to the service by telephone, video consultation; helpline; as well as national helplines.  It was noted that all agencies in Lincolnshire had received domestic abuse training and that there was a set of questions to help agencies identify domestic abuse; and

·       Help available for Council staff.  The Committee was advised that a number of Council policies had been refreshed to include domestic abuse; and that mandatory training was available for staff and managers to undertake.  It was noted that the service was looking at doing a newsletter, which would be available for all staff.  One member recommended the use of a sticker campaign.  The Committee was advised that a sticker campaign had been undertaken externally and that further consideration would be given to a campaign for staff.

RESOLVED

That the update report on the response to domestic abuse in Lincolnshire be received.