Agenda item

(i)     Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

(ii)   Report of the Chair of the Safe Durham Partnership Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Group.

The Chair welcomed the Policy Lead, Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC), Jeanne Trotter who was in attendance to provide the Committee with an update presentation in relation to Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (for copy see file of minutes).

The Policy Lead thanked the Chair and Members and noted she was also the Chair of the Durham and Darlington Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Executive Group (DASVEG).  She noted that DASVEG had retained its high-level priorities and there had been additional work planning in relation to sexual violence.  She explained that the objectives in respect of domestic abuse were: One – reduction in repeat victims and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse; Two – domestic abuse is prevented through early intervention; and Three – more invisible victims are identified and offered support.  The Committee were asked to note that a separate work plan had been developed for victims of sexual violence and it was explained that the focus was on prevention and early intervention, with a coordinated response.  The Policy Lead highlighted hidden victims and risk of harm criteria as well as work to promote good evidence based practice.

Members were referred to the report within the agenda pack, with the Policy Lead highlighting key areas.  She explained as regards Objective One, reducing repeat victims, there was a lot of innovative work ongoing including with the MATAC (Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordination), the scrutiny of the use of the Checkpoint scheme with domestic abuse perpetrators as an early intervention, and a bid being made to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for funds to support the development of perpetrator programmes which would include an extension of MATAC and one-to-one work and interventions in respect of non-intimate partner violence, while also maintaining focus on the support for victims.

In relation to Objective Two, the Policy Lead explained that the Embedded Learning Group, that had been set up as part of the Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI), noted some areas of duplication and significant work was then undertaken in terms training, support and the production and availability of resources for partners.  She added that other issues highlighted within the report included priorities going forward in relation to the objective.

The Committee were informed in respect of Objective Three, identifying more invisible victims, a programme of work was being drawn up by the appropriate Task and Finish Group, with an aim to better understand the issues relating to invisible victims.  The Policy Lead noted that work included: potential extension of workplace champions, training to encompass community champions, review and referral resources, understanding of the characteristics relating to hidden victims and coercive control awareness raising campaigns.

The Policy Lead noted the issue of commissioning and added that the often short-term nature of domestic abuse and sexual violence funding had been raised by Members when she previously attended Committee.  She explained that therefore a budget prioritisation exercise was being carried out, facilitated by colleagues from Public Health and supported by partner agencies, and this would form the basis for future commissioning plans.

In relation to COVID 19 restrictions and national reporting in terms of increasing domestic abuse and sexual violence, the Policy Lead explained that as the Chair of DASVEG and joint commissioner of those services she would wish to reassure Members that close attention was being paid to any local changes, with weekly reporting from Harbour and monthly national helpline figures.  She added that while County Durham had not experienced the increases that some of the larger areas elsewhere in the country had experienced, referrals had fluctuated and more recently there had been increase.  She noted for context that referrals to Harbour in February 2020 were 122, with an increase during April, stabilising back at around 122 in June.  She noted during the period of increased referrals, self-referrals increased from an average of 2 to 38, adding that this may have been as a consequence of the media campaign as explained within the report.  The Policy Lead noted that local data in relation to calls into the national helpline early within the lockdown period had not shown a significant increase, perhaps indicating that in County Durham the local provision was being utilised where appropriate.  She reiterated that the increasing demand would be closely monitored and added that Durham Constabulary was proactive in contacting the victims of known repeat perpetrators and high risk cases, including visits to their homes.  The Policy Lead concluded by noting that during COVID 19 all the commissioned services remained in operation, collaborative working enabled successes, such as the joint campaign, as well additional funding provided to the Office of the PCVC from the MoJ having been distributed amongst commissioned partners and non-commissioned partners enabling some innovative development of support to victims, especially through the use of IT.

The Chair thanked the Policy Lead and noted concern in any increase in cases of domestic abuse and any links to the increase in alcohol consumption.  He added it was encouraging to learn of the joint approach being taken by the relevant Authorities and organisations to combat the issues.  He asked Members of the Committee for their questions on the report.

Councillor R Crute, Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, asked if the Policy Lead could remind the Committee of the composition of DASVEG and noted that when looking at the determinants more widely, such as poor job prospects, poor housing, the dip in the economy and now the impact of COVID 19, there was a need to take those issues into account and asked how DASVEG brought all of that information together and pool resources.  He added he understood that work was being undertaken in terms of the budget prioritisation exercise and asked, given the tight budgets in the current climate, was the Policy Lead confident that the challenges, once identified, could be met.

The Policy Lead noted a large number of organisations were represented within DASVEG, including Public Health, Housing, Probation partners, the Council’s Children and Young People’s Services directorate, Durham Constabulary, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Courts amongst many others.  She added she could provide a full list of those attending for Members’ information.  In respect of meeting challenges, she explained this was the purpose of the budget prioritisation exercise, as there was were several funding streams feeding in respect of domestic abuse and sexual violence and therefore it was difficult in terms of being sustainable and long-term.  She noted that Durham was one of only a few areas that had both the PCVC and Local Authority co-commissioning such services and added that this was a good first step in terms of joint working.  Councillor R Crute thanked the Policy Lead, noting that this gave him some assurance that all the relevant bodies were covered under DASVEG and that the review of funding would help provide an opportunity to look at funds that may be ringfenced for particular issues.  The Chair asked, while noting it involving a number of agencies, whether there was there a clear lead organisation and structure so that operations could be directed effectively, as it had been noted in the past where a number of agencies were involved there could be duplication.  The Policy Lead noted that this was an issue that had been raised within DASVEG and organisations were ensuring they had the right people involved at the meetings.  She added she felt there were the right people who were able to make decisions at the meetings and she was confident they would then in turn be able to move on issues quickly.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager, Tom Gorman noted the link to the performance report later on the agenda and added that there was a reported increase in domestic violence incidents in April of 8 percent averaged across County Durham.  He added that this increase was outside of normal variation, however, data down at a sub-county level showed that the increase was not in all areas across the county, with some Members that may have spoken to their local Police Inspectors noting no increase in such incidents in their area.  He explained that Peterlee and Newton Aycliffe had reported the highest increases, with some areas reporting no change and some areas reporting a decrease in incidents.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager noted a 9.8 percent reduction in domestic violence incidents as a crime and little difference in the number of incidents involving alcohol or high-risk referrals.  The Chair thanked the Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager and asked what period those figures represented, and it was explained they were for April to June 2020.

Councillor J Maitland asked as regards the extension to workplace champions and how this would be affected as a result of COVID 19.  The Policy Lead noted that a lot would be done remotely, with work ongoing to make such approaches more accessible.  She added that alternative ways of delivering support utilising IT equipment would help and additional IT equipment would be available, secured through COVID funding.

Councillor E Mavin noted his thanks to the Policy Lead and all those working throughout the COVID 19 period.  The Policy Lead thanked the Councillor and noted it was to the credit of all the services working hard, looking at innovative approaches utilising the additional funding, and she would pass on the thanks to those involved.

Councillor D Hall asked as regards the timescales of the planned commissioning and whether information on the results would be reported back to Committee in due course.  The Policy Lead noted the last commissioning session would be in October and a report would follow in November/December, looking to prioritise for the 2021 budget.

The Chair asked in respect of invisible victims and what strategy was undertaken to try to get in touch with such hard to reach groups.  The Policy Lead noted the success of the awareness campaign at the beginning of the COVID 19 period and the power of agencies working collectively to deliver the message that such services were available.  She added that it was believed that some of the increase in self-reporting was as a result of the campaign and noted that there was a plan in terms of developing a joint communication strategy to help reach those hidden victims.

Resolved:  

That the content of the report be noted.