Plymouth looks set to adopt a new approach to help those who suffer domestic abuse, taking into account the views of those who have experienced it.

Plymouth City Council's cabinet saw a paper which sets out plans to commission a new domestic abuse service. It not only helps the city meet new statutory duties, but takes on board the often unheard voices of people who have experienced domestic abuse.

The council commissions the Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service which has been running since 2012. However, new legislation now requires the council to:

  • Assess the need for domestic abuse support amongst victims and their children in ‘relevant accommodation’
  • Provide accommodation and support to victims and their children
  • Prepare and publish a strategy for the delivery of the support
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy
  • Appoint a Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board.

Cllr Pat Patel, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport, who is also responsible for community safety said: “A lot of thought has gone into exploring what Plymouth needs to tackle the issue of domestic violence and abuse. We want a service which will not only provide safe accommodation but critically, much-needed behaviour change programmes for those who harm as well as workforce development and advice, so that people and organisations feel confident in helping to address this issue.

“We have been listening to those who have experienced abuse, to those who have had the courage to seek help for being the perpetrator of that abuse and as well as evidence gathered for our Plymouth Male Violence against Women and Girls Commission, to see how the system needs to change to help people to change.”

Domestic abuse can affect anyone and has a devastating impact on victims and their families. In the year ending March 2020 it is estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 to 74 years were victims of domestic abuse. In Plymouth between 2018/19 and 2020/21:

  • 14,513 domestic abuse cases reported to the police – 21 per cent of all crime reported
  • an estimated 11,562 victims of domestic abuse received support services
  • between 2019/20 and 2020/21, 314 people fleeing domestic violence sought homelessness assistance from the Council – that’s three a week
  • Safelives estimate 18,500 women and 10,830 men experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives
  • During the Covid pandemic and lockdowns Plymouth saw increases in reporting of domestic and intensified control, violence, danger and suicide.
  • Nationally for the year ending March 2021 there were 845,734 domestic abuse crimes recorded by the police – up six per cent on the previous year and 18 per cent of all crimes recorded by the police that year.
  • It is estimated that 1 in 5 children under the age of 18 children have lived with domestic abuse at some point in their childhood (NSPCC, 2020)

    The current commissioned service has been provided by Sanctuary Housing. Between 2018 and 2020 the Plymouth Refuge supported 138 people in accommodation and supported up to 50 children.

    The Council will look to procure a 10-year contract with the following elements included:

  • Accommodation: It is estimated 385 units/bed spaces of safe accommodation are needed each year in Plymouth so that more people can flee domestic abuse and get safe accommodation. The aim will be to develop a suite of offers to meet individual needs. This will include female only accommodation, including the purpose-built refuge, units/safe houses including family accommodation and single person units as well as HMOs for those who may require additional support
  • Support across all safe accommodation, including those outside specialist refuge and dispersed units. It should enable people to feel able to move on from temporary accommodation.
  • Outreach – a service for people to contact and receive advice and support regardless of their accommodation needs or relationship status. The design of service will take into account plans to improve locality working alongside the city’s Family and Wellbeing Hubs.
  • Behaviour Change – to prioritise prevention and the need for long term change, this service will include a trauma informed behaviour change programme for those who cause harm. This includes helping people who perpetrate domestic abuse feel listened to and have opportunity for help and change.
  • Peer Support – group programmes that support and promote, peer support, lived experience groups to give a voice to those who have experienced domestic abuse
  • Workforce development/consultancy – a new service that will provide professional guidance and support so that more people will feel confident to disclose and report.
  • Therapeutic offer for adults and children and young people.

Cllr Patel added: “There is still much work to do and with a backdrop of housing shortages and reducing budgets, some of this will not be easy. However we are in the 16 Days of Activism which campaigns to highlight violence against women and girls and it is important for the people of Plymouth to know how seriously we take this issue and the steps we are taking.”

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