Haringey update

Report: 1b
Report for the Domestic and Sexual Violence Board
Date: 29 September 2010

Haringey response to MPA Domestic and Sexual Violence Board - 2nd February 2010

Haringey SCD2 to explore ways of integrating engagement and partnership working with existing structures, especially in relation to dealing with volume of sexual violence amongst young people. Haringey DI may wish to contact Southwark SCD2 DI who is making some progress in this area and has similar issues with young people.

• DI Smith has met with DI Sheila Annesley from SCD2 Southwark and absorbed the inclusive nature of approaches to particular local supporters of victims of sexual violence.
  In order to identify opportunities for partnerships the SOIT Officers who deal directly with the victims of sexual violence in Haringey have a development objective of identifying and establishing contacts with organisations who are able to support individual victims to DI Smith so that he can establish formal contact with them and ensure that the MPS locally is sighted as to opportunities to support victims. This provides a real world link to the provision of actual victim support rather than any aspirational service delivery. This work is naturally on-going and driven by the particular needs of individual victims who have reported to police but has led to contact with a group providing independent support for victims of sexual violence with learning difficulties (Respond).
  DI Smith meets quarterly with partners in Social Services and this has in turn led to a forthcoming presentation by DI Smith and the Haven to members of the Vulnerable Adults Team at Haringey.
  DI Smith has also met with the local VSS and refreshed their relationship in terms of the victim referral process and an awareness of each other’s capabilities.

The data requested in the Commissioning Brief on the number of unsupported DV prosecutions. If these are low, to contact Barking & Dagenham to explore their practice as they had a relatively high number of unsupported prosecutions.

• One of the main difficulties is the fact that neither the police nor the CPS currently collects data in relation to unsupported prosecution. The CPS indicated the figure for Haringey would be fairly low (less than 5%). The SDVC steering group are looking into methods of data collection and areas that can be improved in order to increase the volume of unsupported prosecutions.
• As part of this process Haringey CSU have liaised with A/DCI Pat Sparks and DI Andrew Petty at Barking and Dagenham.

Haringey BOCU to explore options for LGBT reporting including third party reporting and better partnership working with LGBT service delivery organisations within the voluntary and community sector.

• Haringey CSU has an excellent relationship with Haringey council community safety team who are responsible for all Hate crime on the borough. Increasing reporting of crime by minority groups is part of the Hate crime steering group’s action plan. LGBT groups and the police are represented in this group. A number of plans are currently being considered by the council. An example of action taken so far by the group is wider distribution of third party reporting packs (True vision) to communities with disabilities by working with MENCAP. The Borough has recently recruited an officer from Barnet, Inspector Ian Rigby, who has taken on the lead as LGBT liaison officer. He is currently developing an action plan in relation to professionalising the role of LO’s on this Borough. This will include looking at methods of encouraging and assisting reporting and improving partnership working.

Haringey SCD2 to ensure that feedback forms are being provided to victims upon closure of the case, and include the number of forms provided in the follow-up report.

There is now a clear system in place to ensure that all victims of sexual violence are provided with an opportunity to give independent feedback. No investigation is closed without the DI assessing the provision of the forms and where such action is inappropriate this is detailed by the DI in the body of the report. This application of effective policy is still developing but the current method of delivery has led to the distribution of 86 User Feedback Forms in the six months up to September 2010.

An exploration of the high volume of MARAC cases, taking onto consideration CAADA guidance on IDVA caseloads and referral/ re-referral processes.

• The data provided in the Haringey Report may have been misleading in that it estimated 30 MARAC cases were dealt with per month. This figure being based on the actual amount of cases discussed which included new cases as well as cases that had been carried over for review purposes. In the 8 months of data recorded for 2010, the Haringey MARAC averaged 14 new cases per month which is obviously a more reasonable figure for IDVA resources to manage. Haringey MARAC has been working on a number of improvements under the guidance of CAADA in the last 6 months. Two of those areas are increasing new referrals and reducing the amount of cases that are carried over for review purposes. Significant improvements have already been made in this area which has been acknowledged by CAADA.

An overview of the process for accessing interpreters and information on how frequently there is difficulty in accessing them and the impact of this on victims and the criminal justice process, if any. The MPA DSVB Members would be happy to follow this up at Full Authority or in another formal arena should pan-London issues be identified.

• In February 2010 the MPS introduced a new centralised system for obtaining the services of interpreters. This means that all the investigator need to do is contact the call centre. They then make all the arrangements, putting the interpreters in direct contact with the investigators. The general opinion is that access to solicitors has been greatly improved by centralising the process. The only problems that occur are when interpreters are required for rarely used languages such as Lingala.

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