MPA Response to the National Violence against Women Strategy

Report: 6
Date: 21 May 2009
By: Chief Executive

Summary

The MPA welcomes an integrated cross-government strategy in response to violence against women. That this consultation is to form part of a national debate which engages not only with the criminal justice system and the women’s voluntary and community sector but also addresses the role of education, the financial sector, and the public and encourages all to take responsibility is to be commended.

A. Recommendation

That Members endorse this report as the Metropolitan Police Authority response to the National Violence Against Women Strategy.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the National Violence Against Women Strategy (see Appendix One) and recognises that an integrated, cross-government strategy is a positive step in response to violence against women and girls.

2. There have been areas of considerable development in recent years, such as the creation of Independent Domestic Violence Advocates, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences, Sexual Assault Referral Centres, the Forced Marriage Unit, and improvements in the criminal justice response to violence against women. However it is accepted that more can and should be done and that responsibility for this action must be taken by all agencies, not just those who are seen as specialising in the needs of victims of abuse, or by the criminal justice system. One simple but impactful way of taking these further would be to ensure sustainable funding for the violence against women specialist sector and government supported responses such as the coordinated community response.

3. It is recognised that this consultation forms part of a ‘national debate’ on the subject of violence against women and that a number of questions in the consultation document are better suited to responses from individuals. Therefore the MPA response will reference general points rather than answer all questions.

Key themes

4. Teaching young people about healthy relationships is vital in ensuring that the volume of potential abuse diminishes significantly. Integration of the concept of healthy, safe, and respectful relationships would be of long term benefit not just to those women and girls who might suffer abuse, but to all of society. Therefore it is integral that this strategy and the action plans that follow ensure that other youth or youth violence strategies which relate to London, such as the Mayoral Time for Action plan and the cross governmental Youth Crime Action Plan integrate awareness of violence against women and education on sexual bullying.

5. It is agreed that more could be done following the part-implementation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The implementation of Section 12 [1] is welcome, but it must be recognised that full enactment should also be a priority for the government, particularly as the use of domestic violence homicide reviews as referenced in the strategy, is currently in place in London but not across the UK.

6. The review of police powers in tackling serial perpetrators of domestic abuse is a chance to make use of intelligence, as well as providing the opportunity to make use of existing systems such as ViSOR [2] and the sex offenders register, further integrating current work on tackling violence against women. However a clear intended outcome of this system needs to be identified. What type of information would be stored and how would it be used?

7. Use of the Police National Database to support such a process would be beneficial, and use of other systems of intelligence could also be of value. Intelligence held by the Probation Service on perpetrators, some of whom may disclose committing abuse or other relevant intelligence, would support such a process. Information taken by voluntary and community sector agencies that come into contact with victims (some of whom may not report to police or come into contact with other agencies) would also support such a system. However given the quantity of data required to make such a system effective, clear guidelines must be provided and a structured process of monitoring created to ensure efficacy and confidentiality.

8. As previously noted, domestic violence homicide reviews have provided valuable learning for all agencies involved in tackling abuse. Consideration might also be given to how the findings of serious case reviews and child death reviews – child protection panels often highlight the presence of domestic abuse - might also support the process of keeping women safe from sexual predators and those who target vulnerable women and children for trafficking.

Future challenges and action

9. The possible integration, where relevant, of learning from child death reviews has already been noted above. Recommendations from previous high profile reviews have noted frequently that information sharing between agencies on abuse of children and abuse of women could be improved and that the sharing of such information supports increasing safety of victims and potential victims. Gaps in services could be plugged by the use of multi-agency fora and effective monitoring by independent bodies.

10. The consideration of the application of similar legislation to that used in other countries is an excellent suggestion, and if it were used effectively could be a powerful tool in supporting safety. However the implications for ensuring that perpetrators remain outside a particular area of residence as part of bail conditions would fall to the police and the burden on resources could be intensive.

11. It should be noted that current UK legislation could also be applied to support the change of attitudes and efficacy of the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduced tougher sentences for offences motivated by hatred of the victim’s sexual orientation (this must now be taken into account by the sentencing court as an aggravating factor, in addition to race or religious hate motivation). The extension of this to recognise that violence against women is also a hate crime and that sentencing should take this into account, as well as acknowledge that such acts of abuse frequently take place as a pattern of abuse would support this goal.

12. Increasing confidence in the criminal justice system is crucial to support victims of violence against women in coming forward to report crimes and having faith that the criminal justice system will support and protect them, whilst ensuring perpetrators are dealt with robustly and in a way that acts as a deterrent to others. Gaining feedback from victims as service users would support developments of services that meet the needs of women and girls. Currently this feedback is not routinely sought and therefore appropriate action not taken. Ensuring that the voice of victims is heard throughout the criminal justice process would support increased confidence and satisfaction. Furthermore, publication or promotion of positive outcomes for criminal justice service users instead of a media focus on negative news might be beneficial.

13. Police authorities have a statutory duty to consult with the public on policing priorities, which then impact on the allocation of resources and development of initiatives for local police. It should be recognised that such practices invite responses from those who self-select and are therefore potentially engaging with the process of developing the police response to violence against women. However it is likely that many women and girls affected by such violence and abuse are less likely to out their views forward – particularly if they are currently experiencing such abuse and may therefore have their freedom or opportunities curtailed by their abuser. Ensuring that the views of such individuals and those who may not engage with such processes as a matter of course must be part of forming an action plan to implement any strategy.

14. Police Community Support Officers are an integral part of the response to violence against women as they form part of Safer Neighbourhoods. Like other police constables they patrol local areas, so they are able to make use of local intelligence, such as complaints about noise or concerns about children to ensure that victims are supported by the police where they wish to be and to inform perpetrators that reliance on the silence of a victim will not keep them from the eyes of the law. In most areas of London PCSOs undertake reassurance visits to follow up on police callouts for domestic abuse. The replication of this to reassure victims of other forms of violence against women may be welcomed following consultation.

15. PSCOs could also ensure that they develop links with service providers, and strengthen partnerships with local organisations; enhancing any working relationships and ensuring that appropriate referrals are made and that victim support and intervention is undertaken by local professionals. Careful and well-monitored adherence to the Victims Code of Practice, such as ensuring that victims of domestic and sexual violence are registered as vulnerable and receive timely updates on any developments in their case, would also support increased confidence in the criminal justice system.

16. It is of concern that equality and diversity issues are first acknowledged in the last page of the strategy. Violence against women and girls is rightly recognised as a cause and consequence of gender inequality but this is not in a vacuum. It is further compounded by a number of issues such as race and other forms of inequality, and the long term financial and emotional impact of abuse. Furthermore, diversity issues and other areas of difference can form part of differing needs and require services that take into account and target such needs. A full Equality Impact Assessment would scope some of these issues and further research on this issue could support the identification of ways forward to minimise the compounded impact and various requirements that form the needs of many survivors of violence against women. It is hoped, therefore, that the final strategy will explicitly acknowledge how violence against women and girls will be tackled in the context of equality and diversity issues.

17. Evidence suggests that the presence of diversity factors disproportionately impacts on the success of criminal justice outcomes for victims. This could further impact on the trust and confidence of these communities, who might already face barriers in engaging with support services due to language, access, or other factors. Ensuring that any strategy and action plan engages directly with communities that are often subject to social exclusion.

18. Delivery of a national strategy should be led by a single government department with senior single points of contact within each other department. This could then be replicated across the 9 government offices across the UK to ensure a local lead on delivery. Progress should be measured and assessed by regular assessments and further research – for example the implementation of a violent offender register is quantifiable, changes in attitudes over time following intervention within the education system is less so. Annual ‘snapshot’ assessments might support building a picture over time of the impact of the strategy, supported by data from the criminal justice system and other government departments or their local representatives. The use of existing research [3] to identify where departments could work to improve might also support this process.

C. Race and equality impact

1. Whilst the draft consultation paper may not directly impact on the work of the MPA, possible outcomes may influence policing action and therefore the responsibility of the authority to monitor and scrutinise. One possible area of impact would be around improving confidence in police as part of the wider criminal justice system. The role of the MPA in supporting such improvements might be around setting or monitoring targets which prioritise violence against women or improvement in women’s confidence in the response of the criminal justice system.

2. Another possible area of impact would be around effective community engagement on the part of the MPA, and role of the MPA in gauging the views of Londoners could have implications in terms of responding to the needs of communities in London. This is particularly important when recognising that those who experience such abuse are likely to experience reduction in their freedom to engage in such processes, for example trafficked women, or women who may have access to a computer monitored or their personal liberty curtailed by an abuser.

D. Financial implications

1. Should some of the proposals be implemented there could be financial implications for the MPA in terms of budget management for the MPS, particularly around resourcing the expansion of data systems.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Lynne Abrams, MPA

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback