Domestic Violence Board - annual report

Report: 8
Date: 26 July 2007
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report presents members with the annual report of the MPA Domestic Violence Board at the close of its first year, and seeks agreement to continue its work for a further three years subject to annual review. A copy of the annual report has been circulated (as a separate document) to members, additional copies are available from the MPA website.

A. Recommendation

That

1. the domestic Violence Board Annual report be received; and
2. members agree that the MPA Domestic Violence Board should continue for a further three years, subject to annual review

B. Supporting information

1. The MPA Domestic Violence Board was agreed by Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board and Co-ordination and Policing Committee in October and November 2005 respectively and held its first meeting on 5 April 2006.

2. It’s purpose is to “monitor, scrutinise and support the MPS in its performance and response to domestic violence.” [1]

It also has an aim to “secure continuous improvement in the MPS’ response and disseminate best practice and innovation across the 32 Borough Operational Command Units.” [2]

3. The Board enables the MPA to meet recommendations made by the Mayor’s Second London Domestic Violence Strategy.

4. Membership of the Board is made up of MPA members together with specialists within other statutory organisations in London including:

• Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, Domestic Violence Champion, London Criminal Justice Board.
• Mayor’s adviser on women and women’s issues, GLA
• Greater London Domestic Violence Project, co-ordinating the Mayor’s Second London Domestic Violence Strategy.
• London Councils.
• Government Office for London.
• Home Office Expert Panel on Domestic Violence.

Community organisations from across London are also invited to take part in each meeting. These include organisations working pan-London in addition to those working within the boroughs where the relevant BOCU is attending the Board. They also include organisations working within the field of domestic violence and who specialise further, for example on an equality issue.

3. The Board agreed a series of objectives for 2006/07 which have been met:

• To scrutinise and monitor the activities of central MPS directorates and 6 BOCUs in relation to domestic violence by June 2007.
• To make a series of recommendations for improvement that will lead to increased performance in sanction detection rates, victim and witness care and community engagement by BOCUs.
• To liaise with community and voluntary groups and to make recommendations to Government on improving women's and children's safety in relation to domestic violence.
• To scrutinise and monitor MPS involvement in Project Umbra, commissioned by the London Criminal Justice Board (chaired by AC Tim Godwin over the next two years) and designed to improve London's response to domestic violence.

4. The Board has met four times since its inception:

• 5 April 2006
• 19 September 2006
• 6 February 2007
• 12 June 2007

5. Six Borough Operational Command Units have attended the Board to present their response to domestic violence locally:

• Havering
• Croydon
• Tower Hamlets
• Brent
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Sutton

In addition to that, in line with the Board’s objectives, two policy areas were also presented by the MPS Violent Crime Directorate Operational Command Unit and discussed:

• Domestic violence-specific training within the MPS
• Potential conflict between the MPS Standard Operating Procedures on investigation of domestic violence, rape and sexual offences, and child abuse.

6. Agreement to the proposal for the Board was conditional on the basis that it reports back to members one year on and to seek agreement for any further work. The MPA’s Business Management Group [3] requested that the Board be tabled at Full Authority.

7. In order to inform the annual report and the proposal to members, questionnaires were sent to everyone who has taken part in the Board over the course of the year whether member agency, police officer presenting to, or attending the Board, or community organisation representative. The purpose of the questionnaire was to seek views on the Board and its effectiveness. We received 16 responses from a range of Board member agencies, voluntary organisations and police colleagues. Their views include detail on why the Board is important, what is working well, possible improvements and recommendations to the MPA as a monitor of MPS performance, and to government setting national policy on domestic violence. Further information will be included in the annual report. There was overwhelming support for the Board. Every response we received gave positive feedback, suggestions for improvements and advocated its continuation. A selection of the views we received is set out below:

‘It has been a fantastic mechanism for really drilling down into the details of what is happening’

‘An essential tool in tackling domestic violence in London’

‘MPA are fulfilling their duty of holding the MPS to account’

‘Well structured and exceptionally chaired’

‘Excellent way of engaging with voluntary sector/community groups and providing an opportunity to support them to give their opinions on their and other police force/areas’ activities’

8. If the Domestic Violence Board were to continue for a further three years it would allow every remaining BOCU to attend the Board once. The Board could still be required to report its progress to members annually in some form.

9. An annual report is attached which reflects the work of the Domestic Violence Board in detail during its first year in order to “disseminate best practice and innovation”. [4]

10. The annual report highlights areas of good practice presented by the BOCUs which attended the Board. These include:

• Response vehicles dedicated to domestic violence investigation as part of core response resources.
• Weekly positive action days to track down perpetrators
• Use of digital camera technology including laptops and photo printers, enabling fast transfer of high quality colour photographic evidence to support prosecutions not supported by the individual.
• Use of head camera technology to record real time evidence of attending the incident to supplement other evidence and to support the case where the individual does not support the prosecution
• Dip sampling of caution decisions on a regular basis to ensure appropriate decision making
• Multi-agency case reviews in those cases where risk is considered high
• Using BOCU and MPA Partnership funding to fund local Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy schemes

10. There have also been a series of issues which the Board has raised and which the MPS have responded to positively including:

• The Crime Recording Information System database now has a ‘flag’ to denote cases of LGBT domestic violence
• A draft MPS employee domestic violence policy focusing on survivors has now been developed
• Exploring the possibility of ensuring that domestic violence training is mandatory for Witness Care Unit staff

11. In addition to sharing information on initiatives, schemes and practice that members of the Board believe are progressive in tackling domestic violence effectively, there have been a number of issues which have caused the Board members some concern and which are likely to characterise any future discussions including:

• MPS performance data available on domestic violence – the Board commissioned an ‘end-to-end’ review‘ to capture a snapshot of data not readily available from MPS information systems.
• High proportion of cautions to charges making up the sanction detection rate.
• Dual arrests – where both individuals are arrested following police attending the incident.
• Independent evaluation of the Form 124D, completed following all domestic violence incidents.
• Proportionality of domestic violence homicide victims on the grounds of ethnicity.
• The equality and diversity dimension of the response to domestic violence.
• Impact of changes to the MPS call handling processes on the immediate response to domestic violence incidents.
• The use of Safer Neighbourhood Teams in responding to domestic violence.

12. A report was received and agreed by EODB on 12 July 2007, which set out the recommendations outlined here for decision by members. The Chair of EODB commented positively on the work of the Board and the impact it has already made. The Chair also commended Cindy Butts on her work as Board as its Chair.

C. Race and equality impact

1. The equality and diversity dimensions of the response to domestic violence have been discussed during Domestic Violence Board meetings. These have centred on:

• Equality monitoring recording, particularly of ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and religion.
• Community engagement to improve the response to black and minority ethnic communities, disabled communities and LGBT communities
• Proportionality of domestic violence homicides on the grounds of ethnicity.

2. Recommendations were made to relevant BOCUs and the MPS Violent Crime Directorate on explicitly equality and diversity related issues, and the Board is monitoring progress.

3. A wide range of community and voluntary sector organisations has been invited routinely to attend, and participate in, Domestic Violence Board meetings. As part of this activity, organisations within the domestic violence sector, which are specialists on an equality issue, were also sought out and invited to take part. This has ensured that equality and diversity issues have been raised, grounded in local knowledge and experience.

D. Financial implications

1. Each Domestic Violence Board meeting costs a minimum of £838 to stage.

2. Two members of staff within the MPA Equality and Diversity Unit co-ordinate the Domestic Violence Board, although neither staff member is dedicated to this role.

3. Both these costs are met from the existing MPA Equality and Diversity Unit budget.

D. Background papers

• MPA Domestic Violence Board Annual Report, 2006-07

E. Contact details

Report author: Hamida Ali, MPA

For information contact:

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

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