MPA Domestic Violence Board - a year of working to improve service provision

27/07
12 June 2007

The Metropolitan Police Authority’s Domestic Violence Board, set up a year ago to monitor, scrutinise and support the Metropolitan Police Service’s response to domestic violence, will be holding its latest meeting today (Tuesday 12 June).

The board aims to secure continuous improvements in the Met’s response to domestic violence by reviewing individual Borough Operational Command Unit’s (BOCU) action to tackle domestic violence, and shares best practice and innovation across the capital.

Cindy Butts, chair of the MPA Domestic Violence Board, said:

“The Domestic Violence Board has been very aware that action to tackle domestic violence is being reviewed at many levels and we wanted to be sure that our work would make a tangible difference.

“After one year I feel confident enough to say that the board has added real value and succeeded in focussing BOCU’s minds on this totally unacceptable crime.

“We have heard presentations from six BOCUs in the last year. Each borough’s community safety team must stringently review exactly what it is they are doing to confront domestic violence, and thereby identify gaps in service provision that need to be addressed.

“Discussions with the board, and the broader community representative who attend the meeting, enables the boroughs to learn from others’ experience and initiatives across the capital. The value of sharing best practice should never be underestimated and this has been a great advance.”

In conclusion, Cindy said:

“We have to remember why the work of the board is vitally important. Domestic violence is a traumatic, often long-term crime that leaves victims terrorised in their own homes. On average a woman is likely to be assaulted more than 30 times before seeking help.

“Like so many areas of criminal activity, it is only by learning from each other’s experiences of what actually works on the ground, and working in partnership, that we can really tackle this brutal crime and make a real and lasting difference for victims.”

Representatives from Hammersmith and Fulham and Sutton borough councils, communities, voluntary and statutory agencies involved in supporting victims of domestic violence, will be attending the meeting.

Notes to editors

1. Each meeting of the board examines work taking place within two London boroughs. Following today’s meeting Brent, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Sutton and Tower Hamlets will have presented to the board.

2. Media are not invited to attend the meetings because of the sensitive nature of the issues to be discussed.

Further media information

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