New commitments to tackle sexual and domestic violence on International Women's Day

London, 8 March/GNN/ -- HOME OFFICE News Release (065/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 8 March 2008

PLEASE NOTE EMBARGO
Not for publication or broadcast before
0001 hours Saturday 8 Mar 2008

Ten of the 23 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts achieved a successful
prosecution rate of over 70 per cent, with one reaching over 80 per cent
and the remaining 12 achieving an average rate of 66 per cent according to
a Review published today by the Government, as the Home Secretary announced
almost =A31 million of new funding to tackle both domestic and sexual violence
to coincide with International Women's Day.

These innovative Courts use a co-ordinated approach aimed at ensuring victims
are protected and supported by bringing together dedicated and trained
police, crown prosecutors, court staff and the probation service. Magistrates
sitting in these courts are fully aware of the approach and have received
dedicated training. Each Court has to offer separate entrances, exits and
waiting areas so that victims don't come into contact with their attackers.
They also ensure that cases are clustered on a particular day or fast-tracked
through the system, limiting the likelihood of further incidents.

Other key findings of the joint Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service and
Ministry of Justice Review, which analysed the data and performance of the
23 Specialist Domestic Violence Courts in England and Wales from October
2006 until March 2007, are:

* An improvement in the responses of individual agencies: in relation to
the police, a high level of domestic violence perpetrators being arrested
(an average of over 80 per cent);

* Just under six thousand victim referrals were made to Independent Domestic
Violence Advisers - an average of 269 referrals per IDVA service; and,

* Around three-quarters (74 per cent) of clients involved in the court
process were supported by Independent Domestic Violence Advisers at court.

The new funding to tackle domestic and sexual violence announced by the Home
Secretary today includes:

* =A350,000 for Relate to equip 300 counsellors to respond effectively when
victims of domestic violence come forward;

* =A3760,000 to continue funding the 38 Independent Sexual Violence Advisers
being piloted across the country;

* =A375,000 for Rape Crisis England and Wales; and

* =A375,000 for The Survivors' Trust.

Twenty existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres - a one-stop-shop where
victims can receive medical care and counselling and undergo a forensic
examination - have also been invited to bid for funding of =A315,000 each.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"The new =A31 million funding and provisions I am announcing today builds
on the commitment I made in the Tackling Violence Action Plan last month
to reduce serious violent crime, including sexual and domestic violence,
over the next three years.

"Improving the support available to the courageous victims of these devastating
crimes is crucial in encouraging people to come forward. The success and
expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts system alongside the
money I have announced today will ensure that we continue to bring more
perpetrators to justice and improve the support and safety of victims.

"We have made good progress on domestic violence over the last ten years
but we know there is more to do and I want to reassure women everywhere that
keeping them safe from harm is a top Government priority."

The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC said:

"The Specialist Domestic Violence Courts are a fundamental part of our
efforts to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic
violence. We are committed to providing a first class prosecution service.

"Domestic violence is brutal and it can be devastating for victims in so many
different ways. It is difficult to underestimate the bravery involved when
a victim comes forward. By providing specialist training for prosecutors
and better support systems for victims we are seeing a tangible difference
in performance. In the last four years we have seen marked success - and we
need to keep aiming higher.

"Perpetrators must be brought to justice, and when they are our specialist
prosecutors and support services will be there to assist victims every step
of the way."

Sir Ken Macdonald, Director of Public Prosecutions added:

"Specialist Domestic Violence Courts are just one of the initiatives we have
embraced in the Crown Prosecution Service to improve successful prosecutions
of domestic violence cases.

"By the end of March we will have trained the vast majority of our prosecutors
and we are monitoring our performance on all domestic violence cases. These
courts have helped improve our prosecution performance nationally. By December
2007 all courts in England and Wales had reached an average of just under 70
per cent successful outcomes. This is a dramatic improvement when compared
with only 46 per cent of cases being prosecuted successfully in December
2003. In four years we have increased our success by over 23 per cent.

"The Review of these specialist systems has clearly indicated improvements
in both justice and safety for domestic violence victims."

Justice Minister, Bridget Prentice said:

"Since 1997 this government has done substantial work in trying to tackle this
particularly appalling crime. Domestic violence deeply affects victims. It
transcends gender, race, class, age and sexuality.

"The work highlighted today is a continuation of the joint National Delivery
Plan for Domestic Violence which sets out clear aims and objectives and
is proving to be effective in protecting victims and bringing perpetrators
to justice.

"The centrepiece is a co-ordinated set of initiatives in the criminal justice
system, including the development of Specialist Domestic Violence Courts,
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACS) and Independent Domestic
Violence Advisors (IDVAS). Their success shows that where victims of domestic
violence have confidence in the criminal justice system to report these
crimes, the system will help them."

The Home Secretary today pledged that Section 9 of the Domestic Violence,
Crime and Victims Act 2004 will be implemented by this summer and that
discussions with other Government Departments will continue in an effort to
take this work forward.

* Section 9 - Putting the establishment and conduct of Domestic Homicide
Reviews on a statutory footing. This means that police, councils and other
local partners would have to undertake a review of the circumstances where
a domestic homicide has occurred in order to find out what more can be done
to improve the system and prevent future deaths; and

The Home Secretary also said today that work continues with other Government
departments to find a permanent solution to the problem of victims of domestic
violence, who through their insecure immigration status, have no recourse
to public funds. Details of a new scheme where domestic violence victims
with no recourse to public funds can have their housing and living costs
paid for if their application for Indefinite Leave to Remain is successful
will be available this spring.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Specialist Domestic Violence Review was published
today at www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/dv/dv018.htm;
www.cps.gov.uk/publications/equality/index.html

2. Further information on Specialist Domestic Violence Courts can be found
at www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/domesticviolence/domesticviolence59.htm

3. Details of the existing twenty Sexual
Assault Referral Centres can be found at www.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/sexual-offences/sexual-assault-referral-centres/referral-centre-locations/?version4

4. More information on The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
can be found at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/ukpga_20040028_en_1

5. More information on International Women's Day can be found at
www.internationalwomensday.com

6. The CPS Press Office can be contacted on 0207 796 8180

7. The Ministry of Justice Press Office can be contacted on 0207 210 8695

020 7035 3535

Source: Home Office

2008-03-08 10:26:38 0307602 PRNEWSWIRE