This Council fully supports the Trafford Partnerships Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy and recognises that the Domestic Abuse Bill has been finally brought to Parliament almost three years after it was first promised. This legislation is welcome and urgently needed, but will only be effective if it is underpinned by sustainable funding for specialist women’s services.

This Council notes that:

Trafford Council strives to have a zero tolerance approach towards domestic violence and abuse. Domestic abuse is a complex social issue which affects people from all groups, genders and cultures and impacts across all services. However, it is important to recognise that Domestic Abuse is a gendered crime. The Office of National Statistics states that whilst 2 million adults aged 16-59 experienced domestic abuse last year, 1.6 million of these are women. Almost one in three women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. This Council also notes that all children who live with domestic abuse are victims too.

“Every case of domestic abuse should be taken seriously and each individual given access to the support they need. All victims should be able to access appropriate support. Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of abuse, including sexual violence. They are also more likely to have experienced sustained physical, psychological or emotional abuse, or violence which results in injury or death” (Statement from Women’s Aid)

The causes and effects of domestic abuse are numerous and significant. Across Trafford there are a range of organisations that work directly or indirectly with residents affected by domestic abuse, including Trafford Domestic Abuse Services (TDAS). Recent Home Office Statistics put the financial cost of domestic abuse in England and Wales at £66 billion, but it is the human cost that is more devastating. 

This Council believes that:

In Trafford we are committed to enabling our residents, their families and communities to live a healthy life, free from abuse and violence. We will support this by reducing the impact of domestic abuse on the population of Trafford by developing and implementing a sustainable system wide approach to prevention, early intervention, response and support. 

This Council will ensure that we:

·          Promote awareness, raising the profile of domestic abuse across all Trafford Partnership organisations and services

·          Encourage staff, partners and Elected Members to attend the excellent training offered by TDAS. A request will be submitted to provide an extra session at Trafford Town Hall.

·          Work to ensure our services enhance the safety of victims and the support that they receive

·          Promote early identification and harm reduction

·          Work in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our partners to ensure an effective, evidence based response to perpetrators through to conviction and management of offenders, including rehabilitation and behavioural change programmes.

·          Improve performance – to drive consistency and better performance in the response to domestic abuse across all local areas, agencies and sectors.

This Council resolves:

·          To call upon the government to fully fund the Bill.  The previous government/s have promised this would be a ‘landmark moment’ for victim-survivors of domestic abuse, and a vital piece of legislation, which would change the lives of the estimated 2 million people a year who are subjected to abuse. This Bill is welcomed as a first step but the safety of women has got to be made an economic priority.

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council fully supports the Trafford Partnerships Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy and recognises that the Domestic Abuse Bill has been finally brought to Parliament almost three years after it was first promised. This legislation is welcome and urgently needed, but will only be effective if it is underpinned by sustainable funding for specialist women’s services.

This Council notes that:

Trafford Council strives to have a zero tolerance approach towards domestic violence and abuse. Domestic abuse is a complex social issue which affects people from all groups, genders and cultures and impacts across all services. However, it is important to recognise that Domestic Abuse is a gendered crime. The Office of National Statistics states that whilst 2 million adults aged 16-59 experienced domestic abuse last year, 1.6 million of these are women. Almost one in three women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. This Council also notes that all children who live with domestic abuse are victims too.

“Every case of domestic abuse should be taken seriously and each individual given access to the support they need. All victims should be able to access appropriate support. Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of abuse, including sexual violence. They are also more likely to have experienced sustained physical, psychological or emotional abuse, or violence which results in injury or death” (Statement from Women’s Aid).

The causes and effects of domestic abuse are numerous and significant. Across Trafford there are a range of organisations that work directly or indirectly with residents affected by domestic abuse, including Trafford Domestic Abuse Services (TDAS). Recent Home Office Statistics put the financial cost of domestic abuse in England and Wales at £66 billion, but it is the human cost that is more devastating. 

This Council believes that:

In Trafford we are committed to enabling our residents, their families and communities to live a healthy life, free from abuse and violence. We will support this by reducing the impact of domestic abuse on the population of Trafford by developing and implementing a sustainable system wide approach to prevention, early intervention, response and support. 

This Council will ensure that we:

·          Promote awareness, raising the profile of domestic abuse across all Trafford Partnership organisations and services

·          Encourage staff, partners and Elected Members to attend the excellent training offered by TDAS. A request will be submitted to provide an extra session at Trafford Town Hall.

·          Work to ensure our services enhance the safety of victims and the support that they receive

·          Promote early identification and harm reduction

·          Work in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our partners to ensure an effective, evidence based response to perpetrators through to conviction and management of offenders, including rehabilitation and behavioural change programmes.

·          Improve performance – to drive consistency and better performance in the response to domestic abuse across all local areas, agencies and sectors.

This Council resolves:

·          To call upon the government to fully fund the Bill.  The previous government/s have promised this would be a ‘landmark moment’ for victim-survivors of domestic abuse, and a vital piece of legislation, which would change the lives of the estimated 2 million people a year who are subjected to abuse. This Bill is welcomed as a first step but the safety of women has got to be made an economic priority.”

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was agreed by general consent.

RESOLVED: That this Council fully supports the Trafford Partnerships Domestic Violence and Abuse Strategy and recognises that the Domestic Abuse Bill has been finally brought to Parliament almost three years after it was first promised. This legislation is welcome and urgently needed, but will only be effective if it is underpinned by sustainable funding for specialist women’s services.

This Council notes that:

Trafford Council strives to have a zero tolerance approach towards domestic violence and abuse. Domestic abuse is a complex social issue which affects people from all groups, genders and cultures and impacts across all services. However, it is important to recognise that Domestic Abuse is a gendered crime. The Office of National Statistics states that whilst 2 million adults aged 16-59 experienced domestic abuse last year, 1.6 million of these are women. Almost one in three women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. This Council also notes that all children who live with domestic abuse are victims too.

“Every case of domestic abuse should be taken seriously and each individual given access to the support they need. All victims should be able to access appropriate support. Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of abuse, including sexual violence. They are also more likely to have experienced sustained physical, psychological or emotional abuse, or violence which results in injury or death” (Statement from Women’s Aid).

The causes and effects of domestic abuse are numerous and significant. Across Trafford there are a range of organisations that work directly or indirectly with residents affected by domestic abuse, including Trafford Domestic Abuse Services (TDAS). Recent Home Office Statistics put the financial cost of domestic abuse in England and Wales at £66 billion, but it is the human cost that is more devastating. 

This Council believes that:

In Trafford we are committed to enabling our residents, their families and communities to live a healthy life, free from abuse and violence. We will support this by reducing the impact of domestic abuse on the population of Trafford by developing and implementing a sustainable system wide approach to prevention, early intervention, response and support. 

This Council will ensure that we:

·          Promote awareness, raising the profile of domestic abuse across all Trafford Partnership organisations and services

·          Encourage staff, partners and Elected Members to attend the excellent training offered by TDAS. A request will be submitted to provide an extra session at Trafford Town Hall.

·          Work to ensure our services enhance the safety of victims and the support that they receive

·          Promote early identification and harm reduction

·          Work in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and our partners to ensure an effective, evidence based response to perpetrators through to conviction and management of offenders, including rehabilitation and behavioural change programmes.

·          Improve performance – to drive consistency and better performance in the response to domestic abuse across all local areas, agencies and sectors.

This Council resolves:

To call upon the government to fully fund the Bill.  The previous government/s have promised this would be a ‘landmark moment’ for victim-survivors of domestic abuse, and a vital piece of legislation, which would change the lives of the estimated 2 million people a year who are subjected to abuse. This Bill is welcomed as a first step but the safety of women has got to be made an economic priority.