Agenda item

DOMESTIC ABUSE IN TRAFFORD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Report to follow

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the Strategic Manager Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour and the Programme Manager for Public Health which outlined the latest information and statistics about Domestic Abuse in Trafford during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

 

The report authors were in attendance accompanied by the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Equalities and the Chief Executive for Trafford Domestic Abuse Service (TDAS), a registered charity organisation which offered support to individuals and families who suffered domestic abuse.

 

The report authors informed the Committee of the latest figures concerning domestic abuse incidents in the Borough. Data provided by Greater Manchester Police showed an increase in reported incidents during the first lockdown, introduced in March 2020. However, data was not always consistent during the periods which coincided with the introduction of other restrictive measures in Greater Manchester.

 

Members learned that the number of high risk domestic abuse incidents discussed at the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) had risen in the period April – December 2020; in the same period, the number of repeat cases had also increased. A very similar trend was evidenced in the number of referrals received by a joint initiative between Greater Manchester Police and Talk, Listen and Change registered charity to support households where a domestic abuse incident had been reported but no crime had been logged.

 

Members also learned that TDAS which offered victim support services and domestic abuse refuge provision in Trafford for high and medium risk cases, had seen a surge in referrals. The trend also showed the difficulty that victims of domestic abuse experienced to access services during lockdown. TDAS had also reported an increase in the complexity of case with victims presenting multiple issues such as substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse. These circumstances were worsened by the isolation caused by the measures to manage the pandemic.

 

Officers proceeded to inform of the measures that the Council and its partners had put in place to support the victims of domestic abuse since the pandemic and to mobilise joint initiatives quickly across agencies. Members also learned of new funding available to local authorities in conjunction with the Domestic Abuse Act coming into effect in April 2021. Resources would be utilised to support data analysis to compile the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which would inform commissioning strategies.  

 

Members sought and received clarification on whether services were sufficiently resourced to meet the increased demand and the additional complexity of cases caused by multiple needs, in particular substance misuse and mental health. Members also queried about the funding opportunity for the Perpetrator Support Programme and existing strategies for sharing information between GMP and schools when incidents occur. The Committee also asked whether there were specific segments of the community more affected by domestic abuse and whether a domestic violence policy was in place for employees of the Council. TDAS representative explained that funding provided to respond to the surge in demand for services caused by the pandemic needed to be long term in order to sustain service provision.

 

RESOLVED:

1.    That the content of the report be noted;

2.    That an update be provided on service progress in particular with regard to the offer for the Perpetrator Support Programme and resources for victim support services.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: