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Dorset Community Safety Partnership (CSP) - Domestic Abuse Strategy 2021 EQIA

Aims of the policy or strategy 

In April 2021, the government released the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a duty on Tier One local authorities (For example; Dorset Council) to assess the need for support and prepare strategies to provide support for victims and their children [who need to reside] in relevant accommodation.

Background to the proposal

The primary focus has been to assess the level of need relating to support to victims of domestic abuse, including children, in domestic abuse safe accommodation, as this is the requirement set out in legislation.

However, accommodation-based support is just one part of a much wider response to domestic abuse, so it has been necessary to go further and also assess wider needs and issues. Given that, the needs assessment also looked at the community-based response to domestic abuse, aligning to partners local whole systems approach.

In summary, the Domestic Abuse Strategy looks at the wider range of issues and services related to domestic abuse whilst ensuring we are meeting our legal requirements but also provides a strategy for all of our domestic abuse work

In April 2021, the government released the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The measures in the Act aim to:

  • promote awareness - to put abuse at the top of everyone’s agenda, including by introducing a statutory definition of domestic abuse;
  • protect and support victims, including by introducing a new Domestic Abuse Protection Notice and Order;
  • transform the justice response, including by helping victims to give their best evidence in the criminal courts through the use of video evidence, screens and other special measures, and ensuring that victims of abuse do not suffer further trauma in family court proceedings by being cross-examined by their abuser;
  • improve performance – the new Domestic Abuse Commissioner will help drive consistency and better performance in the response to domestic abuse across all local areas and agencies.

 

Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a duty on Tier One local authorities (For example; Dorset Council) to assess the need for support and prepare strategies to provide support for victims and their children [who need to reside] in relevant accommodation.

The Act places a duty on each Tier One local authority in England to:

  1. appoint a multi-agency Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board (LPB) which it must consult as it performs certain specified functions (below).  In Dorset, the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has adopted the role and functions of the LPB
  2. assess, or make arrangements for the assessment of, the need for domestic abuse support in their area for all victims (and their children) who reside in relevant safe accommodation, including those who come from outside of their area
  3. prepare and publish a strategy for the provision of such support to cover their area having regard to the need’s assessment
  4. give effect to the strategy (through commissioning / de-commissioning decisions)
  5. monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy
  6. report back annually to central government

 

It’s important to stress that the passing of the Domestic Abuse Act is an evolving picture, therefore the strategy has been prepared in the spirit of the new Act and worked as closely as possible to guidance currently available whilst also assessing the wider issues and needs relating to domestic abuse locally.

Intelligence and Communication

 

Data, information, evidence and research used and how it has influenced the decision-making process

Statistics, information and evidence has been gathered from a range of local and national studies. Sources of national evidence is listed below.

 

General Crime Data

 

 

Other Sources

 

This data told us that 

The data, information, evidence, and research confirmed that the Domestic Abuse Strategy will have a positive impact on a number of protected characteristics as set out below.

Further information required to inform the proposal 

None, although partners will continue to use a wide range of information and conduct research to better understand local domestic abuse issues and the impact of them on particular groups. This information and research will be used to determine actions and activity that address issues.

Engagement or consultation that has taken place as part of this EqIA

Consultation has taken place via the Dorset Community Safety Partnership (CSP) who have adopted the role of the Local Partnership Board (LPB) (May/June 2021).The Dorset CSP membership includes the Chair of the Dorset Domestic Abuse Forum who act as the voice of people, the community and providers.

As part of the needs assessment, a full consultation was undertaken with local providers, and views sought from people who have experienced domestic abuse through local provider feedback and national evidence. The results have been used to shape the Domestic Abuse Strategy.

Feedback and communication 

The Dorset CSP has been involved in all work in preparing the Domestic Abuse Strategy. A final version of the Domestic Abuse Strategy will be shared with the Dorset CSP at their meeting on the 23 June.

The strategy will be made publicly available and shared with providers and the community through the Dorset Domestic Abuse Forum.

Assessment

Impacts of the strategy

Impacts on who or what? Effect  Details 

Age

 Positive 

The Domestic Abuse Strategy sets out the domestic abuse issues for the area and how partners will go about tackling them.

 

Although anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, studies have shown that young women are more likely to have experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months than older women (ONS).

 

Younger people are also more likely to be subject to interpersonal violence (Safe Lives) and 64% of high and medium risk victims of abuse have children, on average 2 each (Safe Lives).

 

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues

Disability:

(including physical, mental, sensory and progressive conditions)

 Positive 

Although anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, women who had a long-term illness or disability were more than twice as likely to have experienced some form of partner abuse (12.4%) in the last 12 months than women who did not (5.1%) (ONS).
Gender Reassignment & Gender Identity: Positive 

A study into Transgender Victims’ and Survivors’ Experiences of Domestic Abuse, conducted by SafeLives concluded the following key findings:

 

Transgender victims/survivors experience specific types of abuse that can be linked to their trans identities.

Trans victims/survivors experience large numbers of additional needs, particularly in relation to mental health.

Trans people who access domestic abuse services report that this experience has positive outcomes on their lives.

however, only a small proportion of trans victims/survivors with additional mental health needs are supported with these by domestic abuse services. Given the large numbers of trans victims/survivors who have mental health needs, it is vital that this issue be addressed

 

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues.
Pregnancy and maternity: Positive 

Pregnancy can be a risk factor for domestic violence. 20% of women in refuge services are pregnant or have recently given birth.

It is estimated that four to nine in every 100 pregnant women are abused during their pregnancy or soon after the birth and there is a link between abuse during pregnancy and a woman’s chance of being killed by her perpetrator (Refuge)
Race and Ethnicity: Positive 

According to the crime survey; in the year ending March 2020, 5.5% of 16 to 74 year olds in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the 12 months before being surveyed.

White people (5.7%) were more likely to experience domestic abuse than Black (3.7%) or Asian people (3.6%).
Religion or belief Unclear  n/a
Sexual orientation Positive 

According to a study conducted by the ONS, bisexual women were nearly twice as likely to have experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months than heterosexual women (10.9% compared with 6.0%).

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues.
Sex (consider both men and women): Positive 

Women are much more likely than men to be the victims of high risk or severe domestic abuse: 95% of those going to Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) or accessing an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (Idva) service were women (Safe Lives).

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues.
Marriage or civil partnership Unclear 

For the year ending March 2019, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed that adults aged 16 to 74 years who were separated or divorced were more likely to have experienced domestic abuse than those who were married or civil partnered, cohabiting, single or widowed.

 

Both men and women who were married or civil partnered were less likely to be victims of domestic abuse in the last year than those who were single, cohabiting, separated or divorced.

Over 3% of married or civil partnered women were victims of domestic abuse, compared with 2.1% of married or civil partnered men (Figure 7). In contrast 11.6% of single women were victims compared with 5.3% of men.
Carers: Unclear  Data is limited, however, the ONS has recently agreed to change this and include over 74s in their data
Rural isolation: Positive 

The National Rural Crime Network undertook the study ‘captive and controlled in rural areas’. The report found that; Rural victims are half as likely to report their abuse to others; Rural victims’ abuse goes on significantly longer; Rural victims cannot readily access support services; Rural victims live in a society that defacto protects the perpetrators; Rural victims are isolated, unsupported and unprotected in a rural hell, which is purposefully ‘normalised’.

 

In addition, partners have established a dedicated project (Dragonfly Project) to help support victims of domestic abuse including in rural communities where it can be harder to access services

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues
Single parent families Positive 

The year ending March 2019 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed that, of men and women aged 16 to 74 years, those who lived in a single-parent household were more likely to have experienced domestic abuse in the last year than those living in a no-children household or a household with other adults and children.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues
Social & economic deprivation: Positive 

According to a study undertaken by the ONS, women living in households with an income of less than £10,000 were more than four times as likely (14.3%) to have experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months than women living in households with an income of £50,000 or more (3.3%).

The Domestic Abuse Strategy describes how partners will tackle domestic abuse issues
Armed Forces communities Unclear 

No data available, however, the Ministry of Defence has set out a strategy to tackling domestic abuse which provides some context. No Defence for abuse strategy (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

Key to effects or impacts 

Positive  - the proposal eliminates discrimination, advances equality of opportunity and/or fosters good relations with protected groups.

Negative - protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against

Neutral - no change/ no assessed significant impact of protected characteristic groups

Negative - protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against

Action plan 

Issue  Action going to be taken  Person or people responsible  Date to be completed by

Completion of the Domestic Abuse Strategy

The final Domestic Abuse Strategy which will be informed by

the findings of this EqIA exercise, will be taken to the Dorset Community Safety Partnership (CSP) for sign off on 23rd June.

 Andy Frost / Ian Grant

CSP 23 June 2021 

People who have agreed the EQIA 

Name: Ian Grant 

Date: 8 June 2021 

Equality: Lead Becky Forrester 

Date: 27 July 2021