Working Group 2 – Protection and Justice Wednesday 6th May 2009 Ddole Road, Llandrindod Wells
Present Jim Adair Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre Ruth Parry Wright Radnorshire Women’s Aid Julie Sayce Victim Support Margaret Richards Co-ordinator Angela Morgan Independent Chair PDAF Louisa Kerr Community Safety Manager Sara Humphreys County Manager, Tai Hafan 1. Apologies Insp Rob Bates PPU
2. Introductions All those present introduced themselves.
3. Action Plan
‘To encourage a positive and proactive response by the Police and other criminal justice agencies to enable an increased number of perpetrators to be arrested and brought to justice.’ MAR produced a copy of the Regional Directory ‘The Purple Directory’ which has been produced by the CPS and is now available for distribution. This Directory has now been delivered throughout the county. Magistrates training has been delivered throughout Powys and Ceredigion and requests have been made to Stephen Whale, CPS, that refreshers and further courses for new Magistrates should be instigated. The question of whether it would be feasible to train solicitors and members of the press was discussed. This question had also been raised at the magistrates training. MAR mentioned that Pat Craven had offered to give those solicitors who had been trained by her, free advertising on her website and this offer had been sent to all local solicitors. LK suggested that this should be raised at the Regional SDVC meeting as an LDJB priority. SH said that she had spoken to Rob Bates and he was keen to have all local Sergeants receive further training on the CAADA Risk Assessment. It was also hoped that Probation would endeavour to join the group once the person replacing Kathy Powis was in post. This would provide a vital link between Probation and the work of the group. However it was recognised that Probation historically found it difficult to have the resources to attend groups. LK reported that Body Cams for the Police were now being implemented in Dyfed-Powys and that domestic abuse is a priority area for this facility, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. ‘To contribute to the increased capacity of services to provide perpetrator programmes.’ JA reported that MFCC now take referrals for their 26 week Perpetrator Course direct from the court. They also receive self referrals, and referrals from Social services, Police and GPs. However those that do not complete the course are generally lost to the system and it would be beneficial if those that fail to attend the sessions could be recalled to the court, much as those on the IDAP course. SH suggested that where MAPPA's are held to discuss cases involving domestic abuse it would be good practice to have the IDVA invited to attend. The IDVA would be able to input to the safety of people at risk from the person being discussed and to provide insight into domestic abuse and how the perpetrator "controls" his/her "victims" as well as inputting into safety plans. LK suggested that it would be useful to map the need for Perpetrator courses in the county – this could utilise evaluations from MFCC, Sam Jones’ course at Carmarthen and Pat Craven’s weekend courses throughout the UK. SH also mentioned that Glyndwr University had done some research on the IDAP and promised to look out the report and circulate. ‘To highlight and promote the view that abusers are accountable for their behaviour and that domestic abuse is unacceptable.’ The DA training was going a long way to promoting understanding of abuse and its impact, and the Directory was also a new way to reach people experiencing abuse. However MAR felt there was a need to display posters that targeted the Perpetrator. RWP stated that she had sourced some from the Home Office which were good and got the message across. MAR said she would enquire at the Co-ordinators meeting on 7th if more were available. AM felt there was a gap around Health recording. A newspaper article stated that 81,000 victims were costing the Welsh NHS £1.4bn but a significant number of Powys victims would not be recorded as they would report to hospitals in Shrewsbury, Hereford, etc. SH emphasised that the Forum needed to raise the profile of DA in Powys and this would highlight the problem and subsequent costs. This in turn would provide evidence for funding applications.
3. Actions
SH to attempt to contact Rhydian to add his support to the campaign. RWP to source information on the ‘Oldy’ magazine and for other members of the group to send details of other avenues of awareness raising opportunities to MAR.
6. AOB
Margaret thanked all those present for attending and making such a valued contribution. The meeting closed at 12.00. The next meeting will be on Monday, 8th June 2009 at Radnor Womens Aid Offices in Llandrindod Wells at 10 am.
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