Working Group 2 – Protection and Justice Wednesday 8th June 2009 Radnor Womens Aid Offices, Llandrindod Wells
Present Ruth Parry Wright Radnorshire Women’s Aid Karen Mason Victim Support Margaret Richards Co-ordinator Sara Humphreys County Manager, Tai Hafan Apologies Insp Rob Bates PPU Jim Adair Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre Angela Morgan Independent Chair PDAF Louisa Kerr Community Safety Manager
Action Plan The original actions appended to the Objectives have now been updated to reflect current position and thinking. ‘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.’ This section highlights the need to continue to consider way in which DV courts can be introduced into Powys, but in the interim needs to seek to make Magistrates training mandatory and to build on the recent successful round of training given. It was asked if this could be taken to the next SDVC regional meeting. The need to bid for external funding to implement new technologies e.g. video links, to ensure best service for victims remains. To build on CAADA assessment and to introduce the Risk Assessment checklist. Appropriate training to be delivered to relevant Police personnel. Bodycams to be piloted in areas within Powys for use by response units in suspected domestic abuse incidents – then dependent on outcomes, roll out countywide.
‘To contribute to the increased capacity of services to provide perpetrator programmes.’
Encourage and promote the training of support workers to work with perpetrators, such as MFCC. MAR raised the MEDA Group meeting she had attended which had been formed as a national network to focus on Men experiencing domestic abuse, either as a perpetrator or as a victim. Also that MFCC had been given a Supporting People Grant to enable them to continue the Male Refuge and pilot a floating support service for men over the next three years. The MEDA group had asked MAR to contact Tai Hafan and Dyfed-Powys Police to nominate a representative to attend future meetings. This fits in with the next action which was to support agencies to continue delivering perpetrator programmes and to enable increased capacity. Continue to raise awareness of gaps and resource issues at local, regional and national forums. Part of their remit is to map existing perpetrator programmes and evaluate their success and this would be very beneficial to the Forum. It was hoped to establish greater links between MAPPA and MARAC on a multi-agency basis and this was requested to also be taken to the SDVC meeting to ask whether the IDVA could be invited to sessions which involved domestic abuse, thereby enabling independent advice to be given to the victims. P&J group to enhance engagement with Probation, particularly with reference to the IDAP. ‘To highlight and promote the view that abusers are accountable for their behaviour and that domestic abuse is unacceptable.’ The question of suitable posters was re-visited. Raising the profile is an on-going priority and it was suggested that linking with the Sexual Abuse/Sexual Assault agenda may be beneficial. Tai Hafan have applied to host an ISVA and if successful could be linked with the IDVA post to maximise on the time available to victims countywide. SH agreed to tie in with the SARCs and gather information. It could also be linked with a bid to fund a One Stop Shop approach, though it was envisaged that this would need to be a ‘mobile shop’ rather than a permanent fixture. SH also agreed to approach PDAC to progress the implementation of the Substance Misuse/Domestic Abuse framework and formulation of a protocol between the two providers. RPW agreed to research into same sex relationships/Broken Rainbow.
3. Actions
MAR to contact Insp. Rob Bates to inquire which Division is piloting the Bodycams and progress the RA training. MAR/SH to take question of IDVA invitation to MAPPA and refresher courses for Magistrates to the next SDVC meeting. RPW to research Broken Rainbow. SH to take Substance Misuse/DA protocol to PDAC.
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 Tuesday, 4th August 2009 at Radnor Womens Aid Offices in Llandrindod Wells at 10 am.
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