Working Group 2 – Protection and Justice 1 pm on Wednesday 4th August 2009 PPU, Llandrindod Wells
Present Ruth Parry Wright Radnorshire Women’s Aid Karen Mason Victim Support Margaret Richards Co-ordinator Louisa Kerr Community Safety Manager Insp Rob Bates PPU Manager DC Lynsey Bowen DAO Joyce Hughes IDVA Lynda Rogers WSW Tai Hafan Apologies Jim Adair Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre Angela Morgan Independent Chair PDAF Sara Humphreys County Manager, Tai Hafan
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.’
The DA Training for Magistrates has been well received and will no doubt be repeated. Further suggestions for training to solicitors etc will go forward and for Judges. Pembrokeshire have asked whether the Co-ordinator can deliver training in that region. At the recent IDVA Steering Group meeting Jim Brisbane had suggested the use of the existing video links between courts for at least the first hearing of DA cases in an effort to cut down the travelling and trauma involved. He particularly wanted the IDVA to become more involved with the support of victims going through the legal process because recent cases had failed due to the pressure resulting in the victim withdrawing their evidence. There is increasing pressure of the CJS around the processes involved in DV cases, including Special Measures. The group were asked for examples of cases which would highlight good and bad practice. The question of bodycams in Powys is still under review. The CSP have ring fenced some funding specifically to pilot the bodycams but this has been delayed due to the lack of necessary protocols and the need to make sure the evidence will be acceptable in court. The MARAC has increased its membership significantly and now has Housing and PDAC attendance. Questions around referral processes, revisiting cases, security and advance notification around cases to be discussed were being raised and it was agreed that an Action Plan based on the report from CAADA should be produced and progressed by this group. MAR to produce a draft Action Plan.
‘To contribute to the increased capacity of services to provide perpetrator programmes.’
In April 2010 the Probation service will be deemed a responsible authority rather than an interested party in the structure of the CSPs. This will necessitate more involvement by the service in the CSP activities. MAR has been in touch with Julia Livesley who works from Brecon to arrange a meeting. RB has also been in communication with the new Regional Director. Action – RB to make enquiries with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire around the involvement of Probation with the respective DA Forums. The need to have the IDVA invited to the MAPPA meetings where DA offenders are involved is a priority to ensure the safety of the victim. RB was tasked with putting this proposal to the MAPPA group.
‘To highlight and promote the view that abusers are accountable for their behaviour and that domestic abuse is unacceptable.’
Both the bid by Tai Hafan for an ISVA in the area and the PDAF bid for a mobile One Stop Shop in Powys were unsuccessful. The meetings with PDAC have produced positive results and they have sent a representative to the MARAC as well as requesting training on the CAADA RA. The training will be delivered by SH and JH in due course. Mike Gregory is in the process of producing a protocol to ensure consistency of referral and service between the DA and SM services. Compliance with the SM Framework has been written into the Tender documents for the ongoing SM service in Powys. RPW has been researching the same sex relationship question and Broken Rainbow is running a course on LGBT and Domestic Abuse in Barry in September in conjunction with the Forum in South Wales. MAR will be attending the course and will report back. At a recent Confidence and Equalities meeting the members had asked MAR to report back and to investigate the cost of bringing such a course to Powys. If the cost is within reason the CAF group would consider funding its delivery. Problems around the negative reporting of DV cases in the press were raised and it was suggested that training could be offered to the press. The CSP have now negotiated to have some space in the Red Kite magazine and LK proposed to include articles on DV highlighting the need to raise community confidence to report cases. RB drew attention to the problems of the Internet such as Facebook and the way perpetrators could intimidate victims and their families in a subtle way through this media. RB also stated that some Forces had produced a specific Domestic Abuse webpage. MAR was asked to investigate the number of ‘hits’ the PDAF website had.
3. Actions
MAR to produce a draft Action Plan for MARAC. RB to take question of IDVA invitation to MAPPA. RB to make enquiries with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire regarding Probation involvement with DA F. MAR to report back on the Broken Rainbow course and cost of delivery in Powys. Group members to submit possible cases of interest around court processes to MAR. MAR to investigate number of ‘hits’ to PDAF website and update the Purple Directory website information.
6. AOB
Margaret thanked all those present for attending and making such a valued contribution. The meeting closed at 15.00.
Comment/Rate Share this Article