Police and organisations that help victims of domestic violence have been praised by the new High Sheriff of Essex for their “professionalism and compassion.”
Mrs Sarah Courage made the comments after meeting domestic abuse specialists at Basildon police station and visiting a women’s refuge and 'move on' housing in the area.
“It was the first time I have seen this vital work at close hand and everything I saw and heard showed what a professional, well-organised and compassionate service is being provided by excellent people,” said Mrs Courage, who was appointed the 828th High Sheriff of Essex last month.
In her capacity as the Queen’s representative on law and order she will spend her year in office visiting Essex police stations and other organisations involved in tackling crime. She will also be raising money to fund voluntary work aimed at reducing crime and also the fear of crime.
During her visit to Basildon Mrs Courage spoke at length with police officers who investigate domestic violence in the South West Division of Essex Police which also includes the Thurrock district. The Basildon domestic abuse team dealt with 2,264 incidents (the second highest number in Essex after Southend with 2,826) in the district in the year to March 2008, while colleagues at Grays police station investigated 1,652 incidents (the fifth highest in Essex) throughout the Thurrock district.
In both districts 60 per of the attackers were convicted, charged or cautioned. The majority were men, although a small number of women were prosecuted or cautioned for violence against a spouse. Ds Lydia George from Grays and Dc Andy Jackson, based at Basildon, told Mrs Courage and her husband Charles, about some of the most serious cases they had dealt with, but both expressed concern at the number of cases being dropped because women were often reluctant to press charges against violent husbands, partners and children.
“Most of the time the innocent victims are the children who see their father continually beating their mother and grow to accept it as the norm,” said Dc Jackson.
The High Sheriff was also told of cases where domestic violence had led to child abuse, or of fathers harming a family pet in front of children, using attachment to a pet to ensure continuing control of their victims. Domestic violence is caused by one party (usually the man) exerting power and control over another (usually the woman) and often the rows are precipitated by a general breakdown in a relationship, the loss of a job or financial hardship.
But statistics also show an increase in violence when a favourite football team loses. Domestic violence increased on the day the England football team was knocked out of the European championships and there have been cases linked to the defeat of London premiership teams.
Insp Nick Burston, vulnerable victims co-ordinator for Essex Police, said that a domestic violence court set up last year at Grays had speeded up the handling of the high number of prosecutions from Basildon and Thurrock districts. The court is held before a team of specially trained magistrates and uses specialist facilities such as video links and screens to avoid further conflict between couples.
Insp Burston also said that police in South West Division were also helping to pioneer a scheme for closer co-ordination with other agencies to help to identify cases of domestic violence quicker. She said: “Multi-agency risk assessment conferencing (MARAC) is proving very successful in Basildon and Thurrock and will be rolled out across the whole of Essex during this year.
“The project is victim-focused and has allowed various agencies to share information and put forward action to provide all-round safety plans for victims of violence and their children.”
The High Sheriff later saw evidence of the safety plans when she visited a women’s refuge run by Basildon Women’s Aid and a further location which helps rescued families to adapt to life in a new home.
Mrs Courage spoke to workers at the refuges and also to women who were being cared in the secure shelters. She said: “Wonderful work is being carried out in the refuges. They have thought of everything to help women who have felt so much unhappiness in their lives.
"The residents in the refuges are very brave to have left their husbands to step into the unknown. But they have broken away from a life of violence to find somewhere welcoming and safe.”
Pictured with the High Sheriff and her husband are from left: Insp Nick Burston; Ds Lydia George; Dc Andy Jackson and (far right) Sophie Bartlett, an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor who is based at Basildon police station.
To report cases of domestic violence contact:
The domestic abuse units at Basildon or Grays on 0300 333 4444.
National Women's Aid helpline 0808 2000247
Basildon Women’s Aid ( weekdays 01268 521666)
Victim Support on 0845 4565995
The Men’s Advice and Inquiry Line on 0845 0646800
Respect Phoneline (Advice for violent and abusive men) 0845 1228609
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