Safer Bromley Partnership

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Safer Bromley Partnership

• Working together to tackle domestic violence

Chris Smart Detective Chief Inspector Bromley
Borough Police
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Scope of Presentation

• Policing DV A Brief History
• The Bromley Position
• MPA Presentation viewed through a case study
• Tackling domestic violence MPS Risk Model
• Keeping survivors safe and preventing further
  attacks
• Supporting survivors
• Preventing domestic violence...
• - MARAC
• Continuous improvement

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10 years ago
Crash scene

• Introduction of Community Safety Units (CSU).
• Macpherson report.
• Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
• Initial strategy encouraging victims to report.

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Findings

• 1998 60,000 incidents in London.
• 2005 110,000 incidents in London.
• 1 in 8 cases GBH
• 1 in 4 cases ABH
• 1 in 4 murders linked to Domestic Violence.

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We got it wrong
Vicky Horgan Emma Walton
Clare Bernal
Hayley Richards
Rana Faruqui
Tania Moore
Colette Lynch
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Current Policy

• Positive action.
• Enhanced level of victim care.
• Safety of victims is paramount especially if
  children are involved.

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Bromley Position 08/09

• 2106 recorded DV offences 19 increase on
  07/08.
• 1365 arrests made (65, highest ever recorded
  arrest rate).
• 42 of cases were charged or cautioned.
• No DV homicides.
• Victim gender 80 female20male.

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Victim profile

• 55 are self defined as white British.
• 80 are aged between 20-49 years old.

Suspect profile

• 80 are aged between 20-49 years old.

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Case Study

• 19th October 01.43hrs
• Police are called to the home of Vietnamese
  family. The father of the
• family has returned home drunk and is attempting
  to throw his wife out of the property which he
  has started to smash up.
• The call comes from the daughter of the family,
  Mums English is not good. Police arrive on scene
  and the suspect has left. There is considerable
  damage at the property.
• Police leave the scene. The advice to the family
  If he comes back, dont let him and call 999'.

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.the same night 0321hrs

• Another call, same location, the suspect is back
  at address. Police arrive and he is still on
  scene.
• Positive action taken?
• Suspect advised to leave the scene to sober up
  and not to come back until he had done so!

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and eventually 0705hrs

• Early turn are called to the address. Once on
  scene officers discover the mother of the family
  has been stabbed to death. The suspect is not on
  scene.
• The suspect later gives himself into custody and
  in interview states that the victim had
  disrespected him by wearing a short sleeve shirt
  in the presence of his parents the previous day.
  She also had him ejected from his home by the
  police.

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.Some of the failings

• No attempt at risk identification at 2 previous
  calls
• No history searches by attending officers
• No effective investigation
• Four previous incidents of violence by suspect
  against his wife
• 26 months custody for GBH. No abuse programme
• No notification by Police to Social Services
  regarding children
• No support provided for victim

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Initial Actions and Options Open to Police

• Arrive within 12 minutes (Citizen promise)
• Medical attention
• Secure and begin to interpret scene (digital
  camera, head cams)
• Secure and record evidence (124D, including risk
  assessment)
• Ensure immediate safety of victim and children
  (relatives, hospital, arrest suspect)

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MPS DV Risk Model (SPECSS)3 parts to model

• Risk identification and intervention by Initial
  investigating officer (124d and SPECSS)
• Supervisor and investigating officer
• Safety planning intervention options

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SPECSS

• Separation/child contact
• Pregnancy / new birth
• Escalation
• Community issues / isolation
• Stalking
• Sexual assault
• ...........................................Plus

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The plus signs

• Use of weapons/credible threats to kill
• Strangulation, suffocation, drowning attempts
• Suicidal/homicidal tendencies
• Morbid jealousy, acute controlling behaviour
• Pets abused
• Substance/alcohol misuse
• Mental health
• Victims fear
• Children abused

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Suspect

• Arrest if on scene
• Search of Area
• All known addresses
• Manhunt
• Criminal Justice Process

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Keeping Survivors Safe and Preventing Further
Attacks

• Panic alarms.
• Special schemes.
• Victim Support.
• Sanctuary Scheme
• (Safer Bromley Van).
• Womens Aid.
• Housing.

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Supporting Survivors
One Stop Shop DV Text Line DV Travel
Fund Bromley Advocacy Service Safer
Bromley Partnership Bromley DV Forum

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Preventing Domestic Violence

• Freedom Programme.
• Training.
• Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP).

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MARAC
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Aims of MARAC

• To reduce repeat victimisation.
• To increase well-being of victims.
• To safeguard victims their children.
• To address safety of agency staff.

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How does it work ?

• Referral to MARAC coordinator.
• Research of all Police partner/agency databases
  risk assessment made.
• Monthly partnership meetings to review each case
  to agree a joint action plan of activity.

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Role of MARAC coordinator

• To collate research all information
  intelligence held on each subject.
• To maintain circulate information to all
  agencies.
• To liaise with all agencies ensure agreed
  action takes place.

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Action based

• Review
• Timescales
• Responsibility
• Accuracy
• Volunteer

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Referral Process

• Who can refer ?
• Consent
• How ?
• CAADA risk assessment
• Who presents ?

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Referral Process A Plea
Victim Support Met Police LBB DV
Co-coordinator LBB Housing Womens
Aid Social Services Primary Care
Trust CAFCASS LBB Education Services SLFHA Me
ntal Health Authority Hyde Housing Probation
Service Domestic Abuse Advocates Broomleigh
Housing
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Continuous Improvement

• London Mainstream Model.
• Virtual Courts.
• Women Achieving Together.
• Body Worn Video Cameras.

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Body Worn Video DV
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MPA response

• Excellent partnership working.
• Proactive work on the borough Somali womens
  group.
• Development of new projects DV text line DV
  travel fund.
• Inclusion of DV in LAA stretching of targets.

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The enthusiasm of all those present at the
meeting was evident demonstrated a genuine
commitment to tackle domestic violence, which is
undoubtedly at the heart of the boroughs
success. MPA DV Scrutiny committee Nov 2008