APPENDIX 14
Memorandum submitted by the Haven Wolverhampton
INTRODUCTION
The Haven Wolverhampton has been providing services
for women and children escaping Domestic Violence since 1973.
The Haven currently supports 46 women and their children in emergency
accommodation, and 72 women and their children who are living
in the community.
Women and children who are in refuge accommodation
and those receiving Floating Support are also able to access other
Haven support services such as counselling, and Advocacy.
HAVEN STATISTICS
2006-07
1,806 total referrals to refuge accommodation;
202 women and 225 children admitted to accommodation
services;
132 women supported by the Floating Support
Team (254 children involved); and
191 women, supported by Advocacy Services (361
children involved).
Shirlin House, a new hostel providing 10 units
of accommodation, was officially opened in March 2007 by Baroness
Scotland. The Haven Wolverhampton can now offer 46 units of accommodation
for women and children fleeing domestic violence and/or homelessness.
In 2006-07, The Haven Wolverhampton was able
to support five women with no recourse to public funds—costing
£22,138 (resourced through fundraising efforts). The Haven
has taken over 50 referrals in the period between 2006-07.
191 women were helped by our Advocacy service,
which offers advice to women on the legal and non-legal means
which they may employ in order to increase their safety in their
own homes. The Counselling Service provided 1,559 hours of specialised
counselling for victims of Domestic Violence.
The Haven has a joint international project
("Life Without Fear") with the Women's Crisis Centre
Ekaterina, Russia, has provided DV training to 242 legal professionals
in the Sverdlovsk Area, Russia. Links also continue with organisations
helping women and children in Uzbekistan.
We continue to support strategic developments
in Housing, Move on Accommodation, Children, and the City of Wolverhampton
Domestic Violence Strategy—the resourcing of this is a challenge
to the organisation.
The Haven Wolverhampton welcomes the inquiry
entitled `Domestic Violence' and consultation into the effectiveness
of the Government's action following the coming into force the
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. This is our response:
Public education and awareness raising
Majority of campaigns go unnoticed. There is
an element of preaching to the converted as those who are already
aware of them and are looking out for the campaigns. They are
not Powerful enough and do not highlight the extent of Domestic
Violence as a social problem.
In Wolverhampton the Haven has contributed to
training teachers, nurses, midwives and police officers, on DV
issues. The education of children has been very ad hoc. Funding
reduction has resulted in the loss of this provision which was
initially provided through the DV Forum. Other boroughs are known
to be providing resources for schools and able to deliver talks
and discussions in the schools. Therefore there is no consistency
across the boroughs', and what awareness children have is dependent
on what area children live. Domestic Violence awareness should
be included compulsory and included in the PHSE/Citizenship curriculum.
Police powers and legal protection for victims
Women's reports on Police response to DV incidents
appears to be very subjective and depends on which officer attends
the incident. Some officers give information on DV services others
do not. It has been reported by women that police often do not
arrest the perpetrator unless he threatens the police. Reportedly
awareness of DV issues amongst the police can range from sensitively
and sympathy to complete desensitization, this inevitably leads
to every situation being treated differently. However police response
to DV has generally improved over the past few years. In relation
to the police helping increase the safety of survivors; we would
encourage Police to always refer the survivor to appropriate agencies.
There needs to be quicker response time to incidents. The Haven
have had reports from women that when they have presented themselves
at a police station in an attempt to escape and report the violence
they are often faced with hours waiting to be seen. There appears
to be a lack of urgency around what the women is reporting. In
relation to police practice over the past two or three years there
has been some improvement, It has been reported by women and our
IDVA' that the Police officers once involved always complete a
risk assessment, and are very much involved in MARAC's. The vast
improvements have been generated through the implementation of
Wolverhampton's Specialist DV court. The Haven has input into
the MARAC's and therefore has regular meetings with the police
to discuss ongoing cases/referrals; however there is no Strategic
liaison.
The Haven does attend the MARAC's in Wolverhampton
but does not receive any funding directly for this work. It is
our opinion that MARAC's greatly increase the survivors safety.
There were a reported 23 repeats which is 12% current DV repeat
rate for Wolverhampton as a whole is 30% which demonstrates the
effectiveness of the MARAC in the reduction of repeat offences.
Due to the nature of the MARAC's there are many
people involved and this can contribute to the women feeling very
disempowered. The Haven employs three IDVAs and Wolverhampton
DV forum employs another one. The IDVA's are hugely effective
in supporting survivors and improving their safety. Funding these
posts is a concern and at any meeting locally or nationally the
subject of funding these posts is an area of concern. There needs
to be serious consideration regarding securing funding for these
posts which are generally funded through voluntary sector organisation.
Criminal and civil justice process
It has been reported that initial police response
has improved and maybe as a result of Wolverhampton having a DV
court charging/prosecution process has also improved. There are
problems around survivors being subpoenaed to court and having
to face the perpetrator. Those being sentenced are still not receiving
adequate time.
The process of going to court is no less intimidating
from any previous court experience.
Civil Law: Injunction, protection orders and related
court experience
Before 1 July 2007 whereby a Non Molestation
Order which carried a power of arrest when breached the offender
would be held on remand until a court appearance arranged and
the relevant solicitor involved in the case notified. Since 1
July 2007 whereby breach of a Non Molestation Order became a criminal
offence The Haven have been made aware of cases whereby the offender
has either been arrested and allowed out on bail without the woman
or the solicitor being made aware or informed or the offender
has not been arrested at all and remained at large. The Haven
have spoken to the DAU but are still awaiting clarification of
how the police have been advised to respond plus local solicitors
are also awaiting some form of direction.
The Haven has concerns about the increased use
of mediation services with DV cases. The increase appears to be
due to solicitors not understanding the complexities of DV cases.
In cases where IDVA's have sat with in the same room as the woman
in mediation ( at her request) it has been a very intimidating
experience for the woman to be expected to sit in the same room
as her perpetrator. The Haven can not comment on family courts
or CAFCASS, this is another area of concern as IDVA's are not
allowed to support the woman in a closed court.
The Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Act
2004 (DVCVA)
The Haven is concerned with the following sections
of the DVCVA:
— Women being held jointly responsible
for the death of a child (section 5).
— Restraining orders (section 9). This
has not yet been implemented and there are uncertainties round
the implementation.
— Criminalization of breach of non-molestation
order (section 5).
In relation to giving power to third parties
(ie The Haven, or other advocacy organisation) to apply for injunctions
on behalf of survivors, The Haven understands section 60 of the
Family Law act 1996, which made provision for third party applications,
has never been implemented but this provision is included in the
imminent force marriage Bill, however the Haven does not agree
this should be implemented. Survivors are currently subject to
many legislative demands when becoming involved in the DV process
from, involvement with MARAC's where there is already reported
loss of independence. The role of the IDVA's is to empower women
to make appropriate choices and not to take away those choices.
Although the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims
Act 2004 is cited as the first piece of legislation to address
domestic violence in 30 years, the reality is that it does not
grant protection to those minority women in this country who are
subject to Domestic Violence, immigration control and no recourse
to public funds. The "domestic violence rule" introduced
into immigration law in 2002 allows a person who can provide evidence
that they are subject to domestic violence, leave to remain in
the UK indefinitely. However the amount of evidence required is
huge, and incredibly intrusive. Due to the fear of being disowned
by their relatives and bringing shame on their families, compounded
with the reality of facing destitution, many women are unable
to leave their violent relationships. Government does not provide
adequate funds to service providers to enable all survivors of
Domestic Violence to access refuge accommodation. Many women who
have the courage to escape are often turned away from refuge providers
as they do not have the funds to support them, this is due to
many LA including Wolverhampton LA refusing to offer financial
support to women with no recourse and the organisations who wish
to support them.
The Haven has affiliated to a huge campaign
that is bringing together key women's organisations to highlight
the devastating impact of "no recourse to public funds"
on the lives of minority women subject to DV in the context of
the Marriage, Employment and Trafficking.
Support, finance and refuge services
The Haven is supported by Supporting People
contract, for our refuge provision and Floating support services.
Wolverhampton SP team have drafted a five year strategy that disinvest
£200k from refuge accommodation, this will result in a reduction
of 10 bed spaces which will undermine our ability to provide core
services adequately, and therefore resulting in a reduction of
women only services. Supporting People has brought much bureaucracy
to the voluntary sector, ultimately forcing merger or severer
down scale of provision. The recommendation of the fig of 1unit
per 10,000 of population originated in 1986, 21 years ago when
women did not come forward as they do now due to increased understanding
of agencies, police and the public, is still being used by some
authorities to reduce their provision where refuge provision is
in excess of this benchmark whilst other areas are trying unsuccessfully
to establish new provision. This service has always been based
on needs lead at a point of crisis and should/will continue with
this principle. In the light that the Haven can only accommodate
just over a third of its referrals this proposal is of great concern
and we are lobbing the team to review its plans. In the period
2006-07 Wolverhampton receives 7.9 million in SP funds where as
Newcastle-up-on-tyne receives 14.1 million, there is a similar
level of population, poverty and deprivation and unemployment
as Wolverhampton, which indicates inconsistent and unjust distribution
of public resources for disadvantaged people in Wolverhampton.
We have ensured our MP's and CLG are aware of our concerns. The
Wolverhampton Homelessness strategy for 2007-19 also plans to
reduce its hostel accommodation by 50% this is a major concern
and will also impact on the amount of women and children we will
be turning away.
Recent consultations have highlighted concerns
about the Supporting People tendering process. Wolverhampton was
not given the opportunity to be graded any higher than C in the
Quality Assessment Framework. Organisations outside of Wolverhampton
were able to be graded to B or A this will give other competing
for the same tender an unfair advantage.
Services for children are provided at The Haven
but SP and many other mainstream funding does not allocate funds
to children's services.
Access to permanent housing
On average women are waiting longer to be re-housed
and are now waiting between 9 to 12 months. Single women longer,
those with complex needs even longer. Women are not accessing
private rented accommodation and there is a reduction on those
applying to Housing associations. In 2007 The Haven have been
involved in a pilot scheme called Move on Plan Protocol (MOPP)
Project which has attempted to address the move on problem in
Wolverhampton the finding of this pilot will be available 2008.
Sanctuary Scheme does exist in Wolverhampton
and has been piloted for the last 12 months. The LA coordinate
this with support from DV Forum and the Haven The scheme can not
make a woman safe alone, it should be in conjunction with all
other DV support services, Floating Support, IDVA's and should
not be used in isolation. The choice to move to alternative safe
accommodation should be paramount.
Multi-Agency Partnerships
There is a good approach to multi-agency partnerships
in Wolverhampton, mainly due to the existence of the DV court
and the MARAC's. Representatives from the Haven attend Local Domestic
Violence Forum, South Staff's Forum (The Haven were instrumental
in its establishment), Local safe guarding Children Board, Supporting
People Providers Forum and the MARAC's.
The Haven has an established training team who
are involved in delivering local Domestic Violence awareness training
to its own staff and other professionals. The training is accredited
by the Open College Network. The Haven receives payment for this
when training external agencies. The Haven have partnered with
The Local Domestic Violence Forum to deliver some areas of training.
There is a mechanism for monitoring the implementation
of the National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan in Wolverhampton
and it is the role the Local DV forum and Local safety Partnership
forum to Coordinate.
In relation to The Governments Voluntary Sector
Compact being adhered to in Wolverhampton, the topic is sketchy,
during consultation with various agencies it does appear that
"compact" knowledge and implementation ranges from little
knowledge through to being used as tool to ensure LA engage with
the voluntary sector. The mere fact that some organisations are
still unclear as to what the compact is seems to show that the
relationship between the government and voluntary and community
sector have some way to go.
1 October 2007
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