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Domestic abuse and interpersonal violence

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Introduction

Who is affected?

Facts, figures and trends for Lancashire and Blackpool

Children affected by domestic abuse in Blackpool

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs)

National Policy, Strategy and Evidence

Local Policy Drivers

What is offered in Blackpool

 

Introduction

Domestic abuse is a significant public health issue, having major physical, emotional and economic impact upon those directly affected and their families. A 2019 Home Office report1 estimated that, for the twelve-month period ending March 2017, the economic cost of domestic abuse in England and Wales was £66 billion. The largest component of this estimate is the physical and emotional harms incurred by victims / survivors, though the estimated cost to the economy of £14 billion is also considerable.  The cost to health, housing and social services, criminal justice and civil legal services is estimated at around £4.8 billion. 

Domestic abuse is statutorily defined within the Domestic Abuse Act 20212 as a single incident or course of conduct of a person towards another person that is abusive (where both are aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other). The term 'abusive' consists of any of the following:

    • physical or sexual abuse
    • violent or threatening behaviour
    • controlling or coercive behaviour
    • psychological, emotional or other abuse
    • economic abuse (adversely affecting someone's ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property; or obtain goods or services)

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 also recognises children as victims if they experience the effects of domestic abuse, as well as creating or extending offences to cover areas such as non-fatal strangulation, post-separation abuse, and revenge porn. It also sets out a legal duty on local authorities to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their children, and ensure they are considered as 'priority need' for homelessness assistance.

Domestic abuse comprises of a number of different behaviours which are demonstrated in the Power and Control wheel. This is a tool which can help understanding of the overall pattern of abusive and violent behaviours, which are used by a person to maintain control over another person. Often one or more violent incidents are accompanied by an array of these other types of abuse.

Figure 1: National Centre on Domestic and Sexual Violence: Power and Control Wheel

Power and control wheel
Source: National Centre on Domestic and Sexual Violence

There is a range of risk factors for an individual becoming a victim of domestic violence, and the potential to become a victim increases when a combination of risk factors occurs.  The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence have identified that the risk of experiencing domestic violence or abuse is increased if someone:-

    • is female
    • has a long term illness or disability
    • is aged 16-24 (women) or 16-19 (men)
    • is pregnant or has recently given birth - the greatest risk is for teenage mothers and during the period just after a woman has given birth
    • has a mental health problem
    • is a woman who is separated
    • is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans
    • is exposed to alcohol or drug misuse.3

Whilst both men and women may perpetrate or experience domestic abuse or violence, it is more commonly inflicted on women by men.  Women are also more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of violence, including sexual violence and are also more likely to have sustained psychological or emotional impact or for the abuse to result in injury or death.

Domestic abuse is also linked with sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancies and miscarriage4.  Furthermore, this can have long lasting impacts on victims, with relationship, isolation, trust and intimacy problems common.

Who is affected?

Estimating the number of people affected by domestic abuse is difficult due to the hidden nature of the problem and difficulties for individuals in recognising domestic abuse. The most reliable estimates come from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW)5, an annual representative sample survey which asks about the extent to which people have been victims of crimes. The under-reporting of crime to the police is known to be particularly acute for intimate violence offences and one of the strengths of the CSEW is that it covers many crimes that are not reported.

For the 12-month period to year ending March 2020:

    • The CSEW estimates that 2.3 million people experienced domestic abuse in the last year (1.6 million women and 757,000 men). This equates to 5.5% of adults aged 16 to 74 years in England and Wales.
    • Women were, therefore, over twice as likely to report having experienced domestic abuse than men.
    • The police recorded 758,941 domestic abuse related crimes in England and Wales (excluding Greater Manchester Police), and increase of 9% from the previous year.
    • A higher percentage of adults experienced abuse carried out by a partner or ex-partner (4%) than by a family member (1.9%).
    • An estimated 7.3% of women and 3.6% of men report experiencing some type of domestic abuse in the previous year (that is, ex-partner abuse or family abuse (non-sexual), sexual abuse or stalking).

The Office for National Statistics report 'Domestic abuse prevalence and trends, England and Wales'6 uses Home Office (HO) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) data as well as the CSEW to estimate prevalence across the country and by police force area. The CSEW was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and 2021 data draws only upon recorded crime data, which do not provide a measure of domestic abuse prevalence (increases may reflect improvements in reporting, not necessarily increased prevalence). For the 12 month period ending March 31st 2021:

    • The police recorded a total of 1,459,663 domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in England and Wales
    • Of these, 613,929 (42%) were incidents not subsequently recorded as a crime.
    • 845,734 (58%) were recorded as domestic abuse-related crimes, an increase of 6% from the previous year. Some of this increase may be due to improvements in police recording.
    • This represents 18.3% of all offences recorded by the police.
    • 37.8% of offences related to violence against the person were domestic abuse-related.
    • The police recorded 215,173 domestic abuse-related stalking and harassment offences, accounting for a quarter of all domestic abuse-related crimes.
    • The police made 33 arrests per 100 domestic abuse-related crimes6.
    • The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) domestic abuse-related charging rate in England and Wales decreased for the third year running, to 70%.
    • The number of domestic abuse-related prosecutions decreased for the fifth consecutive year to 54,515.
    • The percentage of prosecutions leading to a conviction increased for the sixth consecutive year to 78%7.

Demand on domestic abuse helplines increased over this period, with a 22% increase in people supported by the National Domestic Abuse Helpline in England. This does not necessarily indicate an increase in the number of victims / survivors, but perhaps an increase in the severity of abuse being experienced and a lack of available coping mechanisms such as the ability to leave the home to escape abuse, or attend counselling. The number of cases discussed at multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) also increased by 8%8.

The prevalence of domestic abuse means that there are many children who are also affected. We don't know exactly how many children this is, because the official source of self-reported data, the CSEW, only gathers information about the experiences of adults. While domestic abuse has been estimated to affect between 9.8 and 28 percent of children9, the experience of children in relation to domestic abuse may go unrecorded unless they come to the attention of formal agencies, such as those in health, children's social care, the police or schools. 

The Department for Education reports on how many children need support or protection. When a child is referred to children's social care, an assessment is carried out to identify if the child is in need of services which local authorities provide. As at March 2021, 77% of children in need had domestic violence as a factor identified at end of their assessment10.

Facts, figures and trends for Lancashire and Blackpool

Mandatory collection of data on notifiable crimes relating to domestic abuse took effect from April 2015. This applies to all crime classifications and to all reports of domestic abuse related crime, with a 'marker' placed on any incident or crime that is related to domestic abuse. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides data at police force area level on domestic abuse11 and figures for Lancashire police force area show that in the year ending March 31st 2021:

    • 33,952 domestic abuse-related crimes and incidents were recorded. This is equivalent to 22 per 1,000 population.
    • 22,812 domestic abuse-related crimes were recorded, equivalent to 15 crimes per 1,000 population.
    • 67% of domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in Lancashire were subsequently recorded as crimes (compared to 58% across England and Wales)
    • 19% of all recorded crimes were classified as domestic abuse-related (18% nationally)
    • There were 28 arrests per 100 domestic-abuse-related crimes (compared to 32 per 100 across England and Wales)
    • 6,297 domestic abuse-related stalking and harassment offences were recorded (31% of all stalking and harassment offences were domestic abuse-related)
    • 2,255 domestic abuse-related legal decisions were made by the CPS, with 1,528 charges. This equates to a charging rate of 68%
    • 1,867 domestic abuse-related prosecutions took place. This equates to 18% of all prosecutions during this period.
    • 1,491 domestic abuse-related convictions were recorded. 80% of prosecutions resulted in a conviction.

Police and crime data from the Safer Lancashire Multi-Agency Database Exchange (MADE) shows that across Blackpool:

    • There were 4,000 calls to the police (incidents) marked as being related to domestic abuse in 2019/20, an incident rate of 28.9 per 1,000 population. This is almost double the rate for 'Lancashire-14' (including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen unitary authorities) of 14.5 per 1,000 (figure 2).
    • There were 3,647 domestic abuse-related incidents in COVID-19 affected 2020/21, a rate of 26.4 per 1,000, compared to 13.6 per 1,000 across Lancashire-14.
    • 4.4% of all Blackpool calls to police in 2019/20, and 4.5% of all calls in 2020/21, were domestic abuse-related. Across Lancashire, 3.8% of calls in 2019/20 and 3.7% in 2020/21 were domestic abuse-related.
    • There were 3,428 domestic abuse-related crimes in 2019/20, and 3,485 in 2020/21. This is a considerable increase from 2015/16 when 1,678 domestic abuse-related crimes were recorded. This is likely to be partly due to increased awareness and improved recording of all crimes with a domestic abuse-related element. Similar increases are observed across Lancashire.
    • The domestic abuse-related crime rate in 2019/20 was 24.8 per 1,000 population, over 80% higher than the Lancashire-wide rate of 13.5 per 1,000. In 2020/21 the rate was 25.2 per 1,000, compared to 14.9 per 1,000 across Lancashire (figure 2).
    • Just over a quarter of domestic abuse offences were alcohol related.
    • Females accounted for around three-quarters of victims of domestic abuse, and the peak age group of victims was 25-34 years.

Figure 2: Trend in rate of domestic abuse-related crimes and incidents in Blackpool and Lancashire-14

Incident Crime rate trends
 Source: Safer Lancashire MADE database

There is wide variation in domestic abuse incidents and crimes across Blackpool, with the majority of cases coming from the Central West and South Central areas. Figures for police incidents show that in 2020/21:

    • Rates of domestic abuse-related incidents ranged from 8.8 per 1,000 in Anchorsholme to 63.3 per 1,000 in Bloomfield.
    • Of the 21 wards, only six are higher than the Blackpool average of 26.4 per 1,000: Bloomfield, Talbot, Claremont, Brunswick, Waterloo and Park (figure 3)
    • There were just over 1,900 domestic abuse-related incidents recorded in these wards, accounting for 52% of all domestic abuse-related incidents across Blackpool. 34% of all domestic abuse-related incidents were recorded in the three wards of Bloomfield, Talbot and Claremont.
    • Rates of crimes marked as being domestic abuse-related ranged from 8.8 per 1,000 in Anchorsholme to 61.3 per 1,000 in Bloomfield ward. Only seven wards are higher than the Blackpool average of 25.2 per 1,000: Bloomfield, Talbot, Claremont, Waterloo, Brunswick, Park and Clifton.
    • 34% of all domestic abuse-related crimes were recorded in the three wards of Bloomfield, Talbot and Claremont.

Figure 3: Police incidents with a domestic abuse marker, 2020/21 - rate per 1,000 population

DA_Incidents2021
 Source: Safer Lancashire MADE database

Both men and women who live in the 20% most deprived areas of England and Wales (deprivation quintile 1) were more likely to be victims of domestic abuse: 11.1% of women and 4.8% of men living in these areas were estimated to have been victims of any domestic abuse compared with 5.6% of women and 3.0% of men living in the 20% least deprived areas of England and Wales12. Approximately 80,000 (57%) people in Blackpool live in the 20% most deprived areas. In 2020/21, 80% of all domestic abuse crime in Blackpool took place among those living within deprivation quintile 1.

Blackpool also has greater proportions of younger people who may be lone parents, on low incomes, have a long term illness and/or low education levels, all of which are risk factors for greater domestic abuse.

Children affected by Domestic Abuse in Blackpool

Children in Need10 statistics from the Department for Education provides information on the number of referrals to children's social care and assessments carried out upon those children. When a child is assessed following a referral, the practitioner determines the child's primary need at a first assessment.

Factors identified at the end of assessment are in addition to the primary need identified. More than one factor can be identified and each can be reported. Most children will have more than one factor identified and reported.

    • Abuse or neglect accounts for the majority of primary need at assessment for Blackpool children in need. At March 2021, 71% (1,430) of children had abuse or neglect identified as their primary need at assessment, compared to 56% across England. Blackpool's numbers have fallen slightly since 2019 (1,652 - 72% of all children in need).
    • The number of children in need with abuse or neglect as the primary need at initial assessment increased by 45% between 2013 and 2021, with an overall increase in children in need numbers of 24% over this period. In comparison, England saw a 23% increase in abuse / neglect at initial assessment, with the overall number of children in need increasing by 3% between 2013 and 2021.
    • Domestic violence was the second most common factor identified in assessments of episodes of need in 2021 (after parental mental health concerns). 40.1% of Children in Need episodes in Blackpool (where factors were identified) identified domestic violence concerns where the parent was a victim at the end of the assessment period (compared to 34.1% nationally) (figure 4). 21% of episodes identified domestic violence concerns where the child was a victim (compared to 12.2% nationally).
    • Blackpool figures for children in need and for those affected by domestic violence are significantly higher than the North West and England averages.

Both proportions and numbers of episodes with domestic violence as a factor at the end of assessment have varied over the Covid-19 period to date, with a fall in 2020 followed by a considerable increase in 2021 (figure 5). This is likely to be due to a combination of factors including:

    • staggered referrals / assessments due to lockdown,
    • a greater likelihood that the precipitating incident leading to assessment involved an element of domestic violence (due to potentially increased referrals via police and crisis services rather than others),
    • improvements in recording and wider awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on the whole family,
    • potentially increased overall numbers of incidents due to lockdown confinement.

Figure 4: Children in Need episodes with assessment factor information - the 8 most common factors identified at the end of assessment, England, North West and Blackpool, 2021

CIN top 8 chart
 Source: Dept for Education, Characteristics of Children in Need, 2021. Brackets denote focus of concern / victim. Chart excludes 'other' category.

Figure 5: Trend in Number and Proportion of Children in Need (CIN) episodes with domestic violence (DV) identified as a factor for parent or child, Blackpool 2018-2021 (with England comparator)

CIN episode DV trend v2
Source: Department for Education, Characteristics of Children in Need, 2021. Values based on numbers / proportion of all episodes with an assessment factor. 

Drug and alcohol misuse can contribute to and compound issues of domestic abuse and inter-partner violence (IPV), particularly for women13, and police data for 2020/21 suggests that over a quarter of domestic abuse crimes in Blackpool were alcohol related.

Data from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) reports the number of children affected by parental substance misuse within drug and alcohol treatment services in Blackpool. In 2020/21:

  • Of the 278 new presentations into alcohol treatment, 15% were living with children (their own or other). This is far less than is seen nationally, where a quarter of new presentations live with children.
  • In total 75 children were living with a parent or carer who came into alcohol treatment. 16% of the children had a child protection plan in place. This compares to 9% nationally.
  • Of the 431 new presentations into drug treatment, 8% were living with children (their own or other). Again, this is far less than is seen nationally, where 17% of new presentations live with children.
  • In total 63 children were living with a parent or carer who came into drug treatment. 16% of the children had a child protection plan in place. This compares to 12% nationally14. 

Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs)

Multi-agency risk assessment conferences were introduced in England and Wales as a non-statutory meeting where information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives of local police, health, child protection, housing practitioners, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), probation and other specialists from the statutory and voluntary sectors. The role of these Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) is to facilitate, monitor and evaluate effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken.

    • Blackpool had 455 cases discussed at MARAC in 2020/21.
    • This is 18.8% of Lancashire's total, the highest proportion of all the districts across the county.
    • 89% of cases referred to MARAC in Blackpool were received from the police or IDVAs, compared to 79% across Lancashire.

A review of the MARAC approach commenced in October 2018, resulting in a shift towards a multi-agency team approach termed MARRAC: Multi-Agency Risk Reduction Assessment and Co-ordination.

National Policy, Strategy and Evidence

Domestic abuse sits within an increasingly growing body of legislation, policy and guidance that is applicable to victims, perpetrators and children, including:

Domestic Abuse Act 2021: The Act creates a statutory definition of domestic abuse, emphasising that domestic abuse encompasses physical, emotional, controlling and coercive, and economic abuse. The Act also introduces specific new offences and extends definitions of existing offences, establishes a Domestic Abuse Commissioner role and function, introduces Domestic Abuse Protection Orders and Notices, places a duty on local authorities to provide accommodation-based support to domestic abuse victims, and amends judicial processes for dealing with domestic abuse in courts.

Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Strategy (refreshed July 2021): The overall outcome of the strategy is to achieve a reduction in the prevalence of all forms of violence against women and girls, matched by increases in reporting, police referrals, and prosecutions. The policy contains four guiding principles for work around violence against women and girls which are preventing violence and abuse; provision of services; partnership working; pursuing perpetrators.2

Coercive Control offence 2015written into law under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015. Controlling behaviour is that which makes people dependent by isolating them from friends and family and other sources of support taking control of resources and depriving them of their independence.

Stalking Protections Act 2019: Coming into force from January 2020, Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) were introduced to protect from stalking, harrassment and other unwanted contact from perpetrators. The orders enable early police intervention to address stalking behaviours before they escalate.

The Crime & Disorder Act 1998 places a duty on local authorities and the police to work together with other agencies to tackle crime at a local level through the provision of a Community Safety Strategy that should include domestic abuse. The police are key partners in multi-agency domestic abuse groups that have been established in most areas to develop inter-agency responses to domestic abuse and improve service provision across agencies such as health services, specialist domestic abuse services (refuges and outreach services), housing authorities and many other statutory and voluntary sector agencies. This was updated in 2004 to place a responsibility on health services to participate.

The Housing Act 1996 sets out clearly those duties a housing authority owes vulnerable victims of domestic abuse and other violence. Under Part 7 of the Act on homelessness the duties are to advise and assist the applicant, and depending on the particular circumstances, to provide temporary accommodation while the case is investigated, followed by longer term accommodation if the authority confirms that it has a full duty to accommodate the person or household. The Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) (England)) Order 2002, further clarified the statutory duty around 'reasonable to continue to occupy' in the context of violence and set out that 'a person who is vulnerable as a result of ceasing to occupy accommodation by reason of violence from another person or threats of violence from another person which are likely to be carried out' has a priority need. 

The Care Act 2014 puts adult safeguarding on a legal footing and updates the scope of safeguarding to directly include domestic abuse. The Act specifies that freedom from abuse and neglect is a key aspect of a person's well-being.    

NICE guidance [PH50] Domestic violence and abuse: multi-agency working: this public health guidance had been developed to help identify, prevent and reduce domestic violence and abuse.  The recommendations highlight working in a multi-agency partnership approach as the most effective way to tackle the issues of domestic abuse.15  

NICE Quality Standard [QS116] Domestic Violence and Abuse: this quality standard covers services for domestic violence and abuse in adults and young people (aged 16 and over).  It includes identifying and supporting people experiencing domestic violence or abuse, as well as support for those who carry it out.  It also covers children and young people (under 16) who are affected by domestic violence or abuse that is not carried out against them.  It describes high quality care in priority areas for improvement.

NICE guidance [CG110] Pregnancy and complex social factors: a model for service provision for pregnant women with complex social factors: this guidance recognises that pregnant women with complex social factors may have additional needs.  The guidance sets out how healthcare professionals as individuals, and antenatal services as a whole can address these needs and improve pregnancy outcomes in this group of women.  The four groups identified as exemplars are women who misuse substances (alcohol and/or drugs), women who are recent migrants, asylum seekers or refugees, or who have difficulty reading or speaking English, young women aged under 20, and women who experience domestic abuse.      

Local Policy Drivers

The issues of domestic abuse doesn't happen in isolation and many local strategies and policies link to and influence local actions on reducing the impact of domestic abuse on the town.  The local drivers for tackling the issues of domestic abuse include:

Blackpool Council Plan 2019-2024: Priority Two - "Communities: Creating stronger communities and increasing resilience".  The plan is looking to support services which increase resilience and contribute to the creation of stronger communities within Blackpool.

Blackpool Domestic Abuse Partnership Board Strategy 2022-2026  pdf (1.72 MB) provides strategic direction for the Blackpool Domestic Abuse Partnership, a multi-agency sub-group of the Community Safety Partnership.  Priorities and key actions include to:

    • lead and drive positive and impactful change, working together to support communitywide awareness of the negative impact of domestic abuse
    • prevent abuse and offer support at the earliest point, promoting respectful relationships through the school curriculum, focussing on early recognition of the signs of abuse and building a skilled, confident and collaborative workforce
    • provide support for those who experience abuse that is accessible, responsive and persistent
    • change the risk posed by perpetrators of domestic abuse through a combination of interventions to pursue and rehabilitate perpetrators
    • work as a whole partnership to fulfil the new housing duties introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in the way that benefits Blackpool residents.

Blackpool Community Safety Plan (2022-2025) - Working together to make a difference. The Blackpool Community Safety Plan sets out the partnership's priorities for the 3 years of the plan, which is committed to improving community safety in Blackpool.   Its priorities are Drugs, alcohol and mental health; Serious Organised Crime; 'Vulnerabilities', including domestic abuse, sexual offences and rape; and Road Safety.

Leading the Fight Against Crime: The Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire 2021-2025. Lancashire-wide priorities include 'Getting Tough on Anti-Social Behaviour', 'Disrupting and Dismantling Organised Crime', 'Tackling Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence', 'Cracking Down on Burglary and Robbery', and 'Targeting Dangerous Drivers'.

Blackpool Alcohol Strategy (2019-2022)This strategy has been developed  on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board to deal specifically with the unique problems faced by Blackpool and sets out the strategic priorities for local partners in tackling alcohol related harm in the town.  The key priorities are developing healthy attitudes to alcohol across the life course, promoting responsible retailing, and early identification and support of alcohol issues.

Blackpool Mental Health Action Plan 2016-2019: The aim of the action plan is to provide a framework for the promotion of mental health and resilience in Blackpool, creating supportive environments for individuals and communities to flourish.  This will be achieved by promoting good mental health and resilience across the Blackpool population, preventing mental ill health and suicide, reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, and improving the quality and length of life of people living with mental illness.

Blackpool Sexual Health Strategy 2017-20: The Blackpool Sexual Health Strategy aims to improve the sexual health of Blackpool's population by providing clear direction and focus for sexual health improvement.  The strategy has six key priorities which are: reduce unplanned pregnancies among all women of fertile age, reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections and re-infections, improve detection rate in chlamydia diagnosis in 15-24 year olds, reduce onward transmission and proportion of late diagnosis HIV, reduce inequalities and improve sexual health outcomes, and tackling sexual violence.

Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire Children's Safeguarding Assurance Partnership, Annual Report (2020): New multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire came into effect in September 2019. The first annual report from the new partnership identifies domestic abuse as a key priority requiring a "multi-faceted response... to the needs of victims, perpetrators and children in the household". 

What is offered in Blackpool

There are a range of programmes offered in Blackpool to support individuals affected by domestic abuse. Services include (but are not limited to):

Information, Advice, Support and Refuge Provision - Fylde Coast Women's Aid (FCWA)

Fylde Coast Women's Aid (FCWA) offers free advice and support to individuals living in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse, stalking and child sexual exploitation. The FWCA helpline number is 01253 596699.

Connect with Respect - Fylde Coast Women's Aid

Hosted by Fylde Coast Women's Aid this project is funded by BBC Children in Need for children and young people aged 9-18 years across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. Connect with Respect promotes positive messages for healthy relationships. It aims to raise children and young people’s expectations, so they can recognise harmful and risk taking behaviour and develop strategies for coping.

Independent Advocacy

The role of an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) is ‘to address the safety of victims at high risk of harm from partners, ex-partners or other family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children’. Services can provide advocacy in relation to reporting to police, participating in the family court, housing and health. Usually support is available face-to-face, over the telephone or email. There is provision for specialist support for:

  • Older adults
  • Women
  • Men
  • Children
  • Sexual violence
  • Stalking and harassment
  • Immigration and cultural issues
  • Honour-based violence
  • Female genital mutilation

A range of providers offer independent advocacy, some of which will be on a referral basis from professionals who are working with Victims, with many also available directly for self-referrals:

IDVA (Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor) - Fylde Coast Women’s Aid (FCWA)

The Den (Children's IDVA Service) - Empowerment. The Children’s IDVA service offers specialist emotional and practical support to children and young people affected by domestic abuse. This can be through witnessing domestic abuse within the family or direct experience (young people in their own relationships).

Male IDVA - FCWA. Are you a man suffering from domestic abuse? Or do you know someone who is a relative, friend or work colleague? FCWA male domestic violence advisor can offer support. Call FCWA helpline on 01253 596699.

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA). Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, NHS- England North West and Lancashire Police Crime Commissioner have funded specialist support workers in hospitals to support victims of sexual violence and rape. Support is available for both staff and patients. You can self-refer by contacting the Health Independent Sexual Violence Advisor directly by email at bfwh.idva.isva@nhs.net or by telephoning 01253 955148.

 Other regional and national help and support includes:

  • Police Emergency: if you or someone else is in danger please ring 999 and ask for the police. If you cannot speak you can ring 999 then press 55 when prompted. This is called the Silent Solution System
  • Lancashire Victim Support: 0300 323 0085
  • Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline run by Refuge: 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationalhelpline.org.uk
  • National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428
  • Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
  • Respect helpline, for anyone worried about their own behaviour: 0808 802 0321
  • National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300 or visit www.stalkinghelpline.org
  • Women's Aid website: www.womensaid.org.uk

[1] Oliver, R., Alexander, B., Roe, S. & Wlasny, M. (2019) The economic and social costs of domestic abuse. Research Report 107. Home Office.

[2] Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c.17). Available at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/contents/enacted.

[3] NICE, PH50-Domestic violence and abuse; multi-agency working, February 2014.

[4] Ellesberg, M; Jansen, H; Heise, L; Watts, C; Garcia-Moreno, C & WHO (2008) Intimate partner violence and women's physical and mental health and domestic violence against women study team; Lancet, 1165-72.

[5] Crime Survey for England and Wales http://www.crimesurvey.co.uk/

[6] Office for National Statistics (ONS) Domestic abuse prevalence and trends, England and Wales: year ending March 2021.

[7] Office for National Statistics (ONS) Domestic abuse and the criminal justice system, England and Wales: November 2021.

[8] Office for National Statistics (ONS) Domestic abuse victim services, England and Wales: November 2021.

[9] Radford, L. et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today. NSPCC

[10] Dept for Education, Characteristics of children in need: Reporting year 2021.

[11] Office for National Statistics (ONS), Domestic abuse in England and Wales - Data Tool, December 2021

 [12] ONS, Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences : Year ending March 2015, Intimate personal violence and partner abuse, February 2016

[13] Gadd, D., Henderson, J., Radcliffe, P., Stephens-Lewis, D., Johnson, A., and Gilchrist, G. (2019) The dynamics of domestic abuse and drug and alcohol dependency. British Journal of Criminology, 59:1035-1053. doi:10/1093/bjc/azz011.

[14] National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS), Drug/Alcohol Commissioning Support Packs: 2022-23: Key Data