Creating a safer Buckinghamshire for all
Protecting the vulnerable and keeping people safe is one of Buckinghamshire Council’s key priorities. This week, an important element in striving to achieve that aim was agreed by councillors in the form of Buckinghamshire’s Domestic Abuse Strategy.
The document, which was agreed by Cabinet today (Tuesday 7 December), sets out how the council plans to develop and improve services over the next three years to support all those affected by domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse affects around one in 20 adults every year. Whilst domestic abuse can affect both men and women, records show that a greater number of victims are women. In Buckinghamshire it is estimated around 21,000 incidents of domestic abuse take place every year. Many incidents go unreported, and victims continue to suffer in silence. Domestic abuse can take multiple forms including sexual, emotional, financial, psychological and physical abuse and coercive behaviour.
The council’s community safety team has worked with partners including the police, health services and charities and voluntary organisations to listen to the voices of victims, their families, including children and young people and professionals, to shape the strategy. The document outlines four key priorities:
- Early intervention and prevention
- Effective services that meet the needs of victims and their families
- Tackling perpetrators to reduce reoffending
- Supporting professionals to make a difference
Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities explained: “Domestic abuse is sadly something that is present behind closed doors in all our communities. As a council we have a zero-tolerance approach and want to do all we can to raise awareness, support those affected in the best way possible and stop the abuse happening by working with our partners and professionals to look at the best way of working with those affected.
“Domestic abuse is multi-faceted and can affect people of all ages, genders and backgrounds at any time in their life. As a council we have a duty to protect the vulnerable in our community and working with our partners we intend to make sure that all those affected by the trauma of domestic abuse feel fully supported and protected.”
The Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill was signed into law earlier this year and is set to provide further protections to the millions of people who experience domestic abuse, as well as strengthen measures to tackle perpetrators. As part of this work Buckinghamshire Council has received £850,000 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to address the issues locally and deal with the statutory requirements set out for local authorities as part of the Bill.
The adoption of the council’s Domestic Abuse Strategy comes at the end of just over a fortnight of dedicated work to promote safety in our local communities. Buckinghamshire Council demonstrated its commitment to the internationally recognised White Ribbon Day by councillors including the Leader, Martin Tett and Councillor Steve Bowles signing the White Ribbon Day pledge to ‘never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women’. The White Ribbon flag was also proudly raised at council offices around the county.
In the ‘16 Days of Action to end violence against women and girls’ that have followed, the council has increased street warden patrols in town centres and promotion of initiatives such as the Safe Places scheme which provides a place of safety for anyone who may be feeling threatened or vulnerable. Many shops and businesses in Buckinghamshire are part of the national scheme and staff are trained in how to deal with anyone needing help.
Steve Bowles continued: “Everybody deserves the right to feel safe and protected from danger in their lives. Our strategy, together with the funding allocated, allows us the opportunity to take great strides in dealing with this issue. Together with our partners we are committed to supporting all those affected by domestic abuse and helping to take action against it.”
For more information on domestic abuse support in Buckinghamshire visit our website.
