Agenda item

Members of the community will receive a presentation on Domestic Violence and Community Safety, particularly in relation to the Evington Ward. Stephanie McBurney, Domestic Violence Co-ordinator and an officer from the Community Safety Team will be present.

Stephanie McBurney, Domestic Violence Co-ordinator and Nazira Vania from the Community Safety Team gave a presentation on domestic violence and community safety.

Stephanie explained that the Domestic Violence team were based within Community Safety and that she worked alongside Nazira. Stephanie then outlined how the domestic violence services were changing in Leicester and attendees heard that the Vision for Leicester was:

“To work together to prevent domestic violence and to provide support and protection to anyone who has been affected by domestic violence, based on equality, partnership working and knowledge of what works”.

The meeting heard that changes would be made to the current provision to provide support for people who wanted to change their abusive behaviour, and there would also be increased support for children and families. Statistics were given for domestic violence cases in Leicester and in Evington, which Stephanie explained, had one of the lowest reported incidences of domestic violence in the city. Stephanie cautioned however, that where there were low numbers of reported cases of domestic violence, it might be that people tended not to talk about the problem.  Members of the community were asked to consider whether any of their friends or members of their families might be victims of domestic violence.

In response to a question from a member of the community, Stephanie explained that the Domestic Violence helpline telephone number was 0116 2555004.

A copy of Stephanie’s presentation is attached at the back of these minutes. 

Nazira then addressed the meeting and attendees heard that she worked in 5 wards and was a local presence in the community.  Nazira made the following points:

·         Community safety generally involved issues that made people feel safe and could include various incidents such as anti-social behaviour, burglaries and cars being broken into.

·         The Community Safety team attended local residents’ meetings.

·         She worked with the Police for 2 to 3 half days per week. The rest of the time she was based at the African Caribbean Centre.

·         The team raised awareness of community safety issues.

·         The team tacked anti- social behaviour through problem solving plans.

·         They provided help and support to victims and helped members of the community to keep their homes secure.

The following questions and comments were raised:

·         Are there any ‘safe houses’ in Leicester?

The meeting heard that there were refuges for women and children in the city.

·         The government definition of the age limit for domestic violence victims should take into account the fact that children may also be affected and become victims. Some children or young people might believe that such violence was normal and others might become withdrawn.

Stephanie concurred and added that the service aimed to increase their support to children affected by domestic violence. The collateral damage to children and young people in such situations was recognised.

·         What happens if domestic violence is inflicted against a family member by a young person? In such cases, action should be taken to stop the abusive behaviour as soon as possible.

Stephanie explained that there were two different programmes for two different age ranges and the Government definition of domestic violence did not restrict the action that the Domestic Violence Team took. 

Chrissie Field, the Area Manager, Housing introduced herself to the meeting and commented that a multi partnership approach, with everyone working together was necessary to tackle domestic violence.  She added that domestic violence did not occur in isolation but could occur due to other social reasons and stressful situations, such as drug and / or alcohol abuse, debt problems, threats of homelessness and through the pressures of caring alone for a disabled relative at home.  There were therefore a number of agencies and local people who could work together to alleviate the causes of domestic violence.

Stephanie and Nazira were thanked for their presentation.