Domestic Violence

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The Facts

• At some point in their lives, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will suffer domestic violence.
• Although domestic violence is underreported, nationally it accounts for a ¼ of all violent crime and in Hart it accounts for ½ of all violent crime.
• Domestic violence has more repeat victims than any other offence.
• There is stigma attached to being a victim of domestic violence, especially in affluent areas such as those in Hart.
• Through feelings of fear and shame, a woman is attacked an average of 35 times before seeking help.
• Men can be victims too. The perpetrator is not always a man.
• Domestic violence includes same sex and elderly abuse.

Results from the 2004 Crime Audit

The graph below illustrates types of domestic violence experienced, by respondents to the resident’s survey.

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The graph below shows, of those respondents to the resident’s survey who said they had been a victim of domestic violence, the respondent’s location, age and gender.

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Stopping domestic violence is a very important issue to all agencies in North East Hampshire and is part of the Community Safety Strategy for Hart.

There is a North East Hampshire Domestic Violence Forum and regular Women’s Safety and Awareness Days are held.

Remember you do not have to live with the violence, it is a crime.

Abusers try to control their victim’s lives and the abuse can often get worse if an abuser feels a loss of control, such as when victims try to leave them. Please take special care when you leave and keep being careful after you have left.

SAFETY PLANNING

1. Arrange where you might go if you have to leave urgently
2. Find places where you can quickly and safely use the telephone
3. If you have children, teach them how to dial 999 and make up a code word that you can use when you need help
4. Carry a list of telephone numbers for support services and friends
5. Try to save money so that you have bus or taxi fares in an emergency
6. Get an extra set of keys for the house and car and keep these in a safe place, with money and anything else you may need should you have to leave quickly
7. Talk to your children and let them know it is not their fault
8. Talk to trusted friends, relatives, your doctor or nurse about how you feel.
9. Consider opening a savings account in your name
10. Always try to take your children with you or make arrangements to leave them somewhere safe if this is not possible
11. Make plans for pets, if you are unable to take them with you
12. Consider visiting your local Citizens Advice Bureau or a solicitor to discuss what options are available to you
13. If possible, try to get any potential weapons out of the house
14. Try to do things which would get you out of the house, such as walking your dog, putting out the rubbish or going to the shops to practice how you would leave.
15. Consider leaving a bag with a trusted friend or relative containing the items you would need if you had to leave urgently. Also consider who may lend you money in an emergency

Should you decide to leave, consider taking:

• Passports, Marriage and Birth Certificates for yourself and your children
• Keys
• Driving licence
• Car registration form and insurance documents
• Money, credit cards & cheque books
• Benefits books
• Medicines and medical cards for you and your children
• Small items you can sell
• Address book, pictures, jewellery and items that mean a lot to you
• School records
• Any court papers such as divorce papers, custody orders or injunctions
• Spare clothes and favourite toys for the children
• Pets, if you can, or make arrangements for these if possible

STAYING SAFE IN A POTENTALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION

• If an argument seems unavoidable, try to have this in a room where there are exits and no potential weapons
• Practice how you could get out of your home quickly and, if possible, try to keep a packed bag in a secret but accessible place
• Consider confiding in a neighbour and asking them to call the Police if they hear a disturbance from your house
• Consider using a code word so that you can communicate your distress to your children, family and friends so that they can alert the Police

STAYING SAFE AFTER YOU HAVE LEFT

• At work, decide who you will tell about your situation and show them a picture of your abuser if possible
• Try to get someone to screen you telephone calls for you
• Devise a safety plan for when you leave work. This may include asking someone to escort you home and varying your routes
• Try not to use the same shops and businesses that you did when you were with your abuser
• At home, tell your neighbours that your partner no longer lives with you and that they should telephone the police if they see the abuser near your home or children
• Change the locks on doors and windows as soon as possible
• Change your telephone number
• Consider buying a rope ladder to enable you to escape from the second floor of your home
• Consider fitting smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, outside lights and an alarm system
• Consider applying for a restraining order or injunction
• Inform your children’s nursery or school who can collect your children

Try to build a network of support for yourself so that you have someone to talk to who will give you support and read articles and books to help you feel stronger.

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Contact details

The chair of the forum is Karen Evans.
Address: Aldershot Police Station,
Wellington
Avenue,
Aldershot,
Hants
GU11 1NZ
Telephone: 01256 405 208
Email: karen.evans@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

Background information

The N.E. Hants Domestic Violence Forum was founded in the mid 1990’s and its membership is made up of representatives from the many local agencies that work with the victims of domestic violence and abuse who live and work in Rushmoor and Hart.

The forum aims to promote multi-agency working, collective decision-making, comprehensive information sharing and data collection. Through these mediums it will be able to spearhead initiatives, disseminate information and signpost agencies that provide support and assistance. Most importantly the forum wishes to work towards improving the health, well being and lives of the many victims of domestic violence/abuse, whoever they may be.

The strategy of the forum is to:-

• Work towards establishing an accurate picture of the nature and extent of domestic violence within the communities of Rushmoor and Hart.
• Increase public awareness in the local community using a variety of publicity formats and awareness events.
• Signpost agencies and contact details that can offer help, advise and support to victims. Including, where appropriate, perpetrators.
• Identify gaps in the provision of services and work towards addressing problem areas and maximising available resources.
• Produce and disseminate useful information and promote joint co-operation and action between the forum and other agencies working in Hart and Rushmoor.
• Organize training and awareness events aimed at both forum members and members of the community, to promote greater understanding about the issues surrounding domestic violence/abuse.
• Improve knowledge and awareness amongst forum members by collecting and sharing information and data. Thereby enhancing the service that forum members give to victims and their families.
• Bring about inter-agency working within a multi-agency setting. Utilizing the skills and expertise of the forum members who represent the statutory, voluntary and private agencies at the forum.
• Generate, where possible, funding to implement projects and initiatives

Local Service Directory

A local guide has been produced and is available in the downloads section on the right.

LEGAL HELP

The members of the DV Legal Helpline are all local solicitors who specialise in family law and deal with DV cases on a frequent basis.

Davies, Blunden & Evans 01252 872617 (Yateley Office)
Foster Wells (Aldershot) 01252 343567
Fulchers (Farnborough) 01252 522475
Pinto Potts (Fleet and Aldershot) 01252 361200
Tanner and Taylor (Aldershot and Farnborough) 0800 542 4505
Herrington and Carmicheal (Aldershot) 01252 322451

• Action on Elderly Abuse 0208 765 7000
• CAB Yateley: 01252 878410
• CAB Fleet: 01252 617922
• Childline 0800 1111
• ‘Safer Hart’ Community Safety Partnership 01252 774476
• Foster Wells Solicitors (Legal Advice) 01252 343567
• Mankind UK www.mankinduk.co.uk 01276 469255
• Male Victim Helpline 0845 064 6800
• NSPCC 0800 800 5000
• Hart & Rushmoor Victim Support Group for victims of domestic abuse 07962 915870
• Parents Anonymous (For Parents who do or might abuse) 0207 263 8918
• Police Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator for Hart 01256 405349
• Rape and Sexual Abuse Crisis Centre 01256 840224
• Rape Crisis 02380 636313
• Refuge 24hr National Crisis Line 0808 2000 247
• Relate 0845 130 40 16
• Samaritans 0845 7909090
• Sentinel Housing 01252 788788
• Self referal perpertrator programme 02380 213520
• Social Services - Adult Services 0845 6035638 ; Children's Services 0845 6035620
• Shelterline 0808 8004444
• Victim Support 01256 346406
• Women Against Violence (Probation Office) 01256 816004
• Women’s Aid 0808 2000 247
• Women and Girls Network 020 7978 8887
• Women’s Support 01256 346136

In an Emergency call 999