Ministry of Justice
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Government announces a new tranche of specialist domestic violence court systems
Tackling domestic violence has been one of the government's key priorities since 1997. Today the government reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the victims of domestic violence with the announcement of more than thirty new Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVCs) systems across England and Wales. This brings the total number of SDVCs in the national programme to 98.
SDVCs are a fundamental part of the government's efforts to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic violence. A multi-agency approach is central to the success of these innovative courts; police, prosecutors court staff, the probation service and specialist support services work together to identify, track and risk assess domestic violence cases, support victims and share information so that more offenders are brought to justice. Amongst the pioneering features are: -
* specially trained magistrates in dealing with domestic violence
* separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so that victims don't come into contact with their attackers
* cases clustered on a particular day or fast-tracked through the system, limiting the likelihood of further incidents
* tailored support and advice from Independent Domestic Violence Advisors.
Justice Minister, Bridget Prentice said:
"Since 1997 this government has done substantial work in trying to tackle this particularly appalling crime. Domestic violence deeply affects victims, regardless of gender, race, class, age and sexuality.
This work is a continuation of the joint National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence which sets out clear aims and objectives and is proving to be effective in protecting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Their success shows that where victims of domestic violence have confidence in the criminal justice system to report these crimes, the system will help them."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"Improving the support available to the courageous victims of these devastating crimes is crucial in encouraging people to come forward. The success and expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts system will ensure that we continue to bring more perpetrators to justice and improve the support and safety of victims.
We have made good progress on domestic violence over the last ten years but we know there is more to do and I want to reassure women everywhere that keeping them safe from harm is a top Government priority."
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC said:
"The Specialist Domestic Violence Courts are a fundamental part of our effort to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic violence. We are committed to providing a first class prosecution service.
By providing specialist training for prosecutors and better support systems for victims we are seeing a tangible difference in performance. In the last four years we have seen marked success - and we need to keep aiming higher.
Perpetrators must be brought to justice, and when they are our specialist prosecutors and support services will be there to assist victims every step of the way."
In a review of the first 23 SDVC systems, published on 8 March, it is clear that they have contributed to improvements in both justice and safety for domestic violence victims. Ten of those achieved a successful prosecution rate of over 70 per cent, with one reaching over 80 per cent and the remaining 12 achieving an average rate of 66 per cent.
Other key findings of the Review, conducted jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, which analysed the data and performance of the 23 Specialist Domestic Violence Court systems in England and Wales from October 2006 until March 2007 are:
An improvement in the responses of individual agencies: in
relation to the police, a high level of domestic violence crimes
being arrested (an average of over 80 percent);
Just under six
thousand victim referrals were made to Independent Domestic
Violence Advisers - an average of 269 referrals per IDVA service;
and, around three-quarters (74 percent) of clients involved in the
court process were supported by Independent Domestic Violence
Advisers at court.
We are delighted that these courts are proving successful and hope to continue rolling them out nationally.
Notes to Editors
1. The full list of the new selected specialist domestic violence court systems areas:
Region Local Justice Area Courthouse
East Midlands Mansfield LJA Mansfield MC
Eastern Beds and Mid Beds LJA Bedford MC
Eastern Luton and South Beds LJA Luton MC
North East Gateshead District LJA Gateshead MC
North West South Cheshire LJA Crewe MC
North West Furness and District LJA, Barrow-in-Furness
South Lakeland LJA MC and Kendal MC
North West West Allerdale and Keswick Workington MC
LJA, Whitehaven LJA and Whitehaven
MC
North West Fylde Coast LJA Fylde Coast MC
in Blackpool
North West Burnley, Pendle and Burnley MC
Rossendale LJA
North West Lancaster LJA Lancaster MC
North West Preston LJA Preston MC
North West South Ribble LJA Leyland MC
North West Ormskirk LJA Ormskirk MC
South East Central Kent LJA Maidstone MC
South East Sussex Central LJA Brighton MC
South East Sussex Eastern LJA Hastings MC,
Eastbourne MC
and Lewes MC
South East Sussex Western and Northern Worthing MC and
LJAs Crawley MC
South East Maidenhead- East Berks LJA, Reading
Reading- Reading LJA, MCMaidenhead MC
Newbury- West Berks LJA and Newbury MC
South East Milton Keynes LJA Milton Keynes MC
South East Oxford LJA Oxford and
Southern
Oxfordshire MC
South West Bath and Wansdyke LJA Bath MC
South West Bristol Bristol MC
South West North Somerset North Somerset
MC
South West North Devon LJA Barnstaple MC
South West East Cornwall LJA Bodmin MC
South West West Cornwall LJA Truro MC
South Devon LJA Torquay and
Newton Abbot MC
South West North Wiltshire LJA and Chippenham MC
Swindon LJA
South West Swindon LJA Swindon MC
Wales Flintshire LJA Mold MC
West Midlands Shrewsbury LJA Shrewsbury MC
West Midlands Telford and Bridgnorth LJA Telford MC
West Midlands Warwickshire LJA Nuneaton, Rugby
and Stratford
Upon Avon MC
Yorkshire/Humberside Wakefield LJA Wakefield and
Pontefract MC
South East New Forest LJA Southampton MC
2. The Specialist Domestic Violence Review: http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/dv/dv018.htm;
http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/equality/index.html
3. Further information on Specialist Domestic Violence Courts can be found at http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/domesticviolence/domesticviolence59.htm
4. Details of Sexual Assault Referral Centres can be found at http://www.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/sexual-offences/sexual-assault-referral-centres/referral-centre-locations/?version=4
5. More information on The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 can be found at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/ukpga_20040028_en_1
6. More information on International Women's Day can be found at http://www.internationalwomensday.com
News Release
http://www.justice.gov.uk
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