A new countywide domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy has been developed to guide work being carried out to tackle abuse in communities across Northamptonshire.

The new, multi-agency strategy has been prepared and led by the office of the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Northamptonshire County Council on behalf of the Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership.

The strategy brings together and builds on the work being done by agencies and voluntary groups to deal with domestic abuse and sexual violence.  It sets out the ambition that organisations will work together to make Northamptonshire a place where “everyone can live safely and experience healthy relationships without the threat of domestic abuse or sexual violence”.

Drawing on the latest good practice, the strategy covers coercive control and stalking for the first time, as a recognition of the prevalence of this behaviour.

Domestic abuse affects thousands of people in Northamptonshire every year: 16,139 incidents of domestic abuse were recorded by Northamptonshire Police between September 2017 and December 2018 and 4.6% of domestic abuse incidents have a sexual element.

Now this new strategy will build on the work already taking place and focus on five key areas:

• The development of prevention and intervention initiatives
• Raising awareness that will improve the response to victims of abuse
• Ensuring that children, young people and families affected by abuse have access to support
• Developing safe accommodation for victims, including keeping them safe in their own homes
• Ensuring that perpetrators are dealt with effectively by the Criminal Justice System

Partner agencies involved in the Community Safety Board will work together to develop an action plan to meet these ambitions.

The Office of Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold has already put in place a number of initiatives, some in partnership with Northamptonshire Police, including:

• Adopted a ground breaking new programme to ensure that first time abuse offenders who would be cautioned, have to attend a programme to tackle their abusive behaviour and prevent reoffending
• Funded and helped the Force to implement a ‘Safer Relationships’ programme that intervenes with prolific, high risk domestic abuse offenders to manage their offending
• Planned a campaign with Northamptonshire Police and other partners to begin in November, that will promote an environment where people can spot the early signs of domestic abuse and help victims feel confident to disclose abuse

Other initiatives, such as paying for resources to help make victims’ homes more secure, are also in the pipeline.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said:  “Domestic abuse has no place in Northamptonshire. This strategy shows that working together, we are serious in our intention to create an atmosphere where abuse will not be tolerated and I am pleased to have been able to make this a reality.

“I have already set in place a number of actions from my side, and I look forward to this contribution being part of an overall plan that ensures the right support is available for those who need it.”

Martin Hammond, Chairman of the Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership, said:  “Domestic abuse is one of the Partnership’s top priorities and this strategy is the first the Board has finalised. Each agency will now take the strategy for approval through their own organisations, so that we can be confident it will have the right profile and collective ownership. The Board will be overseeing and monitoring its impact over the coming months and years.”

Members of the Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership are: Boroughs and District and the county councils; Northamptonshire Police; Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service; National Probation Service; Bench CIC; Youth Offending Service; Clinical Commissioning Group; Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

You can find the strategy here