Support for domestic violence victims

The East Sussex Domestic Violence Group is working to provide better services and helping to co-ordinate the efforts of agencies trying to tackle the problem.

To help highlight the issue, the Group will launch its new Domestic Violence Strategy at the Safer Communities Stakeholder Conference in Eastbourne on Friday 13 October.

Speaking on behalf of the Group, Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Safety at East Sussex County Council, said: "In the past, many victims of domestic violence didn't report these incidents but increasingly people are now coming forward to ask for help. The important point to make to those going through this is that they are not alone - help is available.

"Key aims of the new Strategy relate to helping the victims of domestic violence and their families with better provision for children and young people. The Strategy also seeks to develop services to increase reports of domestic violence and reduce repeat incidents."

The Group is made up of the County Council, District and Borough councils, Primary Care Trusts, the Police, probation and local service providers such as CRI and Refuge. The partners will launch their strategy at the Safer Communities Stakeholder Conference being held on Friday 13 October from 10am-3.00pm at the T&G Centre in Eastbourne.

The Conference brings together all the key agencies in the community safety arena and provides a platform for greater collaborative working. The conference will focus on:

Partnership progress on tackling crime and substance misuse The launch of the East Sussex Domestic Violence Strategy The development of a Substance Misuse Harm Reduction Strategy

Workshops showcasing innovative services and projects covering community safety and substance misuse, such as the new Family Substance Misuse Service, will also be a feature of the Conference.

Notes for editors

You are welcome to send a reporter and/or photographer to the Safer Communities Conference at the T&G Centre, Grand Parade, Eastbourne on Friday 13 October 2006. For further details please contact Marcus Gomm on (01323) 466531.

Domestic Violence costs East Sussex millions of pounds per year and tackling the issue continues to be a key local and national priority. That is why local partners included it as a key outcome in the East Sussex Local Area Agreement. Recent statistics highlight the importance of a multi-agency East Sussex Domestic Violence Strategy:

Every three days a woman is killed in a domestic violence incident nationally.

On average a woman is assaulted 35 times; 90% of the time this is in front of her children, before she has the courage to contact the Police.

After reporting to the Police there is usually a repeat incident within five weeks that requires a further Police intervention.

Nationally 360,000 incidents of domestic violence are linked to alcohol (2002).