24 Hour Domestic Violence Help-line

From Home Office Press release:

'The number of local multi-agency domestic violence action teams is to double with a cash boost of nearly £2 million, the Home Secretary John Reid announced today at the start of domestic violence month.

Domestic violence is a crime that affects one in four women and one in six men and March is domestic violence month, led by the Home Office.

The Home Secretary, John Reid, said:

“Domestic violence is a terrible crime that seriously affects too many people in our communities. Public protection is my top priority, on the streets or in our homes. The Government is committed to ensuring that victims are given the support they need and people who commit domestic violence are bought to justice.”

The action teams - Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) - involve key agencies, police, probation, education, health, housing and the voluntary sector, working together on an individual victim’s case to share information. This means they can build up a comprehensive picture of the abuse and agree action to best support and protect a domestic violence victim and their family. 

Today’s new funding will mean there are 100 MARACs across England and Wales by March 2008.

Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland said:

“No one should have to live with the fear of violence and abuse in their own homes and throughout March the Government is looking to raise awareness of this terrible crime.

“MARACs are the latest development in the Government’s work to ensure that all the agencies a domestic violence victim comes into contact with are coordinated in order to ensure that victims are individually supported and protected from the moment they call the police, through the court process and beyond.

“I urge anyone who is suffering this cowardly crime to come forward and seek the help that is out there.”

In Cardiff, the first place to hold MARACs, the level of reported repeat victimisation dropped from 32 per cent to less than 10 per cent between 2004 and 2006.

Ensuring a victim’s safety also means that more offenders can be brought to justice. The Government has introduced specialist domestic violence courts and there are already more than 60 across England and Wales. These courts have bought in measures including dedicated police and prosecutors as well as separate entrances and waiting areas so that victims do not run into their attackers.

The Government has also funded a regional network of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). These are professionally trained people who support victims of domestic violence from the moment they call the police, ensure the MARACs are kept updated on their circumstances and support them through the specialist domestic violence courts