Domestic violence

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The facts

• Domestic violence accounts for 16 per cent of violent incidents in the UK.
• One in four women and one in six men have been a victim of domestic violence since the age of 16.
• Domestic violence has more repeat victims than any other crime (on average there will have been 35 assaults before a victim calls the police).
• 89 per cent of those suffering four or more attacks of domestic violence are women.
• On average, domestic violence claims the lives of two women each week and 30 men each year.
• 75 per cent of children on the child protection register are living with domestic violence.
• Domestic violence costs in excess of £23billion a year.
• Domestic violence is the largest cause of morbidity worldwide in women aged 19-44 (greater than war, cancer or motor vehicle accidents).

Source: The Home Office (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/domestic-violence).

Are you a woman in need of advice and support due to domestic abuse?

Women and children fleeing domestic violence are vulnerable. As well as a roof over their heads, they need time and guidance for the future. Casa Support (www.crowebridge-housing.org.uk) offers this, from crisis to resettlement. It also gives valuable peace of mind for outside referring agencies.

Casa Support offers accommodation and an extensive network of support to women, with or without children, who are fleeing domestic violence. Refuges of various sizes and self-contained flats are located across Kent. Shared housing operates within guidelines for the safety and protection of all residents. All of the accommodation also offers anonymity and protection, for as long as is needed: for example, there are firm policies on the admission of men into refuges. After a period of time, women who are ready to move on to more independent living but who will still need some support, can move into the self contained flats.

More information is available about finding a refuge in Medway, including specific information for Asian women who want to speak to someone about finding a refuge.

Other useful contacts:

• Police – Medway Domestic Abuse Team
  
  
  • 01634 792308
  • domestic.violence.dz@kent.pnn.police.uk
• Women’s Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk)
• Soroptimist International (www.soroptimistinternational.org)
• Crown Prosecution Service (www.cps.gov.uk)
• Domestic Violence Intervention Project Women's Support Service (www.dvip.org/wss/aboutwss.html)
• Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk/page_l1-3_l2-235_l3-237_.htm)
• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
• Samaritans (www.samaritans.org/talk_to_someone/find_my_local_branch/south_east/rochester.aspx)
• Health Visitors (www.healthvisitors.com)
• NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx)
• Adult care
• Medway Lifeline
• Depression Alliance (www.depressionalliance.org)
• Her Majesty's Courts Service (www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk)
• Department for Work and Pensions (www.dwp.gov.uk)
• Medway Council Community Safety Staff
• Relate (www.relate.org.uk)
• Mental Health Services
• The Probation Service (www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp)
• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) (www.nspcc.org.uk)
• Victim Support (www.victimsupport.org/vs_england_wales/index.php)
• Supporting People

Are you a man in need of advice and support due to domestic abuse?

• The Mankind Initiative (www.mankind.org.uk)
  
  
  • 0870 794 4124
• Survivors (www.survivorsuk.org)
• www.mensadviceline.org.uk
  
  
  • 0845 122 8609

Do you want details of Medway Domestic Abuse Forum?

The forum is part of Medway Community Safety Partnership. More information can be obtained by contacting Angela Howe, Chair, at:

57 Romsey Close
Strood
Kent ME2 3TJ

01634 724365

Email: medwaydaf@aol.com

In the event of an emergency occurring outside normal office hours (Monday - Thursday, 8.30am–5.15pm, Friday 8.30am-4.45pm) contact a duty social worker on the 24-hour emergency contact numbers below.

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