Spotlight on Domestic Violence

Witness Protection

“An awareness week is a good way of focusing on the problem, but domestic violence can happen any week, any day or any night, 365 days a year.

Those who are on the receiving end and those who work with them are only too aware of that already. Awareness is the first step towards doing something about it, but we must not stop there. We must redouble our efforts to ensure there is no hiding place for the perpetrators of this crime and that survivors can rebuild their lives in safety”.

Discord between parents has a debilitating effect on many children, who become indirect victims of Domestic Violence. In Devon last year, 8,200 incidents of Domestic Violence were recorded but, with many incidents going unreported, this could be tip of a much larger iceberg.

EDDC is a member of the East & Mid-Devon Community Safety Partnership, which is running the local elements of awareness week. The Council’s Housing Service works closely with the Police and with Social Services to help the victims of domestic violence and will assist tenants who become homeless as a result of domestic violence.

The Council is also a member of the East Devon Sanctuary Scheme, which helps victims of domestic violence to obtain extra security measures. Other members of the scheme include:

• The Police
• Women’s Aid
• Devon Care and Repair
• Devon and Cornwall Housing Association

East Devon District Council is in the process of creating its own Domestic Violence policy, in line with that of the county council, as EDDC can expect to encounter the issues around domestic violence in its roles as employer, landlord, adviser and inspector, quite apart from its leadership role on Community Safety.

Safe Houses

Gerry Moore, Community Safety Officer for the East & Mid Devon Community Safety Partnership, said: “Once again East Devon is showing its commitment to raising awareness of the very real and serious issues surrounding domestic violence and abuse.  People in districts such as ours need to take these issues seriously. Just because it has never happened to them, they should not assume that it does not exist.  One in four women will experience domestic violence or abuse in their lifetime and two women are murdered every week in England and Wales by their current or ex-partners”.