Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that with the replacement of Ms for Mrs in paragraph (4) the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 21 January 2013 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.  

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Committee noted the responses to the issues raised previously.

The following people will attend the meeting to introduce the report and answer members’ questions.

• Angela Slaven : Director Service Improvement
• Stuart Beaumont : Head of Community Safety & Emergency Planning
• Alison Gilmour : Kent & Medway Domestic Violence Co-ordinator
• Stuart Skilton : Area Manager Community Safety (Kent Fire and Rescue Service)

(1)     The Chairman welcomed Mr Stuart Beaumont, Head of Community Safety and Emergency Planning, Mrs Alison Gilmour, Kent and Medway Domestic Violence Co-ordinator and Mr Stuart Skilton, Area Manager Community Safety (Kent Fire and Rescue) to the meeting. 

(2)     Mr Beaumont explained the complexity behind Domestic Abuse; there was an average of 65 incidents reported to Kent Police every day but only 5000 prosecutions a year.  In addition the Council had carried out 12 domestic homicide reviews in the past 18 months.  

(3)     The focus was on prevention, education, supporting victims, enforcement and judicial system and there were a large number of organisations involved. 

(4)     In Kent there had been a gaining awareness of issues surrounding Domestic Abuse, a Select Committee had been established as a result of concerns that victims of domestic abuse often fell through the ‘safety net’ or discontinued pursuing their cases in Court due in part to a lack of clarity on referral points. 

(5)     The Select Committee had made 14 recommendations which were contained within the Action Plan and Members were being asked to agree that the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy Group should be the accountable body to oversee the implementation of recommendations within the Domestic Abuse Select Committee report.  In addition to this Members were also asked to agree that a small multi-agency Task and Finish Group should be established to put into place appropriate management and service delivery action in order to work towards achieving the Select Committee recommendations. 

(6)     Mr Skilton explained that he was the Chairman of the Domestic Abuse Strategy Group, the group had links with all relevant agencies and worked towards behavioural and lifestyle changes to allow a reduction in domestic abuse. 

(7)     In response to a question about a link between domestic abuse and socioeconomic groups Mrs Gilmour reported that incidents of domestic abuse had risen slightly, however there was awareness that these were reported incidents and that it often took a long time for someone to report domestic abuse but the associated services were getting busier.  It was believed that in times of additional stress there were more opportunities for abuse to take place and that alcohol and drugs also affected the levels of domestic abuse reported.  Domestic Abuse affected the whole of society but there tended to be higher reporting rates in highly populated areas.

(8)     One Member raised the work that was being done within schools; domestic abuse had a hugely detrimental effect on children even when they were not the direct victim of the abuse. 

(9)     The Alcohol Select Committee found that 90% of domestic abuse incidents that were attended by the police related to substance abuse.  It was also vitally important to maintain links with young carers in difficult family circumstances.  The officers confirmed that there were alcohol specialists such as KDAT (Kent Drug and Alcohol Team) and alcohol drug misuse services involved in the work of the Domestic Abuse Strategy Group. 

(10)In relation to the increase in reported incidents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

RESOLVED that the exempt minute of the meeting held on Wednesday, 12 December 2012 be approved as a correct record and that it be signed by the Chairman