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Video: How a domestic
violence course changed my life

by Lynn Cox

A three-year plan to help victims of domestic abuse has been
launched in Kent.

The strategy will see Kent Police, the Crown Prosecution
Service, Kent Probation and other organistations work more closely
together to support victims through the justice system.

The annual bill for dealing with domestic violence costs the
taxpayer more than £300 million.

Under the scheme, women and men all over Kent and Medway will
now be able to source a wide range of services to help them change
their lives for the better.

Police say they get about 55 new cases of domestic violence
reported to them every day, but also admit they cannot estimate the
true extent of the crime.

The aim of the plan is not only give people the right to live
their lives free of fear and violence, but to also try and cut the
number of incidents.

According to police, domestic violence accounts for 20 per cent
of all violent crime and has the highest repeat offenders of any
crime.

Also where victims and abusers have children it is thought 40
per cent of these youngsters have lived with domestic violence all
their lives.

Home Office officials estimate the cost of crime and other
sexual abuse cases in the county to health, housing, social
services and the criminal justice system at £317 million a
year.

The multi-agency strategy, being introduced by the Kent and
Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy Group, includes providing victims
and witnesses with a safe and supportive way through the criminal
justice system.

The group not only includes police and the CPS, but also the
charity sector, volunteer and campaign groups working with people
who live with domestic violence.

The plans also include identifying any gaps in the service as
well as improving the quality of life for victims.

Their initiative will help bring abusers to justice and make
sure they are held accountable for their behaviour, protect the
public and reduce re-offending.

The strategy is being spearheaded by the Kent Criminal Justice
Board (KCJB).

Adrian Leppard, deputy chief constable of Kent and chairman of
KCJB, said: "Domestic violence is a major priority for criminal
justice agencies and in Kent we can point to some innovative
schemes which aim to change attitudes, protect victims and reduce
re-offending.

"The new strategy emphasises the need for multi-agency working
and for us all to be focused on key ambitions.

"It is particularly important in these times of tight budgets
that we pool our limited resources and work together to target them
in a way that makes a real difference to vulnerable people's
lives."

The group has agreed four key ambitions:

• Reduce domestic abuse and change attitudes.
• Provide support to victims, including children who have witnessed domestic abuse.
• Protect victims of domestic abuse.
• Multi-agency working.