Decision details

Kiran Vargwarl (Strategic Lead for Community Safety) and Peter Clifton (Community Safety Manager) presented the draft Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2017-2020. 

A Board Member questioned how the strategy recognised non-violent behaviour and coercion as there was concern that this area of domestic violence was underreported.  Kiran Vargwarl reported that part of the Strategy would be to review casework to develop the evidence base.  This would include case reviews from Family Services and Adults.  It was noted that examples of non-violent abuse would be included in the Strategy. 

It was questioned how engagement with difference communities would take place.  The Board were advised that the police were working with community based charities and the safer neighbourhood’s teams were undertaking outreach work with schools. 

A Board Member questioned what consideration had been given to the issue of increased reporting vs. increased prevalence in the Strategy.  Peter Clifton advised that this would be addressed as part of the deeper analysis in the Strategy.  Simon Rose informed the Board that the police considered the repeat rate and reported that 50% of offenders didn’t repeat.  He added that after three incidents preventative resources were increased.

Kiran Vargwarl requested comments on the draft Strategy from partners by 5 May.  She reported that the following would be consulted: CommUNITY Barnet; Barnet Youth Forum; service users; Schools Circular; DV Forum and MARAC; and the Community Leadership Committee. 

Dr Simon Harding (Middlesex University) requested that the Strategy be promoted through the University there were 20,000 female students and staff.  It was suggested that this could take place through student union representatives.  The Chairman suggested that promotion could take place though the Communities Together Network, Safer Neighbourhoods Boards and Neighbourhood Watch.  Kiran Vargwarl added that there would be a media and communications plan to promote the Strategy. 

The Board agreed the draft Barnet and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2017-2020, subject to the changes set out in the published addendum relating to the Foreword and Executive Summary.