Protecting vulnerable people and breaking the cycle of domestic abuse
A daily focus on incidents and dedicated police officers are ensuring domestic abuse cases in Essex are a priority.
With domestic abuse accounting for 33 per cent of all violent crime in the county, police are working to protect those at risk and reduce the number who become victims.
In 2021/2022, 24,284 cases of violence against the person related to domestic abuse were recorded, an increase of 5.4%.
As a result, breaking the cycle of domestic abuse is a key focus to reduce vulnerability in Essex.
The force has this year launched DA Today, an internal daily update on current cases, which provides additional focus and drive to ensure attendance at domestic abuse incidents is treated as a priority by local policing teams and are attended within 24 hours of being reported.
The work has seen better evidence captured and cases progressed more successfully.
That focus is supported by the investment in extra police officers to respond to domestic abuse and the development of the new Domestic Abuse Problem Solving Teams.
The teams work alongside the established Domestic Abuse Investigations Teams to manage the most prolific domestic abuse perpetrators and the most vulnerable victims.
They focus on working with these individuals to identify ways to resolve recurring incidents to prevent future harm and reduce repeat victimisation.
The Commissioner has commissioned perpetrator behaviour change programmes, delivered by The Change Project, to confront and change dangerous behaviour before it can cause more harm.
The £170,000 investment saw more than 280 referrals in the last year, with a 95 per cent reduction in physical violence.
In Essex, the work to tackle domestic abuse is co-ordinated by the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB).
The board is chaired by Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Jane Gardner and works with partners to enable everyone to live a life free from all forms of domestic abuse.
The Commissioner, along with SETDAB partners, commissions services to support victims from Victim Support who offer the first line of support to more specialist services such as Next Chapter, Safe Steps and Changing Pathways which is co-commissioned with Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council.
The services deliver an integrated domestic abuse support service including refuges, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and community-based support.
