New figures show rise in offences in the borough
The latest snapshot of domestic violence offences across London’s local authorities has revealed an increase in 25 of 32 boroughs surveyed, including a rise of 6% in Ealing.
The figures – covering the 12 months to September 2013, the most recent data available from the Metropolitan Police – are part of London Probation Trust’s efforts to promote White Ribbon Day (25 November), marking the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
London-wide, domestic offences were up 6% overall year-on-year. For the second year running London Probation Trust is supporting domestic abuse charity Refuge, as part of a renewed drive to combat domestic violence across the capital. Since this April, London Probation Trust has worked with more than 850 male offenders.
“We are continuing to improve our work with the perpetrators of domestic violence, through targeted programmes which address abusive and controlling behaviours,” said Kuljit Sandhu, Head of Rehabilitation Services at London Probation Trust.
“Our domestic abuse programmes teach offenders alternative skills and behaviours to help them develop healthy, non-abusive relationships” she continued. “We are also producing further internal training resources for staff which tell the story from both the perpetrator’s and the victim’s perspectives.”
London Probation Trust works with perpetrators and supports victims from a wide variety of domestic settings, including male victims, and couples in same-sex relationships. The Trust also has 17 Women’s Safety Officers and one Men’s Safety Officer, who help and advise victims of domestic violence across the capital.
Kuljit commented: “On the one hand it can be encouraging to see domestic violence continuing to come out of the shadows as victims find the courage to report it to Police, but these statistics also show how far crime agencies have to go to, and the need for us all to work together to make victims safer.”
27th November 2013
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