AN independent charity and a commissioned provider of domestic abuse support services in Devon is working closely with West Devon police to help victims.
Since April 2014, Splitz has received just under 9,000 referrals for victims of domestic abuse, including 3,000 in the last year. Splitz provides a whole family approach to tackling domestic abuse, ensuring the safety and well-being of victims and their children, whilst working in partnership with other agencies to find a long-term solution to domestic abuse.
West Devon has its own qualified and highly experienced independent domestic violence advocate (IDVA) Vikki.
Based in the local West Devon communities, Vikki works closely with victims who are at high risk from domestic abuse, supporting them through the multiagency process (MARAC) and providing safety planning and crisis intervention as well as advocacy on their behalf with other agencies.
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Vikki is currently also completing a project alongside the police in West Devon to further support victims of abuse.
Over the last few years there have been many changes in the law around domestic abuse, including stricter guidelines on harassment and coercive control and in response, the police are dealing with a higher level of these kinds of cases.
The aim of the project is to work together to improve and develop services to domestic abuse victims in the area by supporting them to give feedback to the police on the service they have received and the impact that this has had on their lives and safety.
Vikki’s role in these meetings is to offer emotional support to the clients to enable them to give open and honest feedback on the service they have received.
The goal is to improve services and to give a more all round and multi agency response to victims by involving both the police and Splitz where needed and wanted by the clients.
Feedback from clients has been positive about the experience, and many have reported that being able to discuss their experience directly with the police has left them feeling listened to and valued.
They have been pleased to give positive feedback about good experiences and to suggest changes that would make the process more suitable for victims of abuse.
About the project, Vikki said: ‘I feel that this is a really positive initiative as it puts the focus onto the victims of domestic abuse and the seriousness of their situation and experiences.
‘In working together we can provide a service that can aim to reduce the risks to victims and their families and increase the action that can be taken against perpetrators of domestic abuse.’
West Devon DS Beverley Havis said: ‘We ask victims to come back with Vikki and run through their experiences with the police — we ask so we can learn. We then feedback to officers where they are going right or wrong.
‘The only way we can get better is by learning and listening.’
Chrissy Stower, Splitz Devon service manager, said: ‘We have worked hard with the police to improve our services in West Devon and to encourage families suffering from domestic abuse to come forward and seek help.
‘Vikki has been at the forefront of this work and her success can be seen in the positive feedback that we receive from her clients and from the police. I would like to thank the police for their support of Vikki and her work.’