Photo story: we will not tolerate domestic abuse in York

Far too many lives are impacted by the devastating effects of domestic abuse – an estimated 32,500 adult victims alone in York and North Yorkshire.

A new strategy has been adopted by City of York Council (CYC) with a clear message that we will not tolerate domestic abuse within our region.

The strategy will help provide crucial support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, along with work to reduce risk from perpetrators.

The adoption of the strategy and its key priorities and commitments means there is a ‘whole system approach’ providing multi-agency support across the region including CYC, as well as North Yorkshire Council, the Office of Fire, Police and Crime Commissioner and North Yorkshire Police.

Multi-agency working will be embedded into approaches to responding to domestic abuse and should offer a range of interventions and support, from early intervention to support for high-risk cases through formalised safeguarding arrangements.

This includes a focus on prevention, so improving understanding of healthy relationships and raising awareness of what constitutes domestic abuse, so it goes further than just supporting those already experiencing domestic abuse.

You can view the strategy here

Cllr Jo Coles, Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

“Last year there were over 2,000 domestic abuse related crimes in York. Behind each of those crimes are victims and survivors and their family members who need support to live free from abuse and harm. It’s vital perpetrators are held properly accountable for their crimes. To address this it’s vital domestic abuse is everybody’s business. This strategy is part of that approach and will help us work collaboratively across all our communities, putting the voices of victims at the heart of our response.”

Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health at City of York Council, said:

“This needs to be an issue of urgency for all of us. This strategy is a major milestone in our work across North Yorkshire and York to drive system-level change around Domestic Abuse, for the sake of all our communities and residents.

“I really recognise the effect this has on our population, affecting twice as many women as men, and the burden of distress this places on people’s mental, emotional, social and physical health, never mind the wider costs to society.

“There is no one agency able to tackle this issue alone. So, we have to work together; that is why strategies like these are so important.”

Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and York, said:

“Domestic Abuse has a devastating and long-term impact for too many of our residents and their families throughout York and North Yorkshire. Building on the successful partnership approaches developed over the past 5 years, this new Joint Domestic Abuse Strategy reaffirms our commitment to working together to tackle Domestic Abuse at every opportunity, providing the right support at the right time, with an emphasis on awareness raising and early intervention to meet the needs of any victim, survivor, perpetrator and their children, thereby reducing demand on operational policing services and other related statutory services such as health, housing and social care.”

Evie Duarte, IDAS North Yorkshire Regional Manager, said:

“IDAS welcomes the new Domestic Abuse Strategy and the collaborative efforts to eliminate domestic abuse from our communities, including the focus on prevention and early intervention.

“The strategy sets out a clear commitment to making domestic abuse everyone’s business by including the community, healthcare, education, and enterprise in a coordinated effort to ‘drive change together’. We support over 5,000 people locally, and we know that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“It will take all of us to keep our communities safe from abuse and violence.  We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that people across the City of York and county of North Yorkshire can access the same, high-quality support wherever they live. Our services are inclusive and accessible to anyone impacted by domestic abuse, irrespective of sex, gender-identity, sexuality, or immigration status”.

Dr Ira Laketic-Ljubojevic, CEO at Kyra Women’s Project said:

“Although there are a variety of reasons women come to Kyra, the uniting factor is that they all want to feel safe and need support to rebuild their lives. Our flag-ship project Route to Recovery helps women recovering from domestic abuse and/or mental illness to set and accomplish goals for recovery and personal growth. I welcome the new strategy and am looking forward to working with colleagues in tackling domestic abuse and its consequences in York and the wider area.”

The council has adopted a public health approach to tackling domestic abuse, and the aims and objectives of this strategy will reduce health inequalities and contribute to creating more positive conditions for health in York.

Get help and support by visiting www.york.gov.uk/DomesticAbuse

In an emergency, if someone is in immediate danger or your safety is threatened, call North Yorkshire Police on 999.

Local Independent Domestic Abuse Services

Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) provide support and advice to men and women across York and North Yorkshire.

IDAS Helpline: 03000 110 110.

Live is chat is also available via the IDAS website.

Foundation +Choices

Our service offer a perpetrator behaviour change program. This service aims to promote positive behaviour change among those who harm and is provided by Foundation.

Foundation +Choices Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline service operates a 24-hour free phone line and a live chat.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247