The Kent and Medway Partnership Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024-2029, produced by the Kent and Medway Domestic and Sexual Abuse Executive Group, sets out a new five-year plan to develop and improve our response to domestic abuse.
By bringing together partners including Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent District, Borough and City councils, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Services, National Probation Service, NHS providers, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Police and Crime Commissioner, the strategy aims to reduce occurrences of domestic abuse and ensure that when it takes place, those affected get the right support, quickly.
Domestic abuse is a widespread and persistently underreported form of crime which affected 2.4 million people across the UK last year.
In 2021/22, over 100 domestic abuse related crimes per day were recorded by Kent Police. 40% of incidents recorded a child or children as present.
As well as violent behaviour, domestic abuse can also include sexual, psychological, emotional abuse or coercive and controlling behaviour.
It can happen across different types of relationships and affect men as well as women and children.
The commitments in the strategy are presented in three key priorities informed by people with lived experience of this appalling crime:
- Early intervention and prevention - identify domestic abuse as early as possible and get support in place.
- Immediate needs – services, interventions, and support during episodes and immediately after.
- Recovery – support to recover from harm, heal and become resilient.
The strategy also identifies how the partnership will improve access to safe accommodation services for victims wishing to remain in their own home if it is safe to do so or help them access alternative accommodation and support to keep them safe from harm elsewhere.
“In drafting this strategy, we have worked hard with our partners to listen and understand the stories and experiences of victims, shaping our new strategy around the support and services they have told us they need...”
Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, said: "Domestic abuse is an appalling crime that poses a fundamental challenge to our communities, harming whole families and often having a lasting impact spanning generations.
"In drafting this strategy, we have worked hard with our partners to listen and understand the stories and experiences of victims, shaping our new strategy around the support and services they have told us they need.
“However, many still suffer in silence.
“No-one should experience domestic abuse. Through this strategy and its clear commitments, we will work together to reduce abuse from happening, strengthen our collective services and make sure we continue to learn from experiences and adapt our services appropriately.
“I encourage everyone, particularly those who sadly may have experience of domestic abuse and the charities and organisations in the sector, to give us your views in this consultation to ensure we can offer the best and most appropriate support to people and families affected by domestic abuse in the future.”
The consultation will run from the 24 July to 9 October 2023.
Please visit www.kent.gov.uk/domesticabusestrategy to complete the online questionnaire.
Feedback is also welcome via the word version of the questionnaire or via email, letter, or phone if you don’t want to fill out the questionnaire.
Email: PSRPolicy@kent.gov.uk
Address: Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy, Kent County Council, 2.70 Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone ME14 1XQ
If you need any of the information about the consultation in a different format, please email alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 421553 (text relay service number: 18001 03000 421553).
If you have any questions, please contact us on PSRPolicy@kent.gov.uk.
Following the end of the consultation a full analysis and report will be completed and will be presented at governance groups, including the Kent and Medway Domestic and Sexual Abuse Executive Group, before the strategy is agreed and finalised. This will also be published at www.kent.gov.uk/domesticabusestrategy
If you need support now this can be accessed by telephoning: Victim Support in Kent on 0808 168 9276, Oasis on 08009179948 in Medway or visiting http://www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk
If you are in immediate danger, please do not be afraid to call 999, otherwise you can contact Kent Police on the non-emergency telephone number 101 or visit your local police station to speak with an officer in confidence.
