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For information targeted to service users please visit our domestic abuse web pages.

Hampshire Constabulary Poster Campaign - 'No Consent + Sex = Rape'

"As part of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police’s Sexual Offending Reduction Group, one of the elements to tackle was reducing the number of sexual assaults that are committed during the Night Time Economy. Having already implemented a successful campaign in Portsmouth for Freshers Week, we replicated it for the festive period of 2017 across the whole of the force. The scheme enabled us to work with partner agencies and local establishments such as bars and clubs to promote messages of safety and awareness.

A series of posters were designed which were put up in venues, the likes of which had not been seen before. They covered what is unacceptable behaviour in the way of harassment and unwanted attention – both physical and verbal, and that help is available. They also encouraged persons to speak out on behalf of others if they witnessed this behaviour.

The other posters centred on what rape means – and was written in 16 different languages to be as diverse as possible. The most impactful one was titled ‘When does drunken sex become rape?’ We also had these printed as small business sized cards so officers on patrol could hand them out.

Staff in venues were consulted on why we were doing it, and all bought into it and gave it their full support. A poster was designed to answer staff’s questions, and these were displayed in staff rooms.

Evaluation of the festive period is still on-going, but early reports suggest offending was very low" - Hampshire Constabulary

The posters can be downloaded below:

Poster 1 - please click here (PDF, 814KB, 1 page)

Poster 2 - please click here (PDF, 654KB, 1 page)

Poster 3 - please click here (PDF, 643KB, 1 page)

Controlling and Coercive Behaviour Toolkit

Social workers have been issued guidance on safeguarding people who are victims of controlling and coercive behaviour. The Department of Health has funded a set of tools to help practitioners respond to the issue, which experts say underpins domestic abuse and can be a heightened risk among people with care and support needs.

To access the toolkit, please click here (this will take you to an external website).

A new criminal offence was introduced on the 29 December 2015 of 'Controlling or Coercive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship' which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The offence closes the gap in law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour that occurs during a relationship between intimate partners, former partners who still live together, or family members and sends a clear message that this form of domestic abuse can constitute a serious offence.

While the legislation is gender neutral, statistics consistently show that women and girls are disproportionately affected by crimes of domestic violence and abuse. In 2014/15, 92.4% of defendants in Domestic Abuse cases were male.

Victims of 'Controlling or Coercive Behaviour' may not recognise themselves as such. It is therefore important that agencies dealing with and supporting victims of domestic abuse recognise the potential evidence that can identify this offence. The types of behaviour a perpetrator might demonstrate might include:

• Isolating a person from their family and friends.
• Depriving them of their basic needs.
• Monitoring their time.
• Depriving them of access to support services, such as specialist support or medical services.
• Repeatedly putting them down such as telling them they are worthless.
• Enforcing rules and activity which humiliate, degrade or dehumanise the victim.
• Financial abuse which includes the controlling of finances, such as only allowing a punitive allowance.

There may be other forms of behaviour or abuse which will constitute an offence in their own right such as assault, rape, criminal damage or threats to kill.

The police and specialist services are available to support victims of 'Controlling and Coercive Behaviour' and it is important for agencies to consider making a referral or signposting a victim when identified.

For further information on this legislation, please visit the GOV.Uk website by clicking here, where you can then access the Home Office Statutory Guidance Framework.

YOU Trust  - Reporting Domestic Abuse

If you have received a disclosure of domestic abuse from an individual, please refer them to the YOU Trust website or ring the freephone helpline on 0800 234 6266. Please note: you may get the answer phone when the service is busy or if you call out of office hours.

 

ISVA Service (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor)

An ISVA is an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, who offers confidential advice and support to both males and females who have been the victims of recent or historic sexual violence. This service is run by the Hampton Trust.

What victims can expect from the service

ISVAs will give them the information they need to decided what it is they would like and need. For example:

• Practical advice on reporting to the police, the legal process and attending court
• Refer them for counselling and other appropriate services
• Help to co-ordinate different agencies, such as sexual health, mental health, substance misuse and housing
• Liaise with the police for regular case updates, if they choose to report the sexual assault
• Regular and ongoing telephone contact and/or face to face meetings and support

 

If the victim wishes, they can also go with them to the following:

• Sexual Assault and Referral Centre (SARC) at Treetops
• Police, if they choose to report
• Sexual health clinic
• Court
• Doctors
• Housing office

 

An ISVA will only provide the support the victim chooses. The role is not to tell them what to do, but helping them make informed choices.

If you would like to refer someone to this service, please click here for a referral form.

If you would like further information, please contact:

• April White ISVA, Telephone: 07930 932249
• Deborah Gearing ISVA, Telephone: 07376 083950
• Email: isva@hamptontrust.org.uk

 

Domestic Abuse Posters

A new poster campaign was launched across the island in September 2016. If you would like to download and print the posters, please click here (PDF, 656KB, 4 pages). Alternatively, please contact us via the above 'contact' tab and we can arrange to have material posted out to you. These posters are free of charge.

Home Office Posters

The 'Disrespect nobody' Campaign by the Home Office was launched in 2016. Posters from the campaign, which was shown widely on television, can be downloaded by clicking below:

• Poster 1 - (PDF, 325MB, 1 page)
• Poster 2 - (PDF, 1.86MB, 1 page)
• Poster 3 - (PDF, 3.31MB, 1 page)
• Poster 4 - (PDF, 3.37MB, 1 page)
• Poster 5 - (PDF, 1.69MB, 1 page)

 

Modern Slavery

The Modern Slavery Partnership has made the following guidance and resources available: 

Global Slavery Index 2016

The Global Slavery Index has now released it’s 2016 report. This estimates that there are 11,700 people in Modern Slavery in the UK. The following are recommendations put forward:

Government

• Implement the recommendations made in the independent review of the Overseas Domestic Workers (ODW) visa and immediately revoke the tied visa.
• Sign and ratify ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.
• Enact a statutory system of independent child trafficking advocates or guardians for all separated and trafficked children.
• Ensure provision of specialist foster care for trafficked children and training of frontline workers.
• Improve data collection on victims and perpetrators of modern slavery in the UK and encourage European countries to follow the UKs led by estimating prevalence within their borders so progress can be tracked over time.
• Increase funding for quality-assessed victim-support shelters and services.
• Undertake a robust and comprehensive evaluation of the NRM pilots ensuring inclusion of victim feedback.
• Restructure and reform the NRM to improve identification decision-making, and improve access to services and outcomes for victims of modern slavery.
• Closely monitor the impact of the supply chain requirements of the Modern Slavery Act, to ensure they deliver results not just reporting.

You can read the full UK country report and that of countries around the world by clicking here and visiting the website.

Slides for your Child Safeguarding Presentations:

You can now download ready made PowerPoint slides, courtesy of the Hampshire Barnardo’s Trafficking Service, to insert directly into your Safeguarding training on Child Trafficking. 

The slides are available from the Modern Slavery Partnership website by clicking here.

For further information on these PowerPoint slides, please contact Kate Norman, Team Manager at kate.norman@barnardos.org.uk.

FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Resource Pack

FGM Guidance from Karen Bradley MP and the Home Office was updated in May 2016. The link below will take you to the new FGM Resource Pack homepage, which contains FGM guidance, case studies and support materials for local authorities, professional services and specialist voluntary organisations.

Please click here to access the information, you will be re-directed to a UK Government website.

 

Domestic violence and abuse from GOV.UK

GOV.UK  provides information on domestic abuse.