Domestic abuse report

An update on actions taken to combat domestic abuse in North Lanarkshire has been presented to councillors.

The report states that levels of domestic abuse in North Lanarkshire remain “stubbornly high,”with around 4000 incidents reported each year and significantly more going unreported.

Despite disruption relating to Covid, the Violence AgainstWomen Strategic Partnership has resumed meetings and is working on new plans, a review of current performance and developing a system to review domestic abuse resulting in death.

A new Practice Development Plan was agreed in January.

Referrals under MARAC – the system which manages the highest risk cases – dropped to 70 in the early stages of the pandemic, but were soon back up to 137.

More funding is being allocated accordingly.The UP2U Family Intervention Programme, designed to help abusers change their behaviour, has been approved in the form of a 12-month scheme.

A steering group has been established for the Mentors inViolence Prevention programme which is designed to help young people challenge domestic abuse, bullying and other violence.

Allocations have also been given to specialist local organisations including Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis and SayWomen.

The council’s Aura service, which provides support for domestic abuse victims, now has a permanent manager following a contract award to SACRO who operate it on behalf of the council.

Referrals, including from other organisations such as the police have grown since this was established, with 68 new referrals in late 2021.

The committee also agreed that the new Violence AgainstWomen Strategy and Action Plan is presented to a future meeting for approval.