Seriousness of domestic abuse emphasised in new sentencing guidelines

The Sentencing Council published new guidelines yesterday, which aim to ensure that the seriousness of domestic abuse is properly taken into account in sentencing.

Previous guidelines stated that offences committed in a domestic context should be seen as no less serious than those in a non-domestic context, whereas the new guideline emphasises that the fact an offence which took place in a domestic context makes it more serious.

For the first time, the guideline also includes a reference to abuse which is perpetrated through use of technology, such as email/text, social networking sites or tracking devices fitted to a victim’s car, since these are increasingly common methods by which domestic abuse can occur.

The consultation also covered proposed new guidelines for a variety of ‘intimidatory’ offences, such as harassment, stalking, disclosing private sexual images, controlling or coercive behaviour, and threats to kill. The definitive guidelines for these offences will be published separately this summer.

Read more here.

Local Police and Crime Commissioners announce extra funding

Police and Crime Commissioners for Suffolk and Norfolk announced extra funding this week, to help keep young people safe from digital threats, and for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault.

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Tim Passmore announced on Tuesday, the eleven organisations which have been successful in securing funding from the Stay Safe Online Fund.

The fund, which is administered by Suffolk Community Foundation, was open to charities and community groups who work with young people in the county to support cyber safety projects.

Volunteering Matters, The South West Grid for Learning Trust, Access Community Trust, Level Two, Ipswich Community Media, Bangladeshi Support Centre, Suffolk Refugee, The Friends of St Mary’s School, The Porch Project, Guardian Saints and Kernos will all benefit from the fund set aside by Suffolk’s PCC to combat this issue.

Read the full story here.

Norfolk PCC Lorne Green has announced he will be providing a further £155,000 to the Sue Lambert Trust. Operating from Norwich and Great Yarmouth, with satellite services in King’s Lynn and Thetford, the trust provides counselling, practical and emotional support to men, women and young people aged 11 and over who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault.

This includes:
• Face to face counselling for clients with complex issues – specialising in dealing with  issues of sexual violence and other forms of abuse.
• 12 weeks face to face counselling – for clients with less complex issues.
• Emotional and practical support for those on a waiting list for counselling, or with additional needs which includes providing emotional support, advocacy, practical advice and access to other services.
• Self-help groups – 4 groups per month for women who experienced childhood sexual abuse, and 2 groups for men who have experienced sexual violence or abuse.
• One off support sessions for people in crisis.

Read the full story here.

Victims of sexual abuse and violence encouraged to speak out

Victims of sexual abuse and violence are being encouraged to speak out as local police forces support a national week-long campaign to raise awareness.

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week takes place across the UK from today (5 February) until Sunday 11 February, with organisations raising awareness of the issues, using the hashtag #ItsNotOk2018.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC’s) called ‘The Ferns’ in Ipswich, and the ‘Harbour Centre’ in Norwich, were opened in 2010, to provide men, women and young people access to round-the-clock support and to allow victims to talk about their abuse.

The SARCs also offer offers medical examinations without police involvement following recent rape or sexual assault. However, if at any time a victim decides to talk to police, this can be arranged. They also offer the opportunity for people who suffered abuse in the past to come and talk with trained crisis workers to discuss what happened to them and to see what support they may need to aid their recovery.

Find more information about The Ferns in Ipswich here.

Find more information on the Harbour Centre in Norwich here.

Volunteering opportunity to provide support to vulnerable and disadvantaged women in Norfolk

St Giles Trust is looking to recruit a Volunteer Support Worker in Norfolk, for their Wonder+ Team, a female-led service that provides vital emotional and practical support to vulnerable and disadvantaged women.

St Giles Trust is a charity that helps ex-offenders and disadvantaged people to move their lives forward, offering support to help people overcome any issues that might be holding them back and to prevent the likelihood of them reoffending on release.

The Wonder+ team is a female-led initiative which offers a ‘Whole System Approach’, providing a tailored support service to women with complex and multiple needs and with a connection to Norfolk at every stage of their Criminal Justice System journey. Support would include assisting with police station/court-based assessments, local authority Homelessness Applications, access to supported housing and securing employment opportunities.

Closing date is 11 February.

Find out more details here.

Police target drivers using mobile phones

More than 240 people have been caught driving whilst using a mobile phone across Suffolk and Norfolk, during a week-long enforcement campaign.

‘Operation Ringtone’ ran between Monday 22 January and Sunday 28 January, coinciding with a nationwide campaign led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Officers patrolled the roads with marked and unmarked cars and motorcycles, which were all fitted with cameras to obtain evidence to help secure successful prosecutions.

In total roads policing officers issued 243 Traffic Offence Reports to drivers using a mobile phone whilst driving.

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and Chair of Norfolk & Suffolk Criminal Justice Board Lorne Green, said; “Operation Ringtone has shown that an astounding number of people are selfish and, frankly, stupid enough to risk not only their own lives but also those of other road users.
“Operations like this are a shopfront for the enforcement activity carried out by our police all year round. Don’t be foolish enough to think that, just because Operation Ringtone has finished, you won’t be caught. Let the drivers facing the consequences of being caught during this week of action be a lesson to you – just don’t do it.”

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, and Deputy Chair of Norfolk & Suffolk Criminal Justice Board, Tim Passmore, said: “Time and time again we see drivers using their phones on the move so I was fully behind the Constabulary’s Operation Ringtone campaign to increase enforcement on our county’s roads.

“Using a mobile phone at the wheel is reckless and costs lives. It absolutely horrifies me when I see drivers on their phones and sadly we see it all too often.”

He added: “I hope the publicity around these campaigns, the higher penalties that drivers face for using their mobile phone, and the fact that members of the public are submitting footage, will finally make those who continue to flaunt the law take note.”

Suffolk and Norfolk need new Magistrates

Suffolk and Norfolk are looking for new Magistrates.

Magistrates deal with around 95% of criminal cases such as assault, criminal damage and drink driving and can also be appointed to sit in the Family Court to hear cases involving the welfare and upbringing of children.

Magistrates need intelligence, common sense, integrity and the capacity to act fairly. No formal qualifications are required.

All magistrates are carefully trained before sitting and continue to receive training throughout their service. The role is unpaid, but allowances are provided to cover travelling expenses and subsistence.

Find out more here.

Calls for views on transforming the court estate

A government consultation was published yesterday, asking for views on proposals to modernise and improve the efficiency and quality of the current court estate.

Called ‘Fit for the future: transforming the court and tribunal estate’, plans are focussed around the principles of:

Modernising the court estate – delivering some services away from traditional court and tribunal buildings, online and through virtual hearings.

Improving the efficiency of the estate by maximising the use of remaining buildings, and investing in them for the long term.

Improving the quality of court buildings for the public, judiciary and staff.

The consultation runs until 29 March.

Read more details here.

Suffolk and Norfolk Christmas Drink Drive Campaign Results

More than 200 people were arrested across Suffolk and Norfolk, during the Christmas drink drive campaign with over 2,600 people breathalysed.

The month-long campaign launched on 1 December 2017, targeted drivers getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Patrols and roadside checks were carried out with Suffolk having a 3.9% fail rate, and Norfolk an 8.5% fail rate of all people who were breathalysed.

A total of 2698 tests were carried out, with a total of 151 drivers providing positive readings. Of the 366 drugs tests conducted 123 drivers failed.

This year saw specific time slots at the Magistrates Courts in Ipswich and Norwich being reserved to deal with those caught drink or drug driving. This effectively meant that offenders could lose their licence within 24 hours of being breathalysed whilst facing additional fines.

Read the Suffolk article here.

Read the Norfolk article here.

Department for Work and Pensions publishes new guide on help available for domestic abuse victims

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published a new guide to the services they provide for victims of domestic abuse.

It explains how to inform DWP about domestic abuse and the evidence Jobcentre Plus would need.

It also outlines the different benefits available to those who need them, including housing benefit, jobseekers’ allowance and universal credit.

Read the guide here.

Children are being exploited by drug crime gangs – know the signs to spot

As part of work by the Home Office to raise awareness of ‘county lines’, promotional posters are now available to download and display, to help frontline staff spot the signs of potential victims, and what to do next.

County lines gangs use children and vulnerable people to courier drugs and money – this is how it typically works:

• A group establishes a network between an urban hub and county location, into which drugs (primarily heroin and crack cocaine) are supplied;
• A branded mobile phone line is established in the market, to which orders are placed by introduced customers;
• The group exploits young or vulnerable persons, to achieve the storage and/or supply of drugs, movement of cash proceeds and to secure the use of dwellings;
• The group or individuals exploited by them regularly travel between the urban hub and the county market, to replenish stock and deliver cash;
• Intimidation, violence and weapons, including knives, corrosives and firearms are often used.

Locally, the University of Suffolk has carried out research and published a report, into local county lines, initially focusing on the Jubilee Park and Nacton Road areas of Ipswich, where residents and agencies had become increasingly concerned about the levels of crime, youth gang activity, drug dealing and distribution and the possible exploitation of children and young people. However, the scope was widened to cover Ipswich as a whole to ensure the full picture was understood.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: “This report for me is a very serious call to arms to work together across all agencies, communities, businesses and the voluntary sector to support our young people at risk of becoming embroiled in the gang and drug culture. No one agency can solve these problems on their own; we need to pool resources and focus our attention to make a real impact. Personally I will do everything I possibly can to ensure the action plan that comes out of this research is a resounding success and the work must start now.”

Download the Home Office posters here.

Read more on the University of Suffolk county lines research here