New scheme aims to help domestic abuse victims

A new scheme to improve services to victims of domestic abuse, has been rolled out across Oxfordshire and Berkshire today, December 15.

Thames Valley Police, Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and victim agencies will work together to ensure cases of domestic abuse in Oxford, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White House, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire, Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Slough, Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham are processed more quickly than they are currently.

Image courtesy of http://domesticviolenceactivesupport.com/

In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “Domestic abuse is a serious crime, so it is important that the time it takes to get cases to trial is kept as short as possible. The overall aim of the scheme is to improve the outcome at court for victims of domestic violence and speedier justice for those accused of such.”

Under the scheme, all domestic abuse cases will be listed for a first hearing at the local Specialist Domestic Violence Court. This hearing will be within 14 days from the date the suspect was charged. For cases which go on to trial, the aim will be to list for trial within two to three weeks of the first hearing rather than the current six to eight weeks.

Superintendent Rory Freeman, Head of TVP Criminal Justice, speaking on behalf of all the criminal justice agencies involved in the scheme said: “The evaluation of the pilot in Buckinghamshire, which launched last December, has proven it to be very successful. The enhanced file at the first hearing ensures that more guilty pleas are secured, meaning fewer cases are adjourned for trial. If we process cases more quickly, we do not risk victim disengagement and are able to bring more offenders to justice.

“It is anticipated that we will also see positive results across Oxfordshire and Berkshire and a reduction of domestic abuse cases which don’t make it to court because the victim has withdrawn their support. It is important to remember that everything we do is about supporting the victim and achieving the desired outcome for them. This scheme provides an improved service to victims of this insidious and often violent crime.”

Since the pilot began in Buckinghamshire, the overall conviction rate for domestic abuse cases has been 68 per cent, with 46 per cent of those coming from a guilty plea at the first hearing.