Domestic and Gender Based Violence

Domestic and gender based violence (DGBV) can have a devastating effect on individuals and on communities.

It ruins lives, breaks apart families and has an impact across the generations. In some cases, tragically, it leads to loss of life. It happens regardless of class, ethnicity or sexuality. Although the majority of those affected are women, it affects men too, and people in same sex relationships. It is linked to child and adult abuse.

While there is no specific criminal offence of 'domestic violence', many forms of domestic violence are crimes; for example, assault, false imprisonment, harassment, rape, criminal damage and attempted murder.

If you are worried about violence or abuse from your partner, ex-partner or a member of your family, you can get help and advice to stay safe.

If you are in immediate danger, you should always phone the police on: 999

The following people will also offer you advice, help, and refer you to additional support.

For women aged 18 and over:

• National Domestic Violence Helpline
  0808 2000 247 (24hrs)

For men aged 18 and over:

• Men’s Advice Line
  0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm)

For women in Black and minority ethnic communities:

The Home Office has worked with Southall Black Sisters to publish Three Steps to escaping domestic violence, a leaflet aimed specifically at women in black and minority ethnic communities. It covers advice on the three steps to escaping violence and abuse:

• report the abuse
• how to take actions
• how to keep safe from abuse

Translated into 12 languages, it brings together such issues as so called 'honour'-based violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, dowry abuse, domestic and sexual abuse, and having no recourse to public funds.

To find out more, visit the Home Office website (external link).

For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people:

• Broken Rainbow
  0300 999 5428 (Monday and Thursday 2-8pm; Wednesday 10am-5pm)

For 16 and 17 year olds:

• Childline
  0800 1111 (24hrs)

For everyone:

• Hearthstone [Haringey Domestic Violence Advice and Support Centre]
  020 8888 5362 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm; closed on Christmas and New Year bank holidays)
• Haringey Police Community Safety Unit
  020 8345 1941 (Monday to Friday 8am-6pm; weekends 8am-4pm)
• Victim Support: national Supportline
  0845 30 30 900 (Monday to Friday 9am-9pm; weekends 9am-7pm; bank holidays 9am-5pm)
• Victim Support Haringey
  020 7336 1777 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
• Out of hours emergency
  020 8348 3148 (evenings and weekends)
• Safeguarding Adults
  020 8489 1400 (office hours)
• Rape Crisis
  0808 802 9999 (12-2.30pm; 7-9.30pm)
• Forced Marriage Unit
  020 7088 0151 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
  020 7008 1500 (emergency out of hours)

If you have children, you can also contact:

• First Response
  020 8489 4592 / 4582 / 5652 / 5762 (office hours)

You can also download and print a factsheet containing all the above information.

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Recognise abuse

Relationship abuse can happen to anyone. It involves more than physical violence, it can be when someone puts you down, threatens you or forces you to do something you don't want to.

Find out more about how to spot the signs, have your say on the issue and seek help at the This is Abuse website (external link).

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Hearthstone

Haringey Domestic Violence Advice and Support Centre

Tel 020 8888 5362
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm

• Read more about Hearthstone

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Tackling domestic and gender based violence

We are constantly striving to fight domestic violence. We work in partnership with the Police, NHS, voluntary sector and other statutory agencies to ensure a co-ordinated approach to tackling domestic and gender based violence. We are reviewing our strategic approach during 2012 and a new strategy will be developed as part of the Community Safety Partnership Strategy. Our earlier strategy can be found at Domestic and Gender Based Violence Strategy 2008 - 2012.

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Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

MARAC is a multi-agency approach to reducing the risk around high risk victims of Domestic Violence. A MARAC takes place once a month and involves partner agencies sitting around a table offering solutions to people who have experienced domestic violence. Referrals are made using the Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Violence (CAADA) risk assessment tool which helps referring agencies determine the level of risk.

The checklist builds on the most commonly used risk assessment tools but has a wider scope which includes family violence, stalking and honour based violence.

CAADA also have some very useful toolkits designed to help various agencies who sit on MARAC, to find out more visit the CAADA website (external link).

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What happens when someone is killed as a result of domestic violence?

Tragically, people sometimes die as a result of domestic violence. When this happens, the law says that professionals involved in the case must review what happened so that we can identify what needs to be changed and reduce the risk of it happening again in the future.

The Home Office has published guidance on when we need to set up a domestic homicide review and how to do it. This is explained on the Home Office website: Conducting domestic homicide reviews (external link).

If a domestic homicide takes place in Haringey, the police will make sure that the right people in the council are told as quickly as possible. A list of who the police will contact about the incident is set out in a diagram called initial notification of a domestic homicide in Haringey (PDF, 48KB). After this initial notification, a decision will be made about whether we need to have a domestic homicide review.

Publications

Domestic Violence Help and Advice is a list of useful organisations you can contact. It is printed in English and 14 community languages:

I Shall Survive is a guide to domestic violence, rape, forced marriage, trafficking, female genital mutilation and "honour based" violence services in Haringey.

Both these publications are also available at main council offices and libraries or by calling Hearthstone on 020 8888 5362.

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Useful External Links

Aşağıdaki bağlantılar Haringey Belediyesi Web sitesine ait bağlantılar değildir.

Lütfen bu bağlantıları kullanmadan önce yasal uyarımızı okuyun.

• Victim Support London
• Rape Crisis
• Forced Marriage Unit
• Haringey Police Community Safety Unit
• National Domestic Violence Helpline
• Men's Advice Line
• Broken Rainbow
• Childline
• DirectGov - domestic violence
• DirectGov - domestic violence and young people