Safe Newcastle Domestic Violence Strategy - Newcastle City Council

4. Context of Domestic
Violence Nationally
Policy context driving the Newcastle agenda
Domestic violence is a widespread social problem
and criminal issue that causes huge amounts of
suffering. Domestic violence has always existed in
all social, geographical, religious and cultural
groups. Until the 1970s domestic violence was
viewed as a private matter and wide spread
tolerance existed.
4.1 Crime & Disorder Act 1998
In recent years, the issue of domestic violence has
received greater public and political attention at a
national level. Home Office guidance, in the form
of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, places an
expectation on statutory Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnerships to identify the level of
domestic violence in their area and to develop
strategies to address it, as part of the wider
reduction of crime strategy.
4.2 Domestic Violence Crime & Victims Act
In June 2003 the Government published its
consultation document Safety and Justice, setting
out its proposals to prevent domestic violence,
improve support and protection for victims and
bring more perpetrators to justice. From this
came the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims
Act published in December 2003 which includes
the following measures:
– Significant new police powers to deal with
domestic violence include, making both common
assault and breach of a non-molestation order an
arrestable offence and extending the availability
of restraining orders
– Provision for an independent commissioner and
a code of practice for victims of crime, and
establishing a system to review homicides at
a multi agency level, identifying lessons to
be learnt
– Strengthening the civil law on domestic violence
so that cohabiting same sex couples have the
same protection as heterosexual couples
4.3 National Domestic Violence Reduction
Delivery Plan
Underpinning the commitment of the Government
is a National Domestic Violence Reduction Delivery
Plan focusing on 5 identified outcomes which the
Government has committed to achieve.
These are to:
1) reduce the prevalence of domestic violence,
particularly in relation to high incidence areas
and/or communities
2) increase the rate that domestic violence is
reported, particularly in the high incidence areas
and/or communities
3) increase the rate of reporting of domestic
violence and the number of offences that are
brought to justice
8 Newcastle Domestic Violence And Abuse Strategy