An eight-week consultation has begun on a new pan-Sussex strategy setting out how we will protect and assist survivors of domestic abuse in safe accommodation.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 requires local authorities to publish a strategy setting out how they will protect and assist survivors of domestic abuse in safe accommodation. 

In Sussex we have developed a draft strategy that covers East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. Over 70 stakeholders, professionals, service providers and survivors took part in engagement meetings to inform a needs assessment. This helped us to understand current provision, and identify gaps and opportunities for improving the offer. 

We believe the proposed strategy will make a real difference to the lives of survivors and their children, and we welcome your views on it. What you tell us will help us ensure we get it right and make the most of the additional funding that is being provided. 

Please take part before the consultation ends on 19 December and share the details as widely as possible.

You can find out more about the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on the Government site.

The 16 Days of Action for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a global initiative, seeking to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.  The 16 Days run from 25th November (the UN International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women) to the 10th December (Human Rights Day) .

White Ribbon Day falls on 25^th November and there are various awareness raising events taking place across East Sussex during the 16 days. The White Ribbon Campaign recognises the positive role that men play in preventing violence against women, based on the understanding that most men are not violent.  It is therefore a means for men to speak out against violence and abuse and to safely challenge the attitudes and behaviours of a minority of men who use or condone violence against women.

You can also show your support for the campaign all year round by pledging never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and girls in all forms by wearing a white ribbon. For more information about the campaign, visit www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk

The East Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership have been working proactively with local partners in Eastbourne to problem solve and tackle the effects of violent crime- using data and intelligence to develop a shared understanding of some of the local issues in an area of Eastbourne which had a high level of violence and deprivation recorded.

Serious violence is not an isolated issue - homicides, knife crime and robbery are often  the tip of a much larger ‘iceberg’, the culmination of a set of personal and societal factors which have escalated into serious crime. There is more known now about individual vulnerabilities that increase risks of getting involved in violence and increase chances of criminal and other exploitation.

Last month local police, health partners and substance misuse outreach teams from Change Grow Live provided information, advice and guidance for local residents with little or no support networks in place. Further outreach work is planned in the area to ensure local residents know about the support available and how to access it.

To find out more about the work of the Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership please visit About Sussex VRP

The Stay Safe Directory pulls together a variety of programmes and workshops which are currently being offered by a range of agencies and organisations in East Sussex. All of these focus on different strands of community safety and personal safety such as cyberbullying, exploitation and preventing extremism.

The directory is split into Primary and Secondary/FE sections for ease of searching as well as including training opportunities for educational staff, PSHE links and information on the Healthy Schools Programme. An extensive list of supporting external resources and links are included at the end of this directory under key themes which we hope will be of use to families who home educate their children.

                                                  You can find the Directory for 2021/22 here.

Harm reduction is a public health approach which aims to lessen the impacts of drug use on communities. This approach includes a range of measures to ensure that illicit drug use takes place within an informed framework, with people who wish to use drugs doing so in a way that is least damaging to themselves and their community.

Harm reduction techniques being delivered/ developed as part of Project ADDER in Hastings include:

• Literature distributed to ADDER service users
• Training sessions are being delivered to ADDER commissioned staff teams and other related professionals to promote the principles of, and effective messaging relating to, harm reduction.
• Enhanced distribution of naloxone and accessible training in its safe use for service users, their friends, families and supporters
• Investment in Dead Space Needles to promote safe injecting practices
• Distribution of first aid kits to local businesses supported by the creation of a bespoke window sticker and promotional campaign to raise awareness
• Offering acupuncture to ADDER clients

For more information on Project ADDER please visit the Government Website

Operation Makesafe is a national project, looking to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation with employees and management in the hotel and leisure industry. The initiative focuses on making sure that people working within these sectors are aware of the early warning signs of Child Exploitation and can report concerns to the police.

Now that the hospitality industry is beginning to operate as normal again, and as lockdown lifts schools have also re-opened, there is an increased risk of perpetrators targeting young people- looking to exploit them now they are no longer staying at home.

Starting on 18 October, Police Community Support Officers have begun a programme of engagement with local hotels and B&Bs, visiting locations and interacting with staff and management, and distributing briefing material that explains what they should be alert for and how to report it.

Further information on Operation Makesafe can be found here.

Every year, Anti-Slavery Day provides an opportunity for individuals, organisations, charities, churches, schools, communities, and businesses to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitation.  

Follow the link Sussex Partners Mark Anti-Slavery Day 2021  to learn about our work with partners across Sussex to combat Modern Slavery. 

The Safe Spaces Sussex scheme is network of locations across the county offering a safe space for people to go to if they feel threatened or at risk of harm.  Those at risk will be directed to a designated safe space by way of the Safe Spaces Sussex app if they feel they need to get somewhere safe.  

What are we asking of you?

To provide:

• somewhere safe where someone can wait until the Police or a trusted contact can reach them or they have been able to access any necessary information and advice to keep them safe
• access to a phone if required to call Sussex Police, a trusted contact or another support service.
What are you not being asked to do?

• Get involved in any incident which has resulted in someone seeking your help
• Act as an emergency service – if there is an immediate risk of harm to you or the person seeking help please call 999

If you feel you can support this scheme or to find out more please contact: commissioning@sussex-pcc.gov.uk

The Sussex Safe Space website also provides a valuable directory of help and support from all agencies, available near you.

Alcohol Awareness Week 2021 takes place from 15-21 November and the theme for this year is ‘Alcohol and Relationships’.

STAR ( Drug and Alcohol Service-East Sussex)  and partners are hosting 3 networking events open to both members of the public and organisations to come and find out more about the support they offer people affected by alcohol use. The events will be held on the following dates:

• Wednesday 17^th November, Hillcrest Centre, Newhaven, 10-2
• Thursday 18^th November, Uckfield Civic Centre, 10-2
• Friday 19^th November, Tilling Green Community Centre, Rye, 10-2

     To find out more about STAR and the services they offer please their website