Domestic Abuse Newsletter
 Is someone you know experiencing domestic abuse?
When someone is experiencing domestic abuse, it may take the person a long time before they will talk about it. There is an information leaflet available for friends, family and work colleagues who are worried about someone they know suffering from domestic abuse. The leaflet provides information on how to support victims of domestic abuse and the services available to safeguard them.
Domestic abuse support
In Sandwell there is lots of support available for you if you are suffering domestic abuse or if you are worried about someone who is.
Information can be found via the council's domestic abuse webpages.
In an emergency always phone the police on 999.
Use the 101 number to call the police if it's not an emergency.
Government launches a range of domestic abuse initiatives
The government is introducing Raneem’s Law in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in Solihull in 2018. On the night she was killed, Raneem rang 999 four times.
From early 2025 the government will fund a pilot project to put domestic abuse specialists in emergency service control rooms to advise on risk assessments and work with officers on the ground. The aim is to ensure victims receive a fast response when needed and are referred to support services as quickly as possible.
The government also plans to toughen up protection orders by piloting the new Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO). If successful, the order can impose electronic tagging on perpetrators, assessments for behaviour change programmes and making it a legal requirement to inform the police of any change in name or address.
More information on new measures set out to combat violence against women and girls
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Hidden extent of domestic abuse
There are many silencing factors for reporting domestic abuse, which can include fear of impact upon and/or judgement from extended families and communities. Research shows that almost twice as many women in the White ethnic group reported experiencing domestic abuse in the last year (6.0%) compared with Black or Black British women (3.1%) and Asian or Asian British women (3.0%). (Office of National Statistics, 2023)
Sikh Women’s Aid has published a book highlighting how 21 Sikh women survived domestic abuse. Journey of Resilience, which recounts the stories of 21 Sikh women who have escaped (or are still in) abusive relationships, is intended to educate officials on the impact of abuse on Sikh-Punjabi women.
“The stories are heartbreaking but, in most cases, they show the strength and resilience of Sikh-Panjabi women, who have overcome numerous challenges and continue to make significant contributions to our communities,” Sahdaish Pall, CEO of Sikh Women’s Aid.
One victim-survivor said: “I suffered domestic abuse, starvation and mental abuse to the point that I could not take it anymore.” She did not report it. “I remember my mother saying, ‘Don’t cut the rope, don’t cut the rope’, meaning don’t break this marriage up. It doesn’t matter what they do to you,” she said.
More than 185,000 babies ‘annually witness domestic abuse’
New data indicates an estimated 187,750 infants under two years of age are present when police are called out to domestic abuse incidents in England. According to the Office for National Statistics data, 1,444,225 domestic abuse incidents are annually reported to the police in England.
“This data is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of babies’ experience of domestic abuse,” said Lauren Seager-Smith, chief executive officer of The For Baby’s Sake Trust. “More work is needed to speak up for society’s youngest citizens, and their parents.”
“Living in a home where domestic abuse happens can have a serious impact on a child’s mental and physical health, as well as their behaviour,” said Vicky Nevin, policy manager for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The charity would like to see a whole-family approach to tackling domestic abuse taken, with babies included.
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Domestic Abuse Commissioner publishes immediate priorities for criminal justice system
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner has published a briefing highlighting her immediate priorities for change in the criminal justice response to domestic abuse.
The Commissioner firmly believes that every victim, no matter who they are or where they live, should feel safe to report abuse to police and be met with a compassionate, supportive response which enables them to access safety and justice – whatever this means to them. Read the briefing on the Domestic Abuse Commissioner website.
Victim Support WeMatter Online Service
WeMatter is a video-based digital service for children and young people (CYP) 8-17 year-olds who have been affected by domestic abuse. It provides specialist support to those affected by abuse within their parent or carer’s relationship or within the family home.
It’s not suitable for children and young people who are experiencing ongoing domestic abuse or for those who are still living with the alleged perpetrator.
Delivered online via Zoom, the toolkit offers a timetable of group work programmes, which young people can access during the school day or at home after school. Each group session is facilitated by two specialist CYP programme facilitators. Groups include up to 12 participants.
WeMatter is delivered over eight weeks, with sessions lasting around one hour. Each session uses trauma-informed cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) based activities, games and discussions, all aimed at supporting the young person’s individual journey.
More information can be found on the Victim Support website.
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Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews and Knife Crime
With the Knife Angel in Sandwell until the end of November, Sandwell stood united in a powerful display of resilience and unity to raise awareness of the devastating impact of violence and knife crime and the need for change.
The Domestic Abuse Team remembered those victims who have lost their lives through knife crime in relation to domestic abuse.
Councillor Paul Moore, Deputy Leader, Finance and Resources, and Councillor Jalal Uddin, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, visited the display to show their support.
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16 Days plan
The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which will run from 25 November to 10 December 2024, is: "Every 11 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women”.
Sandwell’s 16 Days campaign is designed to raise awareness of different forms of domestic abuse focusing on a different theme each day. The plan will highlight the different forms abuse can take and that it can happen to anyone regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or disability.
#EverybodysBusiness #16Days #DomesticAbuse #noexcuseforabuse
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Black Country Women’s Aid – Vacancy
Black Country Women’s Aid currently has a vacancy for a full-time Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) Advocate Educator. If you are interested in applying for this position, please complete an online application form by 4 December
Further information can be found on the Black Country Women's Aid website:
IRIS Advocate Educator - Black Country Women’s Aid
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Key dates
Domestic Abuse Forum – Monday 2 December, 9.30am – 12.30pm. Details of how to book will be sent out in due course.
Sandwell Council plays a lead role in the Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership (DASP) which is responsible for bringing together partner organisations and agencies to address domestic abuse. The partnership has produced a strategy entitled Sandwell Domestic Abuse Strategy and this sets out the partnership priorities for action.
Does your team need more information on domestic abuse? Visit the council's domestic abuse webpages
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