Domestic Abuse Newsletter

This latest newsletter from the Domestic Abuse Team includes information on the Domestic Abuse Commissioner report on the criminal justice response to domestic abuse as well as Stalking Awareness Week coming up in April.

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's 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.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner (DAC) report on the criminal justice response to domestic abuse

In January 2025 the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, published her first major report on the criminal justice system – Shifting the scales

Some of the report’s key points include:

• The first interaction with police must be right every single time.
• Domestic abuse victims must be supported throughout the criminal justice process.
• The court backlog must be addressed.
• Abusers must be rooted out within the police.

The Commissioner used this report to call on the government and criminal justice leaders to deliver an accountable and consistent criminal justice system. The government's response is due on Wednesday 19 March.

Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, read out the names of 95 women killed by men last year and pledged the government's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls ahead of International Women's Day. (Link to ITV News on YouTube)

Stalking Awareness Week National Stalking Awareness Week, organised by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, will run from Tuesday 22 April to Friday 25 April.   More information on Suzy Lamplugh Trust, including training opportunities

Better protection for victims of domestic abuse Victims of domestic abuse will be better protected as part of a new law ensuring even more abusers face tougher management from police and probation. Offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour, and sentenced to 12 months or longer, will now be automatically managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements.

Understanding strangulation and suffocation Strangulation or suffocation was established as a specific offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Introduced as part of the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, it came into force on 7 June 2022. In December 2024, the Sentencing Council published a guideline to help courts sentence the new offences and provide transparency for victims, offenders and the public. The guideline came into effect on 1 January 2025. Further information is available on the Sentencing Council website.

First domestic abuse specialists embedded in 999 control rooms Raneem’s Law has launched to embed the first domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms across five forces and ensure victims receive specialist support.

Domestic Abuse Forum

The Domestic Abuse Forum was held on Monday 10 March.

The focus of this DA Forum was ‘Children’ and the provision of domestic abuse support services available for them. The Domestic Abuse Forums are an opportunity for partners to share their views, learn from best practice and work collaboratively to deliver the best possible service to victims of domestic abuse.

If you would like to attend any future Domestic Abuse Forums, please email the Domestic Abuse Team via the following email address domesticabuse_admin@sandwell.gov.uk

Multi-agency domestic abuse training – new dates TBC

A new range of multi-agency domestic abuse training will be available to officers in Sandwell. Dates and training sessions will be scheduled soon.

Once the sessions are available, delegates will be able to access details of the sessions, dates and how to book onto the training via the Sandwell Children's Safeguarding Board website.

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.  

Do you or your friends, family or colleagues need more information on domestic abuse? Visit the council's domestic abuse webpages