Milton Keynes review

There seems to be a problem with people with ongoing / recurring mental health issues relating to previous episodes of aggression and the time it takes to get an appointment. This Review acknowledges the difficult ongoing funding situation but suggests there could be more community-based interventions created in order to alleviate this problem.

Methods should be found to publicise ways in which people using illegal drugs can approach agencies about domestic abuse without fear of disclosures about illegal drugs being reported. This may involve local voluntary/ third sector groups.

Local GP services could also be made more aware of the possibility of domestic abuse and be trained to ask about it. People presenting with mental health issues, or with grief at the end of a relationship, could be masking other problems. Some sort of training such as IRIS or similar would be helpful in this regard.

The victim’s GP surgery seemed unaware of the statutory nature of the DHR process. Despite numerous calls and emails, they did not provide an IMR. Finally, the DHR Chair had to visit the surgery in person to emphasise to the Practice Manager that their cooperation was needed. It would be helpful to have some sort of education process to enlighten local practices of the process.

In addition, this DHR was severely delayed by one of the perpetrator’s Offender Managers, at the prison, being unaware of the DHR process. More than twelve months was wasted in negotiations over access. More awareness of the DHR process would be helpful here.

More generally there could be awareness-raising in regard to LGBT communities around Milton Keynes and domestic abuse. Organisations such as Stonewall and Safelives have some limited information available, but the whole issue regarding domestic abuse in LGBT+ communities merits further research.

SaferMK could endeavour to seek out local LGBT+ communities and organisations to examine their needs and wishes and, potentially, to encourage their participation in future DHRs concerning victims with alternative sexualities.

This Review recommends that there could be more information about coercive control in the public domain around same sex relationships. Anthony’s friend felt there was something wrong and was worried about his safety, but didn’t feel there was any evidence of physical violence.

It further recommends around advice disclosing HIV status to new partners. This could be facilitated by GPs and specialist HIV health providers, using this DHR as a case study. A specialist publication or website could be developed to suggest safe ways to carry out these disclosures.

It makes a recommendation around ‘date rape’ type drugs and the use of dating sites. Although Anthony’s death and this Review did not involve a dating site directly, there were suggestions that other, potentially dangerous events, were revealed in the course of the Review.