Darlington review

The Darlington Community Safety Partnership (CSP) reviews the educational programmes being delivered in colleges and secondary schools regarding healthy relationships and domestic abuse. The CSP should be satisfied that the content of such programmes includes being respectful to partners and being able to describe what a healthy relationship looks like. Young people should be empowered to recognise domestic abuse in all its forms. In particular young people should be confident how to seek help or support if they are being abused or if they believe a friend is suffering abuse.

Durham Police reviews the training delivered to their middle and senior managers in relation to Domestic Homicide Reviews. The training should include an awareness of the Domestic Homicide Review process and in particular those cases where a person has taken their own life, but concerns have been expressed that the deceased may have been subjected to domestic abuse or coercive control prior to their death.

The Local Authority and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (as commissioners of services) ensure Harbour Domestic Abuse Service put systems in place which automatically trigger contact to clients who are on a waiting list for group support work. This is to enable continued support and maintain engagement.

The SHOUT mental health charity updates its training programme to give staff confidence in recognising all forms of domestic abuse and in particular, emotional abuse.

The Integrated Care Board will reiterate to primary care providers the importance of ensuring that they have domestic abuse policies in place to support and guide staff in decision making when supporting individuals who have been subjected to domestic abuse or it is suspected that they may be a victim. In the absence of a specific domestic abuse policy, the issue of domestic abuse will be comprehensively covered within the safeguarding polices. The domestic abuse information will make reference to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and include specifically the support required to victims of suspected coercion and control.

The Community Safety Partnership receives reassurances from health agencies operating in and around Darlington that ‘routine enquiry’ (still at a pilot stage in many localities) is being considered within those agencies’ domestic abuse policies and procedures.

All services, agencies and partners in Darlington to commit to reducing the number of lives lost to suicide, through engagement with the local implementation of the cross-government suicide prevention strategy which seeks to achieve a reduction in suicides in England over the next five years.

The Community Safety Partnership should encourage all relevant organisations to widen their use of alternative communication methods, in particular those that are most frequently used by young adults. This review has highlighted the preferred mediums for communication for young people are via a variety of social media and other platforms. Agencies should consider adapting ways of engaging to encompass modern means of communication (subject to statutory requirements) as traditional telephone calls and letters may not always be the most appropriate method.

The Community Safety Partnership encourages local organisations to consider implementing the ‘Ask Me’ scheme. This is an initiative to develop an appreciation of domestic abuse in all its forms, within the wider community and helps survivors of domestic abuse, or their friendship network, to access help.

The Community Safety Partnership considers ways to highlight the ‘Find a way’ project (wefindaway.org.uk). This scheme in the North East of England gives advice and information to third parties who may be concerned about a loved one or friend.