Mr Mark Camborne, Lead Commissioner Community Services & Resilience introduced his report that provided an update on the progress made implementing the Wirral pledge – Zero Tolerance towards Domestic Abuse.

The report provided a highlight on the work that had been undertaken across all statutory agencies and the voluntary and third sector in the 18 months since the launch of the Pledge. In addition the report also described the future steps in the bid to eradicate domestic abuse and harmful practices.

The report reaffirmed that Domestic Violence and Abuse was usually perpetrated by men against women but not exclusively. Nationally the Office of National Statistics estimates around 1.2m woman and 784,000 men experience Domestic Violence and Abuse a year. However, evidence showed women were significantly disproportionately affected by Domestic Violence and Abuse at high risk levels and were more likely to experience serious physical harm or death from a partner, as well as serious coercive and controlling behaviour. In Wirral 97% of high risk cases engaged with an IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) were females.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that underpinning the action plan was the recognition that both genders, as well as the wider communities, were part of the solution to preventing and reducing violence and abuse. Domestic Violence and Abuse was non-discriminate: it occurred in all groups and sections of society, but domestic violence and abuse may be experienced differently due to, and compounded by race, sexuality, disability, age, religion, culture, class or mental health.

The report also informed that the Zero Tolerance towards Domestic Abuse pledge methodology was based around a 4 P’s approach which was familiar to many of the partners. The 4 P’s being:

·  Prevention – and Early Intervention

·  Provision

·  Partnership

·  Perpetrators

Resolved – That

(1)  the progress made in the first stages of the delivery against the Zero Tolerance towards Domestic Abuse pledge be noted;

(2)  the next steps in the Pledge Action Plan 2017/18 be endorsed; and

(3)  Members pledged their support of the Wirral Domestic Abuse Alliance and the Zero Tolerance campaign.