Domestic Abuse Digital Conference

Speakers Include:

• Farah Nazeer, CEO, Women’s Aid
• Oliver Lendrum, Head of Domestic Abuse Policy, Family & Criminal Justice Policy Directorate, Ministry of Justice
• David Tucker, Crime and Criminal Justice Lead, College of Policing
• Andrea Simon, Director, End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW)
• Kenny Gibson, National Head of Safeguarding, NHS England & NHS Improvement
• Gudrun Burnet, CEO, Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, Standing Together Against Domestic Violence
• Valerie Wise, National Domestic Abuse Lead, Victim Support
• Sergeant Brian Guntrip, Integrated Offender Management (Turnaround), Devon and Cornwall Police
• Ippo Panteloudakis, Head of Services, Respect
• Pragna Patel, Director, Southhall Black Sisters (SBS)
• Michelle John, Director, Parental Education Growth Support (PEGS)
• Nahar Choudhury, Regional Director of Operations, Hestia
  
  

The pandemic has increased the risk of domestic abuse as lockdowns have meant many people have had to stay at home in unsafe environments and support services have been harder to reach and provide. Calls to helplines have increased dramatically and evidence suggests that incidents are becoming more complex, serious and violent. (Home Office Select Committee Report 2020)

This forum explores how services are adapting to meet rising demand and reach and provide services for those at-risk during the pandemic. The event will hear how services are utilising technology and providing virtual support to victims of abuse, whilst also supporting their own staff through the crisis.

Delegates will hear about how to prepare for the latest incoming Government policy, including the Domestic Abuse Bill and updates to the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. Practitioners from across multiple sectors including health, the police, local authorities, VCSEs, housing, probation and prosecution, will discuss their new responsibilities under the Bill and how they can improve joint working.

The forum will explore how to best utilise the Government’s new raft of financial support for domestic abuse services. Including emergency funding to support victims throughout the pandemic, funding for innovative preventative programmes and for organisations to expand services in preparation for their new duties of support under the Domestic Abuse Bill.

The coronavirus has also highlighted the stark inequalities in our society and so time will be given to explore how services can improve inclusivity to better identify and tailor support to marginalised, minority as well as hidden abuse groups such as child to parent abuse, to meet the needs of all victims of domestic abuse.

The event will finish with a focus on the police and criminal justice response to domestic abuse. Delegates will look at how the Domestic Abuse Bill will improve responses to perpetrators from initial contact through to conviction and rehabilitation, to help break the cycle and prevent domestic abuse.