The move comes following the recent Home Office announcement that the successful establishment of the first wave of SDV Courts last year is to be extended.
The news is expected to be a positive step for all victims of domestic violence, with more perpetrators likely to be brought to justice.
The South Gloucestershire SDV Court will bring together North Avon Magistrates Court, the Crime Prosecution Service, Police, Probation, Victim Support (Witness Service) and Survive. Staff from all the agencies involved, as well as the magistrates, will receive additional training in domestic violence issues.
Charlotte Badlan, domestic violence coordinator for Safer South Gloucestershire, said: "The new SDV Court represents a milestone in our fight to reduce domestic violence in South Gloucestershire. For the first time, we can assure victims that their cases will always involve specialists who understand the complexities of domestic violence and can support them fully throughout court proceedings. The new court will place the victims’ needs at the heart of the legal process, helping alleviate the isolation victims may have experienced in the past and ensuring protection and justice for both them and their children."
As well as operating on a set day of the week, one or more court rooms will be allocated to deal solely with domestic violence cases. Victims and witnesses will also be given a separate waiting area and additional support will be provided on the day at court. A uniformed officer, witness support and independent domestic violence advisors will be present.
Domestic violence results in 122 women and 30 men being murdered every year in the UK. Despite being chronically under-reported, research suggests it accounts for 16 to 33 per cent of all violent crime, has more repeat victims than any other crime (an average 35 assaults before a victim calls the police) and costs society in excess of £23billion annually.
A total of 2,527 incidents of domestic violence were reported to police in South Gloucestershire alone between 2005 and 2006.
Dawn Taylor, chief executive for Survive said: "It is both exciting and rewarding to see statutory and voluntary agencies working so closely together to improve services relating to domestic violence. Each agency has a unique role to play which combined means real and meaningful outcomes can be achieved for the individuals, their families and the wider community. Survive is proud to be involved in this initiative."
Evaluation of the domestic violence pilot sites, which were at Caerphilly, in Gwent, and Croydon, found the following key positive and significant changes:
• Increasing the number of domestic violence incidents reported to the police that result in a case in court
• Reducing the number of cases lost before trial (withdrawals and discontinuances)
• Increasing the number of perpetrators brought to justice
• Providing advocacy to victims of domestic violence, which has had a positive effect on their feelings of safety, their experience with and confidence in the criminal justice system
• That these changes were delivered in a cost-effective way
The role of the Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA), which will be provided by Survive, to effectively ‘walk’ beside the victim has been identified as pivotal to the success of the courts. The focus will be on providing proactive independent support, risk assessment and safety planning and effective multi-agency partnership working through a case work based approach.
Charlotte Badlan added: "We are excited about this expansion to domestic violence services as we will now be able to offer victims of domestic violence and their children the help and support they need to lead their lives free from the fear and reality of violence."
David Archer, chair of the Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice Board, added: "All of the partners involved in establishing the specialist domestic violence courts are now working hard to put in place all the necessary administrative arrangements and it is hoped that we will go live with the courts in the New Year."
ENDS