30 - Two new domestic abuse support workers for Dudley
 
Archived news release from 2007
 
Two new support officers have been put in place to help victims of domestic abuse.
The civilian officers provide support to victims from the time of a complaint, through to the completion of any court proceedings. They can offer advice and information on dealing with the trauma of domestic violence as well as accompany people to court, when giving evidence against abusers.  They also offer advice to people after the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
The Independent Domestic Violence Advisers will be working alongside the police domestic abuse officers and will be based at Brierley Hill Police station.
Councillor Anne Millward, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said:
“We are delighted to have these two new officers in place, in the fight against domestic abuse.
“They can offer a lot of help and support for people suffering such abuse. We hope that by doing this it will encourage more people to come forward and report it.”
The programme is managed by Victim Support and financed through the Strong and Safer Communities Fund, through safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership.
Davinder Birk, legal adviser for Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen magistrates courts, said:
 “The officers will provide practical, emotional support and advice to victims of domestic abuse which will enable them to access a range of legal and informative services and resources across the borough.
“The officers will work as part of the multi-agency partnership already in place to reduce the number of incidents of this type and provide safe and violence free environments for families to live in.”

Note to Editors
 
Notes to editors:
The independent domestic violence advisers started work in their posts on August 13.  They are currently based at Victim Support in Dudley, but will be transferred to Brierley Hill police station.
About safe & sound
safe & sound formed in 1998 and is made up of public sector and voluntary organisations covering Dudley borough.  By actively working together it aims
to reduce crime and disorder, as well as improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug and alcohol misuse.
Partners include Aquarius, Black Country Chamber and Business Link, Brierley Hill Regeneration Partnership, Dudley Council, Dudley Council for Voluntary Services, Government Office West Midlands, National Offender Management Service, Dudley Health Community, West Midlands Fire Service, West Midlands Police and The Warehouse.

News Release Contact Information
Name: Chris Howes
Telephone: 01384 817403
Email: chris.howes@dudley.gov.uk