New Specialist Domestic Violence Courts

New Specialist Domestic Violence Courts for Bristol, Bath and North Somerset
(Forcewide)
8/04/2008 14:31

New Specialist Domestic Violence Courts have been set up in Bristol, Bath
and North Somerset Magistrates' courts, following the success of SDVCs
(Specialist Domestic Violence Courts) already established in Yate (North
Avon Magistrates' court), Bridgwater (Sedgemoor Magistrates' court) and
Yeovil (South Somerset Magistrates' court).

Specialist Domestic Violence Courts are dedicated to making the victim feel
as safe as possible. They operate on a set day in the week with one or more
courtrooms dealing solely with domestic violence cases. A police officer is
present throughout the court proceedings and a specialist domestic violence
advocate is assigned to provide support to victims from beginning to end.
Victims can also enter the court through a separate entrance and have their
own waiting area, away from their abuser and his/her family. All staff
(police officers, CPS prosecutors, HM court staff, Magistrates, Witness Care
Officers, Probation Officers and Witness Service volunteers) involved in
these courts have attended domestic abuse awareness sessions.

SDVCs have proved highly effective in increasing conviction rates for this
abhorrent type of crime. The first SDVC in Avon and Somerset was set up at
Sedgemoor Magistrates' Court in Bridgwater in 2005 and it is continuing to
make a difference. In the period from October to December 07, this court had
a conviction rate of 83%. To put this in context, the national domestic
violence conviction rate for the same period averaged 68% and 74% for Avon &
Somerset as a whole.

Commenting on the new courts, Michael Nicholls from CPS Avon & Somerset
said:

'The specialist domestic violence courts are a fundamental part of our
effort to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic
violence. We are committed to providing a first class prosecution service.
By providing specialist training for prosecutors and better support systems
for victims we are seeing a tangible difference in performance. In the last
three years we have seen how successful SDVCs can be and I am delighted that
the whole of Avon & Somerset is now covered by them.
'Perpetrators must be brought to justice, and when they are our specialist
prosecutors and support services will be there to assist victims every step
of the way.'