This Decision Record should be read in conjunction with Decision Record 2021-0007012 and Decision Record 2022-0004
These records outline the details of funding awarded by the Ministry of Justice (moj) in 2021 for additional ISVAs and IDVAs.
In 2022, the MoJ announced that this ringfenced funding would be extended to 31 March 2025.
Previous Funding
Previously, funding to the value of £95,972 from the above fund was allocated to a service provider in the Redcar and Cleveland area.
The service provider held the contract for domestic abuse provision commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Council.
In the spring of 2022, Redcar and Cleveland Council re commissioned their service and awarded the contract to deliver domestic abuse services to a new provider.
As a result, it was agreed that the OPCC would review the IDVA arrangements across the Redcar area through a review of service demand and outcomes.
This review involved data collection on domestic abuse crimes and incidents. It also included discussions with Redcar and Cleveland Council as well as service providers operating across the area.
The review determined that continuation of the IDVA service provided by the previously commissioned service provider did not provide the best value for money.
A decision to de-commission the service was agreed in consultation with Redcar and Cleveland Council colleagues.
The Review
The OPCC team worked with the previously commissioned service provider to ensure the exit planning did not adversely impact any victim/survivors engaged with the service.
All open cases were reviewed and closed, or referred into alternative provision as required.
Further, the review determined that IDVA provision within two other domestic abuse services operating in Redcar and Cleveland was sufficient to meet demand.
In context of gaps in specialist IDVA provision at a broader Cleveland level, the remaining £191,944 multi-year funding (to March 2025) for the period July 2023 – March 2025 could be better used to fill such gaps.
Decision
Following a briefing on this matter with the PCC on 2 June 2023, the PCC supported the proposal.
This decision record is provided to approve the re-allocation of funding towards specialist advocacy for victims of stalking following agreement with MoJ in April 2023.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is a registered charity recognised as the UK’s leading authority on stalking work.
It has evidence of delivering positive impacts for victims through their stalking advocacy work and expert support for Police and a range of partner agencies.
The decision to use the £191,944 ISVA/IDVA funding for this purpose was based on the following factors:
- Review of purpose of ISVA/IDVA Fund which includes Stalking
- Review of local victim strategic needs assessment and gaps in provision
- Discussions and agreement with Local Authority domestic abuse commissioners
- Significantly escalating and high rates of stalking crimes/victims identified in Cleveland Police data and high percentage of domestic abuse related stalking
- Currently no specialist stalking advocacy available for victims
- Significant number of domestic abuse related stalking victims being absorbed by domestic abuse services
Decision 23/24 – 0003: Recruitment of x2 Specialist Stalking Advocates (application, 166kB)