Domestic Abuse Strategy

Helping people live free from abuse

This multi-agency strategy was launched on 6 March 2020 and has been updated to reflect new duties after the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act in 2021.

The strategy brings together a range of statutory agencies including; Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, NHS, Kent Fire and Rescue, the National Probation Service, the National Probation Service, and Kent’s district and borough councils.

A Domestic Abuse Strategic Needs Assessment was completed in 2020. There was then a more focussed needs assessment undertaken in 2021 centred on the need for safe accommodation. Both can be found on the Kent Public Health Observatory website. These needs assessments have influenced the priority areas identified within the strategy and update.

This strategy and the needs assessments are accompanied by a joint delivery plan. This delivery plan is regularly updated to reflect the changing projects across the partnership.

Purpose of the strategy

We want to help people live free from abuse. The strategy sets out our joint vision, priorities and commitments to reduce the levels of domestic abuse, and ensure that where domestic abuse does take place, all those affected get the right support, quickly.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy defines domestic abuse as:

• physical or sexual abuse
• violent or threatening behaviours
• controlling or coercive behaviours
• psychological or emotional abuse
• honour-based abuse, forced marriage and female genital mutilation
• economic abuse.

The strategy will support agencies and partnerships to design and deliver the most appropriate responses to anyone affected by domestic abuse in Kent and Medway, and will focus on preventing and responding through five key priorities. These priorities are:

• driving change together
• prevention and early intervention
• provision of services
• minimising harm
• justice, recovery and ongoing protection.

For more information, please contact PSRPolicy@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 415782.