§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued on action required under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 by(a) the police and (b) other authorities on domestic violence. [56953]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Act requires local authorities and the police to work together in partnership with other agencies and the community to conduct local crime and disorder audits, and to develop and implement strategies for reducing crime and disorder in their area.
Domestic violence features significantly in a number of areas in England and Wales. We have therefore stressed in Home Office "Guidance on Statutory Crime and Disorder Partnerships", at paragraph 1.50, that we expect local crime and disorder partnerships to identify the level of domestic violence in their area and to develop and implement strategies for reducing it.
The guidance points out that partnerships should work together with any existing inter-agency domestic violence forum in their area, and states that we expect both the police and local authorities to consider how to co-operate locally with interested parties.
A copy of the guidance is in the Library, and it is also available on the Home Office website:http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cdact/index.htm.