Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner secures £7m. for domestic abuse and sexual violence support services

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has secured more than £7m. for domestic abuse and sexual violence support services.
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The funding, obtained by commissioner Andrew Snowden and awarded by the Ministry of Justice, will pay for specialist support over thee years.

Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) will now be based in Preston and Morecambe Bay hospitals, with every Lancashire hospital trust having at least one specialist support worker on site. These professionals help victims of domestic abuse to access the support they need to rebuild their lives and navigate the criminal justice process.

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The money will also pay for specialist domestic abuse training, support and referral programmes in GP practices to help to identify victims at the earliest opportunity.

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Andrew Snowden, has secured more than £7m. to enhance domestic abuse and sexual violence support across the county.Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Andrew Snowden, has secured more than £7m. to enhance domestic abuse and sexual violence support across the county.
Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Andrew Snowden, has secured more than £7m. to enhance domestic abuse and sexual violence support across the county.

Mr Snowden said: "Tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence is as a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire and I have invested in the creation of a dedicated rape and serious sexual offences team within the Constabulary to tackle this type of crime, to target offenders and to ensure victims get the justice they deserve.

"Ensuring that victims have access to specialist, face-to-face support is equally important and this funding means that we can now further enhance services across the county, which is great news.

"Placing support in health settings and ensuring that hospitals and GP practices are aware of the support available has proven hugely successful. Health settings are a place of safety, meaning that victims may feel more confident to talk about what has happened to them.”