What is the Forum?

The Forum was founded in February 1986. It was known as the "Violence against Women and Children Working Party" until 2000.It consists of representatives, many at a strategic level, from agencies in Milton Keynes that are involved in tackling Domestic Violence.more information... These include the statutory agencies such as Thames Valley Police, Milton Keynes Council and various health authorities, as well as voluntary sector organisations such as Milton Keynes Women's Aid, Relate, Family Mediation and Greenleys Family Centre. Commercial organisations such as solicitors' firms are represented as well. All these agencies provide services to individuals and families experiencing the effects of living with Domestic Violence

The Forum works alongside the Milton Keynes Crime and Community Safety Partnership and is responsible for implementing those targets of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy that relate to Domestic Violence. The targets for 1998-2001 were:-

• To increase initial reporting of domestic violence by 25% by 31.03.02
  
• To reduce repeat victimisation from recorded domestic violence by 10% by 31.03.02.

Reporting of Domestic Violence to the various agencies increased by 53%. Now new targets are being set.

The Forum has undertaken many initiatives in the field of Domestic Violence and these have included:-

• The establishment of the Code of Practice which has been adopted by many organisations in Milton Keynes
  
• A weekday rota of solicitors who are prepared to apply for urgent court orders at short notice
  
• Regular multi-agency training events conducted by Forum members
  
• A discrete domestic violence unit based at the central police station
  
• The extension of the community alarm system to those at risk of domestic violence
  
• Collaboration on a Directory of services for 0-25 years (available from the City Counselling centre)
  
• A publicity campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence
  
• A Data Collection Project
  
• The appointment of a Co-ordinator (employed by NCH Action for Children) based at Greenleys Family Centre
  
• The arranging and hosting of several conferences and seminars including most recently on 26.4.01 a conference entitled "Contact between Children and their Violent Parent"

One challenge now facing the Forum is to consider the various themes raised by the workshops at this Conference and how the diverse recommendations can be taken forward.

If your Agency is not represented on the Forum and you actively work with families and individuals experiencing or perpetrating Domestic Violence please contact the Co-ordinator for further information.

The Forum operates by way of quarterly meetings and sub-groups for special projects which usually meet more frequently. Major decisions are made at the main meetings,which are chaired by Councillor Pat Seymour. The current sub-groups include: -

• The Data collection Project
  
• The Training group
  
• The Publicity Campaign
  
• The Executive Group

Milton Keynes Domestic Violence Forum Home Page