Domestic Abuse policy

1. Introduction

1. 1.1. This policy sets out how Great Yarmouth Borough Council (The Council) will assist and support any person who approaches the organisation experiencing or threatened with domestic abuse from either within or outside of the borough.
2. 1.2. The Council is committed to ensure everyone who approaches us affected by domestic abuse will be dealt with in a sympathetic, sensitive manner and treated in a non-judgmental way.
3. 1.3. The Council recognises many victims of domestic abuse will not approach agencies for months or even years and it can take many incidents before they seek support. The Council believes that each incident of domestic abuse including the first is a serious offence. The Council will work with those who are experiencing domestic abuse for the first time through to those who have suffered repeatedly.
4. 1.4. The Council is part of the Norfolk Domestic Abuse Partnership Board which consists of other key agencies in the county of Norfolk to offer support and information to survivors of domestic abuse.
5. 1.5. The Council is working towards DAHA (Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance) Accreditation in 2023/24.
6. 1.6. The Council also has a policy for any staff and elected members that may be experiencing domestic abuse, this can be found on the Council's intranet page.
7. 1.7. Individual residents experiencing domestic abuse do not have to have a local connection to an area, they have the right to apply to any authority. It is the council's duty to investigate the case on an individual basis.