Safe rooms for victims of domestic violence

Tuesday, 19 December 2006 12:00 AM

Victims of domestic violence will be offered safe rooms in their houses under plans announced today.

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly said money would be made available to fund the rooms which will be fitted with CCTV, reinforced doors and windows, mortice locks and panic alarms.

The aim of the scheme is to allow victims of domestic violence to remain in their own homes, instead of fleeing to refuges or temporary housing.

The rooms will only be available in homes if the perpetrator is no longer living there. Households will be registered on police computer system and will be prioritised for a rapid response to an emergency call.

The sanctuary schemes have already been trialled in some areas of the country.

Ruth Kelly announced details of the scheme at an event with London mayor Ken Livingstone. They were launching an initiative to collect presents for children who will spend Christmas in refuges.

She said: "The government is determined to do more to prevent victims of domestic violence being driven from their own homes as well as stepping up prosecutions of perpetrators."

Domestic violence is one of the most common reasons women become homeless. Figures from the charity Crisis suggest 20 per cent of homeless women left their home to escape violence.

Ms Kelly said: "Sanctuary schemes have been proven to prevent homelessness by giving people the security and confidence to stay in their own home, where it's their choice and police experts agree it's a safe option.

"It is not right that victims should have no other choice but to go into temporary accommodation or refuges, which can feel unsettling and cause family upheaval at the worst possible time."

The proposals have been cautiously greeted by domestic violence support groups.

Women's Aid chief executive Nicola Harwin said: "Sanctuary schemes must work as a part of a package of protection and support services, to ensure that the woman is not only safe inside the home, but also when she is out in the local area, going to work and taking her children to school."

Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge was more sceptical.

She told Today: "Some of these men think nothing of beating their partners black and blue; is a mortice lock really going to stand in the way? What is going to happen when a woman wants to leave her house?"

She asked: "If the man is that much of a threat, surely the solution is to make sure that he's locked up if he's convicted?"

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