----- Original Message -----
From: Nick.VanBenschoten@dti.gsi.gov.uk
To: dave.mortimer@tiscali.co.uk
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 10:12 AM
Subject: A national survey of service provision
Dear
Mr Mortimer,
Thank
you for your e-mail. As promised when we spoke last week,
I have raised your query with colleagues within government
involved in developing policy to tackle domestic violence.
By
way of background, I should emphasise that the government
does take the issue of male victims seriously. That is why
the Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims, Act, was designed
to be deliberately gender neutral and we expect all the
victims of domestic violence to be taken seriously by all
services, particularly criminal justice agencies. The commonly
agreed definition of domestic violence is also gender neutral.
In
response to your query, a national survey of service provision
is not planned. Such an exercise would be prohibitively
costly and would provide a snapshot of service provision
which would quickly date as, in reality, service provision
is constantly evolving through local commissioning frameworks.
However,
the government is funding a men's advice line ('Men's Advice
Line and Enquiries') which has been specifically set up
to support the male victims of domestic violence. The government
also funds Broken Rainbow, an organisation which provides
information, advice and support to gay men, lesbians, bisexuals
and transgender populations who may also being affected
by domestic violence.
Looking
ahead, it is obviously important that there is a range of
provision for all victims of domestic violence. The majority
of domestic violence services are commissioned by local
partnerships, such as those with a responsibility on crime
and supporting victims. If they identify a need in their
area for male refuge provision - or indeed other services
for male victims - they should include it in their priorities,
and set out how they will address it.
I
hope this is of some use to your organisation, and thank
you again for your interest in our consultation.
Kind
regards,
Nick
van Benschoten
Sexual Orientation Discrimination - Goods & Services
Discrimination Law Review
Department of Communities and Local Government
020 7215 6206
