Domestic abuse service expanded in Plymouth

A PIONEERING legal scheme to protect victims of domestic abuse has been expanded after a successful pilot in the city.

The Domestic Abuse Advocacy Project, brainchild of Plymouth City Council lawyer Alexandra Boardman, throws a lifeline to domestic abuse victims who do not qualify for legal aid and cannot afford to pay for costly civil court injunctions.

Ms Boardman, who spent many years advising abuse victims in her role as a family lawyer in private practice, said the six-month pilot saw such a need that additional funding had now been found to run the project on a full-time basis until March next year.

“The number of people who’ve taken up the service over the past six months proves it’s needed and is worth it,” she said.

“In many ways there’s no other place for them to go to get advice and legal help without having to pay.

“A civil court injunction can cost anything between £2,500 and £6,000, depending on whether it’s contested, and is beyond the reach of many victims of domestic abuse,” she said.

“Often people who are contemplating leaving an abusive relationship don’t have a lump sum of cash to pay to protect themselves, let alone for the additional accommodation and the essentials of life.

“Quite often people choose to stay because they can’t afford to get themselves safe. I’ve seen cases where the woman has only around £30 in her own account because their partner has forced them to sign over all their money.

“Another case I’ve seen was where the partner threatened the woman he’d report her for abusing their children so she could never see them again if she left.

“Fortunately, having worked as a family lawyer in private practice, and working for the council, means I have links with social services and can advise the woman as to what will really happen, rather than have her believe the threats.

“In my opinion, we shouldn’t have to pay to be safe in our own homes in this day and age,” she said.

The advocacy scheme is free to anyone – both men and women – living in Plymouth, who is subject to domestic abuse and not eligible for Legal Aid.

The Plymouth 2020 partnership has providing funding to extend the project until March 2010, offering free legal representation to enable people to secure civil court orders protecting them from abusive partners.

Morris Watts, Plymouth City Council’s domestic abuse manager and a former Plymouth Chief Superintendent, said: “The Plymouth 2020 partnership has backed this project due to the prevalence of domestic abuse, which affects at least one in four women and one in eight men during their lives.

“Two women are murdered each week in England and Wales by a partner or former partner and a project like this gives extra protection.”

The full-time lawyer will potentially be able to apply to the civil court for a non-molestation order, designed to protect the victim from any further form of abuse or harassment.

They may also be granted an occupation order preventing their partner from entering the home for six months.

In the most serious cases, an injunction can be granted on the very day the applicant seeks help.

Orders are served by the police and in the case of a breach, the subject of the injunction can be arrested immediately.

City council leader Vivien Pengelly said: “I’m delighted that we’re the first local authority in the country to be offering this invaluable service, together with our police partners.

“Domestic abuse is a massive but largely unspoken problem and I just hope this new service will give victims the confidence they need to speak out and seek help.”