Rural Crime News – December 5th

Domestic abuse In this edition of our rural crime news we are focusing on domestic abuse. Did you know that there are twice as many reports of domestic abuse in urban areas than in rural ones? Domestic abuse can take the form of either: physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse within an intimate or family type relationship which forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. This can include forced marriage and so-called ‘honour based violence’. Domestic abuse may include a range of abusive behaviours, not all of which include physical violence. Many people assume that they are not experiencing Domestic Abuse, if they have never been physically assaulted. However, this is not true. Usually the most damaging effect of domestic abuse is the emotional impact that abuse has on a person

Rural domestic abuse research survey – now live We are pleased to support one of the largest surveys looking into Domestic Abuse in the UK and would like to provide this opportunity for any victims or survivors the chance to opt in to this national survey. Your experience when taken alongside that of hundreds of other people who have had similar or contrasting experiences helps to provide an accurate picture of domestic Abuse across our county as well as contributing to a more national picture. The survey should take around 5-10 minutes to complete. No personal details will be taken in this survey, so your response will be anonymous. If you feel you can help please click on the link below: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4678535/DVA-Survey

End Domestic Abuse Now (EDAN) Lincolnshire EDAN Lincolnshire have recently been commissioned to provide the county wide contract for outreach domestic abuse specialist service in Lincolnshire. EDAN, formerly West Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Service, is a registered charity.  It covers the county, and provides support and assistance to women, men and children suffering, or fleeing from domestic abuse. The charity’s mission statement is to: “To restore hope to those who have suffered, or who are exposed to domestic abuse through promoting their well-being, dignity and self-respect.” For help and support call: 01522 510041 For more information visit the website www.edanlincs.org.uk

County Domestic Abuse Conference On Monday 26th November, the county held a domestic abuse conference, sponsored by Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones and the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership. Key note speakers were Luke and Ryan Hart, who’s father shot and killed their mother, sister and himself in Spalding in 2016. This review was published on the 29th November 2018 and is available on the Safer Lincolnshire Partnership website https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/safer-lincolnshire-partnership/domestic-abuse/domestic-homicide-reviews/132347.article Amongst a wide range of agencies, representatives from Lincolnshire Police’s Rural Crime and the NFU were present. Pictured is award winner Bobbi Jones-Lobley and the conference sponsors and events team.

Could you or a friend be at risk? The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme has been running in Lincolnshire since July 2014. The majority of applications involve women at risk of harm. The scheme provides a consistent approach for disclosing information that enables someone who is/was in an intimate relationship with a previously violent or abusive individual to make informed choices about continuing in that relationship, about their personal safety and be given information relating to support services available in the county. The Scheme is open to ALL – you can proactively seek information. The Scheme provides everybody with the opportunity to make an enquiry. It has two procedures for disclosing information. ‘Right to Ask’ is triggered by a member of the public applying to the police for a disclosure – this can be the partner or a third party (i.e. grandparent, parent, cousin, sibling). ‘Right to Know’ is triggered by the police making a proactive decision to disclose information to protect a potential victim. All you have to do is call 101 and ask to make an application. We will handle your enquiry sensitively, managed by specialist officers.

It happens to men too The Home Office reports that male victims are more than three times as likely as women to not tell anyone about partner abuse. Only 10% of male victims will tell the police as a comparison to 27% of women. The Office of National Statistics reports that Male victims of partner abuse are far more likely to perceive that what happened to them was not domestic abuse. We also want to encourage friends, relatives and work colleagues to make a request on behalf of men and women who they believe are at risk of domestic abuse. The ManKind Initiative www.mankind.org.uk, is a national charity which runs a help-line, information and referral service for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence. The help-line number is 01823 334244

Rural Crime Rural and wildlife crime includes a wide range of incidents. Incidents range from arson to farm thefts through to hare coursing and heritage crime. For more information and guidance on these crimes log on to: www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ To report a crime call 101 or 999 in an emergency

Follow and contact us on Twitter! @CIPhilVickers Lincs Police Officer and Rural Crime Lead @LPWildlifeCrime Wildlife Rural Crime Officer and Force Dog Legislation officer @LincsRuralCrime Rural Crime officers dedicated to rural community safety and tackling hare coursing. @MarcJonesLincs Police, Crime & Victims Commissioner for Lincolnshire. @LincsCOPter Updates and news from the Lincs Police drone operators @SNorburn1 Lincs Police DA Coordinator

Rural crime? … Report it every time We rely on information from our rural community. Every call counts and adds to our intelligence picture. Please continue to report hare coursing or any other rural crime. We are genuinely grateful for every call. We appreciate that some people will wish to report anonymously, and that’s fine too … Do you find Rural Crime News useful or how could we make it better for you? We would be pleased to hear your feedback. Please email: lisa.porter@lincs.pnn.police.uk