Gateshead sees 439 domestic abuse disclosures in 2023/24
Gateshead made up over 15% of the near 3,000 domestic violence disclosures in the North East last year.
According to statistics from Gateshead Council’s domestic abuse strategy, in the financial year 2023/23, 439 Domestic Violence Disclosure Schemes (DVDS) were used in the borough. This accounts to 15.4% of the 2,849 disclosures made throughout the whole Northumbria Police area in the same time period.
The DVDS, or Clare’s Law, allows the Police to disclose information to a victim or possible victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partners previous abuse or violent offending.
The report goes on to state that between April 2023 and March 2024, the council’s domestic abuse team (DAT) responded to 2,293 referrals, marking a 22% increase on the previous year. 1,553 of the referrals were for families with at least one child in the household.
Earlier statistics also concluded that domestic violence, as in most local authority areas, is the most common contributor to homelessness, ahead of family estrangement and the end of private rental agreements.
The figures come as Gateshead Council’s cabinet prepares to sign off its domestic abuse strategy next Tuesday, with the intention of also finding a domestic abuse champion later in the year.
The DVDS functions in two parts, known as the ‘Right to Ask’ and the ‘Right to Know’. Right to Ask entitles an individual or family member to ask the police to check whether a current or past partner has a violent past.
The ‘Right to Know’, allows the Police to tell an individual of their partner or ex-partner’s violent behaviour on their own initiative.