New domestic abuse court

Victims of domestic abuse in Rochdale are benefiting from a new specialist domestic abuse court.

Key features of the courts include trained and dedicated criminal justice staff with enhanced expertise in dealing with domestic violence, including magistrates specially trained in dealing with domestic abuse cases; tailored support and advice from independent domestic abuse advisers and multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARAC) to provide protection for those most at risk of harm.

Susannah Boubaker, Manager at the Domestic Violence Forum, said: “'These specialist courts play an important role in increasing the safety of victims of domestic abuse. The criminal justice process has previously been a daunting hurdle for victims to get over and has led to many perpetrators not being brought to justice.

“There’s hope now that the new specialist court can be influential in reducing the devastating impact domestic abuse has on victims, their families and the wider community.”

Martin Greenhalgh Superintendent at Greater Manchester Police, Rochdale Division, said: “Domestic abuse is a terrible crime and we fear a great number of incidents go unreported because victims are scarred of potential repercussions. We hope that the domestic abuse court will reassure victims that we’re committed to tackling this violent crime and making sure the victim is protected at all times.”

This new addition in Rochdale means it will be one of 141 specialist domestic violence courts in England and Wales. Rochdale was successful in their bid to secure their own specialist court which is co-located inside Rochdale Town Centre’s Magistrates building.

Fred Wood, Deputy Justices’ Clerk at Rochdale Magistrates Court, added: “This multi-agency approach to tackling domestic abuse by the police, Crown Prosecutors, magistrates, courts and probation, together with specialist support services for victims, should help us to increase the number of successful outcomes for victims and deal with more attackers.”