Data

Standing Together places a great deal of importance on data as a way of measuring the effectiveness of the coordinated community response to domestic violence. Our approach is highlighted in the following quote from New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), who completed an in-depth charity analysis of Standing Together in 2007:

‘From the start, Standing Together recognised the importance of collecting and analysing data to demonstrate what works in tackling domestic violence. Rarely has NPC seen a charity that places data gathering and analysis so central to its agenda: it truly informs its own operations and those of its partners, and influences the wider sector including government. Standing Together turns data into action.’

Standing Together gathers and analyses quantitative data to highlight trends over time. We use it in the DV Dashboard which is provided to the Hammersmith and Fulham Strategic Partnership Group.

We gather qualitative data through observations of practice, 'dip' samples, analysis of case files and analysis of focus groups with survivors and stakeholders.

The triangle below (Fig. 1) illustrates how quantitative data provides a picture of the attrition (when cases fail to make it through the criminal justice system by not resulting in conviction; also referred to as the Justice Gap) of domestic violence in the borough, in relation to the Criminal Justice response.  It is this attrition that the work of the Standing Together partnership aims to address.

Fig 1: Attrition of Domestic Violence Incidents in Hammersmith and Fulham, 2009/10

Data from the Operational Areas of Work of Standing Together

Criminal Justice

Data provided by the Metropolitan Police shows the volume of incidents and outcomes over time. From this, we can calculate repeat victimisation levels and assess changes in attrition.  Analysis of victim and offender profiles, as well the locations of incidents, can aid the assessment of specialist service provision in the borough. The Police Problem Profile demonstrates how police data is used to inform our work.

Qualitative analysis of police data can provide valuable insight into reasons for attrition as well as informing training of police officers and staff.

Data gathered from the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) at West London Magistrates Court (WLMC) allows the tracking of offenders through the court system and beyond. Standing Together gathers data from weekly observations of the court. From this, the court's effectiveness can be measured against agreed performance indicators.

In addition, qualitative data from observations is used to identify issues of practice and to direct the partnership to areas in need of improvement and training. The observations from the SDVC form the foundation of the work of the Court Management Group and provide a valuable account of the work of this operational group. The 2010 SDVC Data and Observation Summary highlights how data gathered from observing the court is used.

The capture of case data to this extent also allows for information exchange between agencies and other operational areas of the partnership (i.e. MARAC).

The Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) provides data against which its performance can be monitored, and informs the National Indicator 32 of repeat victimisation.

"Risk assessment is all about evidence, if we know enough then we can make good assessments.  It’s not about the tool, it’s about who gives you the information, that’s what I value about Standing Together".

Senior Probation Officer

Victim / Survivor Support

Data relating to the women referred to ADVANCE Advocacy Project is shared with Standing Together.  This serves to examine where referrals are coming from, and who is being referred according to ethnicity, gender and location.

Data relating to those victim/witnesses involved in court cases heard by the SDVC is gathered from the core agencies involved in the support of women at court from Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea boroughs.

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Survivor and Stakeholder Consultation and Feedback

Standing Together consults with survivors of domestic violence and those who work with survivors. The data collated from these exercises comes in several formats:

• Standing Together has pioneered consultation with survivors and publishes full reports on the results and the process (See our Publications page)

• Feedback is gathered from victims and witnesses in relation to their experience of the criminal justice system

• Training that is delivered by Standing Together is followed by written feedback from participants.  This is then summarised and fed back to partner agencies.

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Last Modified: 1st July 2011