DVA gender based assumptions

The request was partially successful.

Dear Bristol City

Could you please confirm the Source of your often repeated claim of 1 in 4
women as expressed on your website and tell me why male victims are not accurately tabulated. Explain what Men's groups
or charities do you consult and work with on the issue of Domestic

What exactly does the Council think makes a disproportionately higher amount of female victims over males account for their use of resources and what statistics are the basis for such an analysis?

Please explain why only images of women deployed on BAVA website.

Please explain why current British Crime Survey statistics are not being used that show levels of male victimisation to be close to that of females.

Explain why current rates of arrest and prosecution in Bristol do big reflect this actuality.

Please explain why you fail to illustrate the parity in gender regarding victimisation of DVA.
Why under reporting of males as victims is such a huge problem in understanding the real complexity of the crime?

Please explain emphasis on female victims overages to a disproportionate degree in resources, training and funding.

Please explain what level of representation and in inclusion from men as victims and male victims groups can be found within BCC's DVA structures and it's funded agencies or employees? Explain why there is not parity with females.

Concerned that while there is recognition of male victims in the strategy, male victims are not always included in some of the initiatives when they should be. Can you explain why please?

Unhappy about positioning the current DVA strategy as being based on ‘feminist analysis’ as it means the strategy is based on ideology rather than based on facts and practical support and initiatives for all victims across the city. It also creates the potential possibility of the strategy being given the wrong impression about its contents which would be a shame. Explanation why please the term ‘feminist analysis’ should not be dropped from the strategy.
Education - Explain and make clear current initiatives include preventing women from committing violence against men and boys. This includes the teacher training and awareness training throughout Bristol. If these initiatives do not include men and boys then they should be rejected.
campaigns – Considering that the government’s own figures (British crime Survey) show one in three victims of domestic abuse are male and that male victims are twice as likely to under-report (British Crime Survey) can you oitline plans for a campaign aimed at encouraging male victims to come forward?

Please outline plans to do so if any and if not why not? Failure to do so, may leave the council open to accusations that it is breaching the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Yours faithfully,

Sean Geoghegan

Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

Thank you for your request for information. You should expect to receive a response within the 20 working day limit.

______________________________________________________________________
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kev keckum left an annotation ()

kev keckum left an annotation ()

http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx...

Two million have experienced domestic abuse in last twelve months

7% of women and 5% of men have suffered domestic abuse in last year

There were 2.0 million victims of domestic abuse in 2011/12, according to the Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences 2011/12, published by the Office for National Statistics. 

There was no statistically significant change in the level of domestic abuse experienced in the last year between the 2010/11 and 2011/12 surveys. However, three of the four main categories of domestic abuse (non-sexual partner abuse, non-sexual family abuse and stalking) have all shown statistically significant decreases between the 2004/05 and 2011/12 surveys. Sexual assault has shown no statistically significant change over this time period.

Women were more likely to be a victim of domestic abuse. Some 7% of women and 5% of men were estimated to have experienced domestic abuse in the last year, equivalent to an estimated 1.2 million female and 800,000 male victims. For the purpose of the survey 'domestic abuse' includes non-physical abuse, threats, force, sexual assault or stalking carried out by a current or former partner or other family member.

4.2% of women and 3.0% of men reported having experienced non-sexual partner abuse. 4.2% of women and 2.7% of men reported having experienced stalking.

The survey also records incidents of sexual violence.

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stat...

Key points

Violent and sexual crime covers a range of offence types. For example, violence spans minor assaults, such as pushing and shoving that result in no physical harm through to serious assault and murder. Sexual assault covers offences from indecent exposure to rape. In half of incidents identified by the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) (50%) and offences recorded by the police (56%), the violence resulted in no physical injury to the victim.
The 2011/12 CSEW shows that there were 2.1 million violent incidents in England and Wales with 3% of adults victimised. The number of violent incidents has halved from its peak in 1995 when the survey estimated over 4.2 million violent incidents.
Focusing on the most serious violence, the number of homicides currently recorded by the police has increased from 1961 to 2002/03, and shown a generally downward trend since. The number currently recorded for 2011/12 (540) is the lowest since 1989 (521).
Offences involving the use of firearms peaked later than overall violent crime with 24,094 offences being recorded by the police in 2003/04. Since then the number of such offences has fallen by 60% to 9,555 recorded offences in 2011/12. The current 16% fall between 2010/11 and 2011/12 is the eighth consecutive annual decrease in firearm offences.
With regard to sexual and domestic violence, the 2011/12 survey showed there were 536,000 victims of sexual assault in the last year and 2.0 million of domestic abuse. Although the estimated levels of domestic abuse experienced in the last year were lower than those in the 2004/05 CSEW (the baseline for this measure) there has been no statistically significant change since 2008/09. Sexual assault in the last year has shown no statistically significant change over this time period.
The CSEW showed that young men were most likely to be the victims of violence. The profile of victims of violent and sexual violence varied according to the type of offence. In 2011/12, as in previous years, more than two-thirds of homicide victims (68%) were male. In contrast, women were more likely to be a victim of domestic abuse. Some 7% of women and 5% of men were estimated to have experienced domestic abuse in the last year, equivalent to an estimated 1.2 million female and 800,000 male victims. Similarly, the survey found that young women were much more likely to be victims of sexual assault in the last year.
The relationship between victims and perpetrators also differed by gender. For example, homicides against men were most likely to be committed by a friend or acquaintance (39%), whilst homicides against women were most likely to be committed by a partner or ex-partner, (51%).
 

Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

Dear Mr Geoghegan,

Thank you for your request for information received 28 January 2013.
For ease of reference we have responded within the text of your request
below.

1. Could you please confirm the Source of your often repeated claim
of 1 in 4 women as expressed on your website and tell me why male
victims are not accurately tabulated.
This figure originates from the following source:
Council of Europe (2002). Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers
to member States on the protection of women against violence. Adopted on
30 April 2002 ; and Explanatory Memorandum. (Strasbourg, France Council
of Europe).

2. Explain what Men's groups or charities do you consult and work
with on the issue of Domestic Abuse?
Bristol City Council works with a variety of men’s organisations on
the issue of domestic violence and abuse, including Mankind, Respect,
Men’s Advice Line and Bristol’s Men’s Health & Wellbeing
Stakeholder Group

3. What exactly does the Council think makes a disproportionately
higher amount of female victims over males account for their use of
resources and what statistics are the basis for such an analysis?
Most domestic violence and abuse services commissioned by Bristol City
Council are available to both men and women

4. Please explain why only images of women deployed on BAVA
website.
BAVA is independent from Bristol City Council and we therefore have no
control over the imagery used on their website.

5. Please explain why current British Crime Survey statistics are
not being used that show levels of male victimisation to be close to
that of females.
We do not consider your question to be a request for information; in
its current form we consider it to be a request for comment.

6. Explain why current rates of arrest and prosecution in Bristol
do big reflect this actuality.
Bristol City Council does not hold information about rates of arrest
and prosecution.

7. Please explain why you fail to illustrate the parity in gender
regarding victimisation of DVA.
We do not consider your question to be a request for information; in
its current form we consider it to be a request for comment.

8. Why under reporting of males as victims is such a huge problem
in understanding the real complexity of the crime?
Bristol City Council does not hold this information

9. Please explain emphasis on female victims overages to a
disproportionate degree in resources, training and funding.
Most domestic violence and abuse services commissioned by Bristol City
Council are available to both men and women

10. Please explain what level of representation and in inclusion
from men as victims and male victims groups can be found within BCC's
DVA structures and it's funded agencies or employees? Explain why there
is not parity with females.
All DVA services commissioned by Bristol City Council are represented,
most of these services are available to both men and women.
Bristol City Council cannot comment on the policies of funded agencies.

11. Concerned that while there is recognition of male victims in the
strategy, male victims are not always included in some of the
initiatives when they should be. Can you explain why please?
We do not consider your question to be a request for information; in
its current form we consider it to be a request for comment. It is
unclear what initiatives are referred to here

12. Unhappy about positioning the current DVA strategy as being
based on ‘feminist analysis’ as it means the strategy is based on
ideology rather than based on facts and practical support and
initiatives for all victims across the city. It also creates the
potential possibility of the strategy being given the wrong impression
about its contents which would be a shame. Explanation why please the
term ‘feminist analysis’ should not be dropped from the strategy.
The Violence and Abuse Against Women and Girls and Domestic and Sexual
Violence against Men Strategy was subject to a thorough consultation
process and has now been finalised, no further amendments can be made.

13. Education - Explain and make clear current initiatives include
preventing women from committing violence against men and boys. This
includes the teacher training and awareness training throughout Bristol.
If these initiatives do not include men and boys then they should be
rejected.
We do not consider your question to be a request for information; in
its current form we consider it to be a request for comment.

14. Campaigns – Considering that the government’s own figures
(British crime Survey) show one in three victims of domestic abuse are
male and that male victims are twice as likely to under-report (British
Crime Survey) can you oitline plans for a campaign aimed at encouraging
male victims to come forward? Please outline plans to do so if any and
if not why not? Failure to do so, may leave the council open to
accusations that it is breaching the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Campaigns are coordinated on an annual basis, campaigns for the
financial year 2013-14 have not yet been finalised.

On behalf of
Liam Nevin
Service Director - Legal Services

This response should answer your request in full, however if you are
not satisfied with this response or wish to lodge an appeal against any
exemptions that may have been applied, you can do so by writing to the
Data Protection Officer at Bristol City Council Legal Services, The
Council House, College Green, Bristol, or [Bristol City Council request email]. Details
of the complaints procedure can be found at
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/complaints

If, after you have exhausted the council’s complaints procedure, you
are still not satisfied with the response you have received you have the
right to complain to the Information Commissioner, details of your right
to complain can be found at http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx

Copyright notice
The provision of information by Bristol City Council under this scheme
does not imply a right to reproduce or commercially exploit such
information without the Council's express prior written permission.
Reproduction or commercial exploitation of materials supplied under
this scheme without the express permission of Bristol City Council may
be an infringement of copyright.
The Council is unable to grant permission to reproduce or re-use any
material accessed through this scheme that is the property of third
parties. Permission to reproduce or re-use such material must be
obtained from the copyright holders.

______________________________________________________________________
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Dear Freedom of Information,

Thankyou for your reply.

1) i am sure you will agree the data you rely on was created some time ago also problematic that no information
is offered the public about the source of the statistic used and the basis upon which DVA is measured. The statistics were taken by measuring women within refuges only and does not reflect reality. It also pertains to experience over a woman's lifetime and includes single experiences of humiliating treatment.

DVA should be measured as persistent domineering and abusive behaviour. I have provided you with more recent and accurate statistic
(and the source) and ask that you cease using outdated and distorted data.
Dorset council now treat DVA as a genderless crime why won't Bristol council follow their lead?

Yours sincerely,

kev keckum

Dear Freedom of Information,

2) None of the groups you mention can confirm BCC are working with them. Only that you refer victims onto them.
It is notable that the Councils guidance is mostly taken from Women's
groups, some of Which are deeply questionable on Agenda. Groups and individuals commisdioned by BCC. Could you again tell me what Men's groups or
charities do you consult and work with on the issue of Domestic
violence?
What level of representation exists for victims of DVA within the strategy and policy decision makers that assist or work got BCC?

Yours sincerely,

Sean Geoghegan

Dear Freedom of Information,

3)

What exactly does the Council think makes a disproportionately
higher amount of female victims over males account for their use of
resources and what statistics are the basis for such an analysis?
Your answer is too vague.
Outline exactly please what the council believes are the levels of male to female victims of DVA in proportionate terms.
Please offer statistics deployed by council on regard to men who are victims and show where these are presented.
Outline in depth DVA provision from BCC towards DVA and how this breaks down in gender terms.
Only then can wf determine if the BCC provision is reaching male victims as you claim.

Yours sincerely,

Sean Geoghegan

Dear Freedom of Information,

4-6)

Please explain why only images of women deployed on BAVA website which is commissioned by BCC to provide services to victims of DVA.

Please explain where in its publicity current British Crime Survey statistics are
being used that show levels of male victimisation to be close to
that of females as provided in addendum.
What reasons do BCC have for not providing current and equitable statistics in regard gender breakdown DVA victims.

I contend BCC strategy on DVA support initiatives through Safer Bristol with inclusion of feminist groups pro actively seeks to affect rates of arrest and prosecution in Bristol against male perpetrators of DVA whilst ignoring the one in three female perpetrators.
Explain why no inclusion of mens groups seeking similar for women abusers.

Yours sincerely,
Sean Geoghegan

Dear Freedom of Information,

(7-13)

7. Request info on all sites that BCC offer finance to or commission which use data around gender and DVA victimsation. Current statistics deployed by each and how many are in regard to female and how many stats are deployed to illustrate male victimisation DVA. A set of figures that will illustrate compliance (or not) with current equality legislation. A content anlaysis.

You have been provided with current stats on DVA victims. Please inform you will impress on all groups and agencies commissioned by BCC to operate BCC provision on DVA the need and the legal obligation to show correct data for both sexes in regard to gender
and victimisation of DVA. Failure to comply will bring a demand for review and complaints procedure based on Equality legislation.

8. You have been provided with data that shows that under reporting of males as victims is a huge problem
in adopting strategies for males who experience DVA. The reasons why men do not approach BCC commissioned agencies or the police.
Bristol City Council now has this information - you are obliged to include this to assess provision and needs outreach for men in the community.
Also obliged to use this data on all promotional material to encourage men to come forward and to help professionals understand their reluctance.
Confirm that you now have this data from me and that it will be disseminated properly and strategies affected by them.

9. Please explain emphasis on female victims in your DVA provision. Breakdown please including training, resources and finances on women only services and those on men only services DVA. All domestic violence and abuse services commissioned by Bristol City
Council.

10. I ask for an explanation level of representation and in inclusion
from men as victims and male victims groups found within BCC's
DVA structures and it's funded agencies or employees? Explain why there
is not parity with females.
You answer; DVA services commissioned by Bristol City Council are represented,
most of these services are available to both men and women.
Please provide DETAILED information and explain what services exactly are used by men and to what degree.
Bristol City Council cannot comment on the policies of funded agencies bu can comment on commissioned groups. How much money goes to the Freedom Organisation? WHy does its representatives have influence over Safer bristol strategy and its sub strata/groups. What level of male representation is there to balance this group with its anti male agenda? .

11. Explain again in what way male victims are included SPECIFICALLY in BCC and BCC commissioned
initiatives (outreach/campaigns/publicty drives/strategy group meetings etc). What women only services are supported and at what overall cost?

12. Wish to complain about the sexist unequal nature of the
Violence and Abuse Against Women and Girls and Domestic and Sexual
Violence against Men Strategy and call for a review.

13. Explain and make clear current initiatives include
preventing women from committing violence against men and boys. This
includes the teacher training and awareness training throughout Bristol.
Do any of these initiatives include men and boys?

Yours sincerely,

Sean Geoghegan

Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

Dear Mr Geoghegan,
 
We have received emails from you dated 21 January, 25 January, 26 January,
27 January, 3 February (two), 15 February, 16 February (two), 18 February
(three), 22 February (two), 26 February (five), 2 March, 8 March, 12 March
and 15 March.
 
We have responded to the emails dated 21 January, 25 January, 26 January,
27 January, 3 February (two).
 
Having considered your correspondence in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA), we have identified that s.14(1) of the FOIA
is engaged. Section 14(1) states that:
 
“Section 1(1) does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request
for information if the request is vexatious.”
 
We consider the requests made to be vexatious for the following reasons:
 
- we have received 23 emails from you over the past 53 days. These emails
have contained over 100 queries.
- these queries are all linked to DVA and the associated support and
spending and are therefore being treated as associated requests for the
purposes of the FOIA.
 
We will not be responding to the emails referred to above to which a
response has not already been provided. Nor will we be responding to any
further related requests.
 
On behalf of
Liam Nevin
Service Director - Legal Services
 
If you are not satisfied with this response or wish to lodge an appeal
against any exemptions that may have been applied, you can do so by
writing to the Data Protection Officer at Bristol City Council Legal
Services, The Council House, College Green, Bristol, or
[1][Bristol City Council request email].  Details of the complaints procedure can be found
at [2]http://www.bristol.gov.uk/complaints.
 
If, after you have exhausted the councils complaints procedure, you are
still not satisfied with the response you have received you have the right
to complain to the Information Commissioner, details of your right to
complain can be found at [3]http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx
 
Copyright notice
 
The provision of information by Bristol City Council under this scheme
does not imply a right to reproduce or commercially exploit such
information without the Council's express prior written permission.
 
Reproduction or commercial exploitation of materials supplied under this
scheme without the express permission of Bristol City Council may be an
infringement of copyright.
The Council is unable to grant permission to reproduce or re-use any
material accessed through this scheme that is the property of third
parties. Permission to reproduce or re-use such material must be obtained
from the copyright holders.

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References

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2. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/complaints
3. http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx

Dear Bristol City Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Bristol City Council's handling of my FOI request 'DVA gender based assumptions'.

The Freedom of Information Act provides that public authorities do
not have to comply with vexatious or repeated requests:
if it seeks information of a frivolous nature, if it is likely to
cause distress or irritation without justification or if it is
aimed at disrupting the work of an authority or harassing
individuals in it.
I don't believe my requests though frequent and in depth have that
intention.
Repeated requests
A request which is identical or substantially similar to a previous
request from the same person (with which the public authority has
complied) may be refused under section 14, unless a reasonable
interval has elapsed between it and the previous response.

Under section 14(1) of the Freedom of Information a request is
vexatious is determined by the information requested, not the
person making the request. An individual can make as many requests
for information as he or she wishes. Each of their requests must be
considered on a case-by-case basis. Repeated requests are not
considered as necessarily vexatious.
Vexatiousness needs to be assessed with reference to all the
circumstances of an individual case. Only if a request is not a
genuine endeavour to access information for its own sake, but is
aimed at disrupting the work of an authority, or harassing
individuals.

I enquire information because as a male victim of DVA I was not helped due to what I believe was
institutional bias I seek to address equality and child protection
issues that may assist BCC in its practise, provision and policies.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/dv...

Yours faithfully,
Sean Geoghegan

Freedom of Information, Bristol City Council

Dear Mr Geoghegan/Keckum,

 

Thank you for your request for an internal review of the decision to apply
an exemption to the disclosure of information requested by you.

 

I have considered the application of Section 14(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act and the evidence that was used in making the decision to
apply it, and I find that this exemption has been applied correctly.

 

As all of your requests are related to Domestic Violence and Abuse, I
confirm that the Council will not be responding to the requests already
received from you, nor will it be responding to any further related
requests.

 

You have now reached the end of the appeals/complaints procedure at
Bristol City Council, if you are still not satisfied with the response you
have received you have the right to complaint to the Information
Commissioner, details of your right to complain can be found at
[1]http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx

 

 

H Ashton

Data Protection Officer

On behalf of

Liam Nevin

Service Director – Legal Services

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Keep up to date with the latest council news and sign up to our monthly
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References

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