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Sevenoaks District Council

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Specialist court extended after pilot scheme

Victims of domestic abuse in the area who want to see the perpetrators brought to justice are set to be offered extensive support after the extension of a successful pilot scheme.

The Domestic Violence Court in Maidstone allows victims to give evidence in a safe environment, and was piloted in August 2007.

The court is segregated so the victim cannot see the perpetrator and enters the court through a separate entrance and has their own waiting area, away from their abuser and his or her family.

There will also be a dedicated Domestic Violence Adviser on hand, managed by the Citizens Advice Bureau, whose role will be to support victims and witnesses in domestic abuse cases.

The court, which received funding from the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership, will now be extended for another three years, and it is expected that the initiative will eventually be rolled out county wide.

Domestic abuse is one of the most serious and under reported crimes in the area, and recently released figures for Sevenoaks District show that over a quarter of all victims of domestic abuse, in the period from April to September, were repeat victims.

Cllr Keith Loney, Sevenoaks District Council Cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, says: "It is important that victims of this terrible crime are offered all the support possible to help them bring the perpetrators to justice. Evidence shows that specialised courts like this one give the victims more confidence, and are more likely to bring offenders to justice."

As part of Community Safety Week the Community Safety Partnership is highlighting the many projects that through funding from the Partnership has made a difference to residents across the District.

The Partnership brings together all of the agencies in the District who can have an affect on crime and includes Kent Police, Sevenoaks District Council, Kent County Council, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, West Kent Primary Care Trust, Voluntary Sector, Kent Drug & Alcohol Action Team, West Kent Housing, Moat Housing, Kent Youth Offending Team and the Probation Service.