21 August 2008The Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership has developed a Domestic Abuse Action Plan which will form part of the next 3 year Strategy and Action Plan commencing in March 2005. This Action Plan includes providing better information, raising awareness, support in the community, support for children, working with perpetrators, education and prevention as well as linking with the housing issues included in this Strategy. It identifies where agencies can work together to improve services and where other partnerships will be involved, eg the Domestic Abuse Forums and the Children's Consortium.
The Domestic Abuse Action Plan (
PDF 166K file details) has been informed by a District-wide audit of services as well as 2 conferences for key workers, survivors and decision-makers, organised by the North Kent and West Kent Domestic Abuse Forums.
Progress on the Action Plan will be monitored by the Community Safety Partnership.
For more information, advice and support contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline (24hrs) on 0800 2000 247. Below is a list of National Helplines.
Male victims
The Mankind Initiative is an organisation to assist male victims suffering from domestic abuse. They can be contacted on 0870 794 4124
Same sex relationships
Broken Rainbow is an organisation to assist persons in same sex relationships suffering from domestic abuse. They can be contacted on 020 8539 9507
Black and minority ethnic groups
The Minority Ethnic Counselling Service can be contacted on 01634 333880.
Refuges
Woman's Aid has a full list of refuges throughout the U.K.
For more local advice and support please contact
| West Kent Police Domestic Violence Unit | 01732 379261 |
| Citizen Advice Bureau | 01732 454443 |
| Swanley & District Citizens Advice Bureau | 01322 664949 |
| Edenbridge & Westerham Citizens Advice Bureau | 01732 865131 |
| Sevenoaks & Swanley Social Services | 08458 247247 24hr |
| Sevenoaks District Council - Housing | 01732 227000 |
| Relate Centre Outpost | 01892 529927 |
| The Freedom Programme | 07854 780690 |
| Spring House Family Service | 01732 465539 |
| West Kent Victim Support | 01622 690103 |
How to hide Internet Activities
This information may not completely hide your tracks. The safest way to find information on the internet would be at a local library, a friend's house or at work. Please read the warnings below and take steps to increase your safety when using the internet.
E-mail:
If an abuser has access to your email account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that an abuser will not be able to guess. If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing e-mail messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse.
History/cache file:
If an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), they may be able to see information you have viewed recently on the internet. You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings.
Netscape:
Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator, click on 'Clear History'. Click on Advanced then select Cache. Click on 'Clear Disk Cache'.
On older versions of Netscape: Pull down Options menu. Select Network Options, select Cache. Click on 'Clear Disk Cache'.
Internet Explorer:
Pull down Tools menu, select Internet Options. On General tab, under Temporary Internet Files, click on "Delete Files". Under History click on "Clear History".
AOL:
To clear browsers cache: Go to Start, select Programmes, AOL, AOL System Information. Click on 'Utilities', click on 'Clear Browser Cache' (cache size should change to 0 KB).
If AOL System Information is not listed in the programme menu: Go to AOL keyword Preferences. Click on 'Internet Properties' which opens the internet options window. Click on 'Delete Files' the click 'OK' to delete your temporary internet files.
