Healthy relationships
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) identifies key issues affecting the health and wellbeing of our residents, both now and in the future.
The rate of domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in Rochdale was 37.7 per 1,000 people in 2021/22. This is above the England average of 30.8 (Office for National Statistics).
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse incidents are defined as any controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
Domestic violence and abuse account for 17.1% per cent of all crimes recorded by the police in the year ending March 2022, while each week in the UK, 2 women are killed by their current or former partner.
It is characterised by patterns of coercive, controlling or threatening behaviour, and can involve physical, psychological, financial, emotional and sexual abuse. The average length of an abusive relationship is 5 years though many victims suffer from abuse for much longer.
The importance of healthy relationships
How people treat each other is crucial to their wellbeing. Some people are victims of abuse. The council has a safeguarding system to prevent abuse and neglect and stop it quickly when it happens.
Domestic violence and abuse have a devastating effect on victims, their children, their families and the wider community.
Domestic violence and abuse can result not only in loss of dignity or self-esteem but in loss of life. Tackling domestic abuse as a public health issue is vital for ensuring that some of the most vulnerable people in our society receive the support, understanding and treatment they deserve.
Information and guidance on healthy relationships, abuse and safeguarding
- Rochdale Borough domestic violence and abuse strategy - the domestic violence and abuse strategy sets out how agencies and services will work together to tackle the issue of domestic abuse across the borough of Rochdale.
- Rochdale Safeguarding Adults Board - the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Adults Board has a collective responsibility for ensuring that all agencies working with adults fully understand and undertake their safeguarding duties and responsibilities. This site is about sharing information in order to help and assist professionals in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults.
- Rochdale Safeguarding Adults Board - Local strategies - the Board are involved in the production of a number of strategy documents that set out their actions to tackle issues such as female genital mutilation, neglect, financial abuse and domestic abuse.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance - Safeguarding - NICE has produced a number of documents on safeguarding and abuse, including guidance on domestic violence and abuse, multi-agency working and shared working.