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Professionals
Specialist domestic violence courts
This page provides the following information
- SDVCs in Devon
- Leaflet for victims going to an SDVC
- Statistics
- Resource Manual (national)
- Data monitoring forms
Devon has three specialist domestic violence courts (SDVC):
- Central Devon (Exeter Magistrates Court);
- North Devon (Barnstaple Magistrates Court) and
- South Devon (Newton Abbott).
The purpose of these courts is to improve the criminal justice response in cases where domestic violence-related crimes are being discussed.
Our experience, since running them in 2006, is that cases are heard quicker; there are fewer victim retractions because victims are better supported throughout the process; and there has been an increase in successful prosecutions.
There are several reasons for these improvements:
- All court related staff (front of house, magistrates, victim support and witness care) have received specialist training
- The court sits on specific days/times to ensure that the relevant, trained staff will be presiding over these cases
- Specialist independent domestic violence advisors (idvas) provide support to victims who want it.
- The relevant agencies meet regularly to discuss how to continually improve their services.
Details on Devon’s three SDVCs:
Court |
Address | SDVC sitting | Idva contact |
| Exeter (Central) | Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LS | All day Wednesday | 01392 262233 |
| North (Barnstaple) | The Law Courts, Civic Centre, Barnstaple EX31 1DX |
Friday 12.00 noon |
01271 370079 |
| South | Newfoundland Way, Newton Abbott, TQ12 1NG | All day Wednesday | 01364 643866 01803 841577 |
There is a leaflet for people who want to know more about the process of going through an SDVC (80KB - pdf help).
Adva and Torbay Community Safety Partnership collect quarterly statistical data on the performance of the three specialist domestic violence courts. From April 2010 this data will be collected across Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay by the Local Criminal Justice Board.
Each court area receives quarterly performance reports from the national Crown Prosecution Service which outlines each court’s performance in relation to other SDVCs in the country.
The introduction of specialist domestic violence courts was a Home Office and Ministry of Justice initiative. Each SDVC in the country has to comply to specific measures, outlined in the National Resource Manual.
Data Monitoring Forms completed by agencies
Police, Probation, Courts, CPS and Idvas collect data quarterly, completing pro-forma monitoring forms