New funding for domestic and sexual violence victims in Wiltshire

There will be better support for victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence in Wiltshire after extra funding was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

After a successful bid to the Ministry of Justice, more than £180,000 has been secured to employ two new members of specialist staff for the next three years.

The new Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) and the Children & Young Persons Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) will join the Trowbridge based charity Splitz which provides support across the county.

An ISVA is an advisor who works with people who have experienced rape and sexual assault, irrespective of whether they have reported to the police. An IDVA addresses the safety of victims at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members, to secure their safety.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said:

“It’s vital that the support networks are in place for victims and our strategy has been to increase the availability and accessibility of these specialist posts across the county, especially for those who may feel uncertain or unable to contact to our criminal justice partners.

“As a result of this, my commissioning team has been working closely with partners and providers to understand how best to meet their needs. 

“These crimes have a huge impact on their victims and making sure they’re supported is at the heart of what we do. This is why improving their experience is one of the priorities of my police and crime plan.

“This very welcome funding allows us to continue with this expansion.”

As well as the new funding, two hundred and forty thousand pounds has been secured to continue with the provision of the existing roles in Wiltshire and Swindon for the next three years. 

Published on 17 June 2022