A partnership in Hull that offers services to women who are experiencing

domestic abuse has won a national award.

Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP), which is led by Citysafe and is a

partnership between Hull City Council's Housing and Children and Young

People services, Humberside Police, NHS Hull and Hull Women's Aid, has won

the stand-alone Violence Against Women category of the Home Office's annual

Tilley Awards.

The Tilley Awards have been running since 1999 and aim to highlight services

that have made a difference to community safety or have reduced crime

through partnership working.

"Hull DAP wanted to showcase the work that is being done in the city. Hull

DAP is a creative and innovative service that has been developed following

consultation with women and children," explains Vicki Paddison, DAP's

domestic violence coordinator.

"The DAP team works tirelessly to support the 180 women and children

referred to it every month. Through effective partnership working and a

coordinated community response, the outcomes for women and children are vast

and assist families to stay safe, which is a key priority for Hull City

Council."

"We estimate that around 24,690 women are living with domestic abuse in

Hull. The Hull DAP service, which has been running since September 2005, is

here to offer support to women and children who live in fear due to domestic

violence and abuse. There are many different services available to support

and assist women and children to stay safe and explore the options

available."

Hull DAP offers services such as accommodation, emotional support, legal

advice, support at court, sanctuary scheme measures, and a service where

victims are supported to stay in their own home with increased security such

as a panic alarm, CCTV, patrols by Humberside Police and regular welfare

calls.

Councillor Mike Ross, portfolio holder with responsibility for community

safety, said: "Hull DAP is to be congratulated for gaining national

recognition for the excellent work it has done to tackle domestic violence

towards women. This goes to show what can be achieved for the benefit for

residents of Hull when organisations work together.

"Whilst this award is aimed at the work that has been done to help women, it

is important to stress that Hull DAP offers the same level of service to any

victims of domestic abuse."

Detective Chief Inspector Alastair O'Neil, from Humberside Police, said:

"Domestic violence remains as a major blight preventing our communities from

flourishing, and we are delighted to continue to contribute to the

partnership.

"We will continue to target offenders, support victims and seek positive

interventions at every opportunity, and we are determined to help break the

cycle of violence. We continue to seek out and deliver improvements in our

service and are gratified that the partnership as a whole has received this

well deserved recognition".

Christopher Long, Chief Executive of NHS Hull and Chair of the Crime and

Disorder Reduction Partnership commented: "I am delighted to see Hull

Domestic Abuse Partnership recognised in this way. One of our key priorities

is to keep the population of Hull safe because we know that crime and

violence have serious and long term effects on people's health. This is just

one of a number of initiatives that NHS Hull is involved with which aim to

prevent and reduce violence in people's lives.

"Working alongside our partners at Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership, we look

forward to building on our success to date."

Hull Domestic Abuse Partnership will be presented with its award on 5

October at the De Vere Whites Hotel within the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.