The first National Domestic Violence Helpline was opened by Women’s Aid.

The then Chief Constable Peter Nobes published the first Force Policy on Domestic Violence, importantly defining practice such as to “separate the complainant from the alleged perpetrator” before taking a statement.

Marital rape only became a crime in the UK this year.

The Zero Tolerance campaign to end violence against women had a huge profile in Leeds with many public buildings, buses, bus stops and lifts covered in Zero Tolerance posters and Andrea Dworkin came to speak in Leeds.

Jasvinder Sanghera set up the Karma Nirvana charity in Derby after she was a victim of forced marriage and honour abuse.

The Family Law Act 1996 was passed.

Also, the Housing Act of 1996 broadened the definition of homelessness for those who are eligible for accommodation, including explicitly referring to victims of domestic violence.

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 was passed as law (introducing in 1998 new protection orders which could be used when dealing with postseparation harassment and stalking). LWA & HALT worked closely with the police to establish how these orders could be used positively when attending reports of domestic violence.

Although only 200 were expected, there were nearly six thousand prosecutions nationally under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Leeds opened the 1st Domestic Violence Court in the UK at Leeds Magistrates Court with HALT as a key partner.

MARACs (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) were piloted in Cardiff and soon became part of the discussions which led to this way of working in Leeds. MARACs are now held daily in Leeds to increase the safety of the most high risk victims in the city.

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (DVCVA) brought in radical changes including making common assault an arrestable offence.

HALT was one of the organisations that helped to create the national agency CAADA (now SafeLives). HALT was one of the handful of small charities across England and Wales that were trying out new ways to help domestic violence victims along with the Women’s Safety Unit in Cardiff (who were to set up MARAC’s) and Advance in west London

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) began in Leeds. A MARAC is a victim focused information sharing and risk management meeting attended by all key agencies, where high risk cases are discussed. This process provides a structured response to cases through a partnership approach, and allows statutory and voluntary agencies to respond consistently to manage risk.

The police began using the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model to identify and assess the potential danger caused by domestic violence.

Belated implementation of sections of the DVCVA 2004 enabled any person convicted or acquitted of any criminal offence after 30 September to be made subject to a restraining order.

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 was initially introduced as a Stalking Bill however many victims of stalking felt that they were not taken seriously by the criminal justice system and that stalking should be a specific offence. The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, created two new offences of stalking and stalking involving fear of violence or causing serious alarm or distress.

LWA recognised that LGBT+ people are proportionately not engaged in DV&A services, so undertook ‘An enquiry into LGBT Domestic Violence in Leeds’, which comprised a literature review on DV&A amongst LGBT+ people, and conducted questionnaires and focus groups to better understand the domestic violence experiences of this client group, and what helps and hinders them in accessing effective support.

HALT celebrated being formed for 20 years, and also became a Leading Lights service fully accredited by SafeLives (formerly CAADA) demonstrating their commitment to excellence in service and support.

LWA was chosen as one of only three Leeds charities to benefit from StreetSmart. At participating restaurants during the festive months of November and December, a voluntary £1 is added to the diners’ bill. At the end of each month, the restaurant passes on all of these £1s to StreetSmart and funds raised is donated to chosen charities.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (or Clare’s Law) was introduced to give any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. A member of the public can also make enquiries into the partner of a close friend or family member.

LWA, HALT & BCD were successful in being re-commissioned by Leeds City Council to deliver the community based DV&A contract as LDVS, and welcomed Women’s Health Matters into the partnership. Additionally the consortium won the refuge accommodation contract as well and LWA were delighted to run this for LDVS and welcome staff to LWA who came from the previous supplier. “Emmeline” has returned home after 6 years away.

Also, LWA merged with HALT, using the working name Leeds Women’s Aid incorporating HALT for the 1st year, creating the largest women’s organisation in Leeds (if not Yorkshire), which has enabled us to offer a wider range of improved services to high risk victims of domestic violence. 2017 marked 45 years since LWA was formed in 1972, however due to the merger and expansions, 2018 would be celebrated as 45 years since the opening of the 1st refuge in 1973.

LWA supported the 3 GP surgeries with the pilot of asking all female patients if they had experienced DV&A by delivering drop-in’s in those surgeries 12th November 2017 was the 40th anniversary of the start of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches. Every year, these marches bring 1,000s of women onto the streets to reclaim their right to enjoy the freedom of our towns and cities, at night, without fearing male violence.