Liverpool City Council has significantly invested in multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) to deal with the highest risk cases of violence against women and girls (VAWG). MARACs share information and discuss risk management for these cases and are attended by housing, health, adult and children's services, police, probation and others as appropriate. Analysis highlights the significant value for money of MARACs.
An annual investment of £56,336 in 2011/12 in the two MARACs in Liverpool saved more than £9.33 million in 2011/12:
- 1,063 cases were dealt with by two MARACs in Liverpool in 2011/12. Eighty-two per cent (872) of these cases were not subject to repeat domestic violence.
- The Home Office estimates (2003) that each domestic violence (DV) repeat incident costs agencies on average £9,924.
- This represents a saving of £8.65 million in 2011/12 (based on prevention of at least one repeat DV incident per MARAC victim).
This represents a return on investment of 1:165 – for every pound spent, £165 was saved.
Additionally, there are other savings; for example, there were 26 fewer DV homelessness presentations between 2010/11 and 2011/12, representing a saving of £676,000 (based on £26,000 a year average cost of homelessness).
PCCs can support the work of MARACs by engendering a culture of partnership working. Officers are encouraged to share information and commit to multi-agency working to support the most vulnerable victims of domestic abuse. PCCs should be working with community safety partnerships (CSPs) to ensure that they are providing an effective MARAC service and have participation from all relevant agencies. PCCs, partners and other commissioners – for example, CCGs and health and wellbeing boards – should also consider investing resources into domestic violence and sexual violence services. This needs to be part of their planning processes as there is an `invest to save' argument for such investment.
Further information
Alison Doherty
Community Safety and Community Cohesion Service Manager
Email: [email protected]
Michelle Lesbirel-Jones
Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention Officer
Email: [email protected]
Hot seat
Michelle Lesbirel-Jones from Liverpool City Council will be online between 10.00am and 11.00am on Tuesday 27 November to answer your questions on their successful Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences. You can join the discussion on the Knowledege Hub website by visting the following group: