04/11/2012 Sunday Politics South

In the south, up nearly a third of all manslaughter in Thames Valley

has been a result of domestic violence. Will the new crime

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2053 seconds

Welcome to Sunday Politics South, my name's Alex Forsyth. On today's

show, policing domestic violence. It's the cause of almost a third of

all murders in Thames Valley, so will the new Police and Crime

Commissioner be able to make a difference?

There was an announcement this week that might help councils generate

more income. Let us meet Richard Williams, the Labour leader of

Southampton City Council, and Ian Hudspeth, the Conservative leader

of West Oxfordshire District Council. We are coming up to Budget

time. Richard, in Southampton are you reversed the pay cuts that the

Conservatives imposed to try and save jobs. Does that mean you by

going to have to cut jobs instead? We would have lost �12 million in

fines and costs. The courts had already found against Southampton

City Council, but the Conservatives did not bother telling the union

that they were setting the people. But you have a �12 million a halt

in your budget. Yes, I think that is indicative of the swingeing cuts,

not just a Labour Party thing, authorities are across the country

are suffering from its deep and unnecessary cuts. Why do we need

the cuts? We need to rid -- we need to reduce the deficit. In

Oxfordshire we are halfway through a programme of taking �119 million

out of the Budget, and we are going to have to make tough decisions.

But you have had cuts of ageing service cuts. If you look at the

youth services, we have redesigned them, and we have 14% you sessions

than before. We got an early intervention service, which is

doing great work within the community. It is always an

opportunity, and you have to say, do we need to do things the same

way as we have done before? Not easy decisions, I must admit, but

necessary additions to reduce the deficit.

There is one announcement that has been made this week that could help

local councils generate more income. Several towns and cities in the

South are being invited to compete for new powers in the second wave

of the government's City Deal programme. Deputy Prime Minister

Nick Clegg and Cities Minister Greg Clark announced this week that If

successful, cities will be able to "earn back" tax from the Treasury,

and take control of their own budgets for things like Transport

and Skills. In our region Bournemouth's one those that's been

invited to bid - I'm joined by Dr Bruce Grant-Braham, from the Dorset

Local Enterprise Partnership. much difference is this going to

make. This is not necessarily new money, and it is just moving money

around. It is a way of entrepreneurially spreading the

money around the pot. Whilst I am here representing in Bournemouth,

it is Bournemouth, Paul, Christchurch and Dorset, and a

minimum of 5,000 population could benefit in our area.

One do you mean by benefit? How will this help for example POS

tourism in Bournemouth? If unit at the first wave of City deals, they

have put together some innovative approaches of looking at boosting

infrastructure, and we have some radical ideas that we will be

coming up with to go into our bid. Where tourism is concerned the

infrastructure is very important we bash. We can boast Bournemouth

airport, where access is concerned, and build upon what existing City

deals have done for instance Bristol. They have been given the

opportunity to earn back the are lived in business rates for up to

25 years. So you could effectively keep the business rates? In certain

areas we could do. That is substantial money not only in

itself but to borrow against. happens at the end of 25 years?

should have paid back what has been earned and we can move on to the

next deals. These are not fixed in stone. Knew a have a tough, --

competition. Portsmouth and Southampton are doing a joint bid.

What are you going to come up that -- that is so radical? It is aware

of the area, but we need investment. -- a wealthy area. The people in it

the service areas are not in the best wages. We have a shortage of

houses. We have communication problems, and we have to take more

control over our bus system. We need to enhance broadband as well,

which is another theme that City Deal is is very encouraging about.

Of course we also know that Oxford and Oxfordshire are going to put in

a bid, as are Portsmouth and Southampton. Ian, what are you

going to do? The announcement on Monday did not say how many people

would get the bid. We might all bought in good bits and win on

those bits. We have some issues in Oxfordshire and in Paul and

Bournemouth, around transport and infrastructure. Everybody wants

good fast broadband. Most importantly of all, skills. That is

important for the growth of that economy, to make sure we have the

skills for investing in the future. This is all well and good that you

can win back taxes, but won't it be more successful if you didn't have

local Government grants cut back so much. This is a way that people can

show innovative ways of earning that money and bringing more

business into the region, which will make more growth and improve

the economy for everybody. This presupposes that people will want

to invest in the area, and in Southampton we have just seen fait

pour out. The are are serious risks. The Government to -- nobody

disputes we need more investment in the private sector. The problem we

have in Southampton and Oxford is that in the past year we have lost

at Ford, B&Q and British Gas. They are all private sector entities.

The fact that the alleged it double-dip recession has ended in

the UK does not feel like that in Southampton. Is the City Deal

programme going to make any difference? Sa to reform our own

point of view, we are working cross-party on this. It is

essential that this is not a party political issue, this is about the

region fighting together. I think we need to do that. Our argument

around the green agenda was very important, because it is one of the

few areas we perceived serious opportunity for growth in the

economy, not just in a our region but in the UK as a whole. A lot of

people are saying things will get worse, and that is an opportunity

to invest in new areas. Michael Heseltine this week said more power

should be devolved from London to the regions. Dear me, is this the

key that is needed to unlock the economy? We would welcome the

opportunity to determine our own future. This is a real sign of it

from Michael Heseltine saying that is the way forward.

Thank you very much for being with In just over a week we'll all be

going to the polls to vote for the new Police and Crime Commissioners.

A couple of weeks ago we had all the Dorset candidates here in the

studio and today we're taking a look at the Thames Valley force and

the candidates standing there. Thames Valley is the largest non-

metropolitan police force in England and Wales. If it covers 96

miles of motorway, more than any other British force. Whoever lands

the PCC job will have to tackle crime at from farm thefts in rural

Oxfordshire to the mean streets of Reading and Slough. And they will

have to represent the Thames Valley's diverse communities. One

person at meeting the policing needs of 2.2 million. We ask our

local neighbourhoods what is the most important priority. Some say

hare-coursing. That is not in Slough and Reading, so we have a

few huge variety of problems. race for PCC has become too tough

for to independence. Martin Young and the current police authority

chair have now pulled out. The a have a lot of levers to pull, so I

decided to pull out. But to independence remain, and they are

determined to keep politics out of policing. So someone like me is

somebody who will be attentive to the needs of all the people. I will

identify the different communities that exist in Thames Valley, and

make sure that their needs and policing expectations are met.

strongly believe that this poll should not be political. Politics

should not come into it. David Cameron says it is a big job for a

big local person, and I believe I am that person. Six candidates are

still fighting for the right to control the force's annual budget

of almost �400 million. In Reading, they tried to convince voters of

their conventional -- credentials. I will want my finger on the pulse.

I will be getting the intelligence, understanding where the crime is an

if it is not going down and will want to know why. The we need to

make sure nobody is neglected. By want to make sure there is an

equality of service across the region. Everybody feels that there

is an except -- accessible PCC but they can communicate their problems

too. Unless you have actually led things and run a company and a

multi-million-pound sponsorship, and I don't think you can do this

job. I have done both. background is in the criminal

justice system. I have worked for the last 11 years as a prosecutor,

so I understand the system and how it often fails victims of crime.

Six budding commissioners battle for the newest posed in British

democracy. This week those Police Commissioner

candidates have been given briefings on the difference they

might make to domestic violence if they're elected. Nearly a third of

all murders and manslaughters in the Thames Valley over the past

five years have been domestic killings - people dying at the

hands of their partner. Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority

for Thames Valley Police, but as Emma Vardy reports, it can take

many forms, and bringing offenders to justice through the courts isn't

always the route to take. More than 30 thousand incidents of

domestic abuse were reported in the Thames Valley last year. I was

belittled, all sorts of extent. Priya, whose name we've changed,

says for six years she struggled to leave an abusive relationship.

was alienated from friends and family and told that people around

me were not good for me. I was controlled about what I war and who

I spoke to. I was told her to wash the dishes, and then I was timed to

wash the dishes. Then I had to repeat the same exercise three

times until I had done it in a timely manner. Domestic abuse

happens within the home. It is often about one partner having an

abusive controlling relationship over the other and the other living

in fear. I am going to try and get some officers to come and see you.

In Priya's case, this controlling behaviour escalated. I was about

seven months pregnant at the time, and he hit me against the wall by

my neck. I did not know what to do. She was visited by Thames Valley

Police officers several times. police bought a panic button into

the property, just to give me some reassurance.

Prevent in this crime, say police, is never straightforward. It is

largely hidden. When domestic abuse is reported, but these and other

agencies must tread a difficult line between keeping victims saved

and working out what action can be taken against perpetrators. He hit

me a few times, and I probably ended up with about 15 bruises all

of my body. And I actually had to ring up NHS Direct, and they were

the ones who called the police and the ambulance.

Often it's local officers that are first to come into contact with

victims, and the action they can take may be limited. If somebody

commits a burglary, the expectation by the public would be that we

would deal with that robustly and a rest the offender. With domestic

violence it is different because you need to establish the needs and

the wishes of the victim as well. It is not -- put it is not always

cut and dried. Not all domestic violence victims want to report the

crimes. Support groups say that to help

victims, it is crucial that the police and other agencies share

information and work together. When the new Police and Crime

Commissioner's elected, he or she will control a budget of half a

million pounds to tackle domestic abuse in the Thames Valley. They'll

decide how much is spent not just on police work, but what funds

should go to independent support groups too. A we need to make sure

that the victim essayists -- saved, so a police officer will be looking

out the safety and the risks to the victim, and insuring that he or she

gets there help they need. Also looking at the safety of the

children and making sure that the children are all right. I wasted my

life and my time on something that was fixable, and...

Priya's ordeal is now over. But there are those who never escape

and ultimately some lose their lives. In future the strategy from

the new Police and Crime Commissioner will determine what

safety net there is for victims before it's too late. Everyone

deserves a better life. My advice to everybody would be get out, that

the longer you stay in it, the harder it gets to leave.

That statistic that one in three murders and manslaughter is in the

Thames Valley is domestic killing, if we are not doing enough about

it? It is hidden underneath the radar because people feel scared

about coming forward. People don't want to come forward. The real

issue is the victim almost becomes a victim themselves again and when

they come forward. What we have to do his work in partnership with all

agencies, so everybody has the ability to recognise the signs at

and early stage. In Oxfordshire we have domestic violence champions

across the country, working in schools to see if there is anything

there, and keep up -- pick up the early signs of problems. We have to

support these people, because the victims should be able to continue

their lives in safety. Richard, is this the sort of area

the police and crime commissioners should deal with? Is it is a

particular the evil crime, because it does not just affect the victims

but also the children. These people are genuinely innocent, and on a

personal level I think this is exactly the sort of area that

Police and Crime Commissioners should focus on. Certainly in times

of recession at the situations are going to get worse. This is an area

whether Police and Crime Commissioner has limited powers to

do anything. A lot of things are related to how you pull together

coalitions of the wedding. There are a number of agencies out there

who have a genuine stake in wanting to solve the issue. If the PCC can

make a difference by putting those people together and saying this is

an issue that impacts upon everybody, all of our communities,

they will be serving a useful social benefit as well as dealing

with a serious crime. I also, particularly in the Thames Valley

we have different areas, and it is important to get down into the low

level for local solutions to local problems. That is whether Police

and Crime Commissioner can guide the police.

And don't forget if you want to check out who are the candidates in

your force area then the BBC has all the details on a special

website - there's the address below. And on Thursday you'll be able to

hear the candidates debating the issues with each other on your

local radio station - that's Thursday morning between 9:00 and

10:00. Now our round-up of Some good news on the job front.

Royal Mail is delivering 150 new posts in Hampshire. But Southampton

is reading from the loss of 500 jobs at Ford. The Prime Minister

faced questions. The was he aware of those plans when his Government

awarded a large sum of money... with an uncertain job market it is

bad news for residents in Oxfordshire with warnings that

rents will rise by more than 15% in the next decade.

By it it is also a blow for wind farms. Hampshire County Council's

environment chief wants a ban on all born sure wind turbines. Under

current technology, they do not outweigh the benefits. In Berkshire

volunteers are being asked to improve the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Richard, a ban on wind farms on Hampshire Land? Are think it is

bizarre. If the County Council want to do that, that is a matter for

them, but why would you planned wind turbines on your own

buildings? I can understand the issue where it relates to a site of

outstanding national beauty, but if you are going to ban wind turbines

on every property that you own, for example on County Council buildings,

why would you not have a turbine on your own risk to save your own

electricity? At a lot of people find them disrupting to the

landscape. In Oxfordshire you have rural landscape, but you have had

your fair share of battles. One big issue we have his best base. When

proposals have been put forward, there seems to be some airport that

is nearby, and I think everybody agrees you cannot put them in for

the safety of the aircraft. Of course it is dreaming spires, I am

sure that Richard would not want wind turbines on top of the

dreaming spires in Oxford! My view on this is yes and less. Yes, let's

do it. In Hampshire, if you are looking in the urban areas, they

are putting medium-sized turbines on buildings to reduce -- reduce

carbon emissions. Whereas if you are in the Thames Valley, where

there is a legitimate argument, then it know. I think I have to be

convinced of the real benefit. Sometimes people are saying the

costs involved, the subsidy is. I need to know the genuine costs.