'Panic rooms' to halt violence

4:46pm Friday 8th August 2008

Victims of domestic abuse in west Oxfordshire are being given safe havens or "panic rooms" within their own homes, to protect them from attacks.

The scheme has been launched by the district's community safety partnership after an increase in incidents and it is planned to roll out the system across the county.

A bedroom, or another room within the house, will be fitted with special locks and security bolts, toughened doors and a telephone line to call for help. The money for the project is being provided by the Government.

The idea of sanctuary rooms has been taken up because of the reluctance of many victims of domestic violence, particularly those with children, to leave their homes and move to a refuge.

The number of reported cases of domestic violence in west Oxfordshire has gone up from 296 in 2004 to 453 in the past year.

Nationally, such offences account for 25 per cent of reports of violent crime.

Det Sgt Lis Knight, of Thames Valley Police's domestic abuse unit, said: "We've seen the film Panic Room with Jodie Foster, but let's hope it doesn't go quite that far.

"That's the top end of domestic security, but it's still the basic principle."

Det Sgt Knight said incidents ranged from serious physical violence and grievous bodily harm, to harassment, criminal damage, arson and sexual assault.

She added: "The Government has put more emphasis on this, with more financial input, and our findings are - except in very serious cases - that victims prefer to stay in their own homes, mainly because of children and jobs.

"Wherever there's a report of domestic violence, which crops up pretty much on a daily basis, there's a need for a safe haven and low-level security."

West Oxfordshire's crime reduction officer, Bill Butcher, will assess each case and decide what security measures can be installed.

The initial Government grant is £5,000, but it could be increased, depending on demand.

Danielle Hanton, of the district's community safety partnership, said: "The number of reported incidents has gone up, but it's a positive move, because people feel they can now come forward and get help."

The domestic abuse unit which covers north and west Oxfordshire, headed by Det Sgt Knight, now has seven dedicated police officers.

• In the thriller film Panic Room, starring Jodie Foster and Forest Whitaker, a mother and daughter hide in a secure room with a steel door as armed robbers break into their New York flat.

Their secure panic room telephone line has not yet been connected and the daughter, who has diabetes, needs an injection of insulin, which they keep in the kitchen fridge.