£600,000 funding lifeline for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence

NEARLY £600,000 of extra funding has been secured by Merseyside's Police Commissioner to enhance the specialist support offered to survivors of domestic abuse and child victims of sexual abuse.

Working with partners across the Region, Emily Spurrell has secured the extra money to fund 4 additional Independent Domestic Abuse Advisers (IDVAs), as well as a specialist Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) who will focus on providing tailored support for children and young people affected by sexual violence.

IDVAs and ISVAs provide essential practical and emotional support and advocacy for survivors, as well as helping them through the criminal justice process and with practical help with issues including:- housing, employment, and financial advice.

The funding, which was secured from the Ministry of Justice, will run for the next 3 years.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "IDVAs and ISVAs provide a lifeline to people who have been subjected to the most devastating and horrific crimes to help them to cope and recover, so it's very welcome news that we have secured this additional funding to expand their services. The caring, dedicated professionals who deliver this specialist support are highly skilled and are on the frontline of care. Yet due to years of chronic under funding by the Government, their caseloads are often staggeringly high and in many areas of Merseyside, there are worryingly long waiting lists. This new funding will help to enhance and expand the service they can offer, meaning each IDVA and our specialist new ISVA can dedicate more time and care to each victim, and we can reduce the time survivors have to wait to access support. We have done our best to ensure this additional funding will be directed to the areas where there is greatest need and can make the biggest difference, but we will still need more, and I will continue to lobby Government at every opportunity I get to provide it."

If you have been affected by crime, please visit:- VictimCareMerseyside.Org for information, advice and the details of more than 70 organisations on hand across Merseyside which can offer you support.

Ofcom seeks views on levelling TV advertising rules

OFCOM is seeking evidence to help determine whether there is a need to reform rules that restrict the amount of advertising shown on public service broadcasters' (PSBs') TV channels.

All UK broadcasters are subject to restrictions on the quantity and scheduling of advertising on their channels. But under rules introduced over 30 years ago, ITV, STV, Channel 4, S4C and Channel 5 are subject to tighter advertising restrictions than non-PSB channels.

Ofcom want to hear from broadcasters, advertising and sales organisations, audiences and consumer groups about whether these stricter rules on the PSBs' main TV channels, remain justified.
Why are we doing this?

There have been significant changes in how television is distributed and watched since these rules were 1st introduced 3 decades ago. Notably, viewers now benefit from a much wider range of non-PSB channels as well as a host of on demand television and online streaming services.

We need to strike the right balance between protecting viewers' interests and sustaining our traditional broadcasters, which includes helping them compete with global streaming platforms.

As Ofcom set out in our review of public service media:- 'Small Screen - Big Debate' advertising regulation is an important area affecting the financial sustainability of the PSBs. Against this backdrop, it is important to review whether TV advertising rules for public service broadcasters remain effective and proportionate.

Before Ofcom can make any decisions, Ofcom will carefully consider all responses and supporting evidence, and that includes listening to what TV viewers say.

The deadline for responses to this call for evidence is Friday, 7 October 2022.

Later this year Ofcom will publish responses to this consultation and outline next steps; including whether Ofcom intend formally to consult on proposals to change TV advertising rules so they apply equally to all PSB and non-PSB UK TV channels.