Supporting high-risk victims of DV: a review of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs)

Multi-agency risk assessment conferences are multi-agency meetings where statutory and voluntary agency representatives share information about high-risk victims of domestic abuse in order to produce a co-ordinated action plan to increase victim safety. 

The agencies that attend MARACs will vary, but are likely to include, for example: the Police, Probation, Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs), Children’s Services, health and housing. There were approximately 250 MARACs in operation across England and Wales, at the time the report was written, 2011.

This report brings together evidence from a range of sources in order to explore:

● existing evidence for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of MARACs;
● how the MARAC model currently operates within the wider response to domestic violence;
● variation in current practice amongst MARACs; and
● potential areas for future development.