 Domestic abuse is too common and too costly. An average of two women are killed in England and Wales every week as a result of domestic abuse. In the 12 months to September 2014, over 5,500 cases at high risk of serious harm or murder were identified in Wales. 70% of these high risk victims have children. Based on the figures published in 2009 in Wales the estimated cost of domestic abuse alone to services and the economy is 303.5 million pounds annually. This consists of 202.6 million pounds for service costs and 100.9 million pounds in lost economic output. Additionally, this doesn't take into account the emotional cost of domestic abuse. We have learned the hard way that to protect those at risk multi-agency work is crucial. Multi-agency approaches have proven effective in tackling domestic abuse and the Welsh Government endorses and supports collaborative approaches at all levels of work at a strategic level, at an operational or middle management level and in front line practice. Also, those who have experienced domestic abuse tell us that they support multi-agency practice. It means they don't have to keep telling their story over and over again and joint working gives them confidence in the system that they may find themselves in. This film will focus on MAREX, multi-agency risk assessment conferences. Regular voluntary meetings where information on high risk cases of domestic abuse is shared between local agencies. By bringing all agencies involved in a case together to share information a coordinated safety plan to support the victim can be drawn up more quickly and effectively. There are 23 MAREX in Wales, one in each of the local authorities and several for each of the health boards and NHS trusts you represent. At the heart of a MAREX is a working assumption that no single agency or individual can see the complete picture of the life of a victim but all may have insights that are crucial to their safety. As such, the MAREX only works well when it's attended by the agencies who are most likely to be in contact with those experiencing abuse. At the very least, this should include specialist support agencies, health, social care, mental health services, substance misuse, the police, housing and probation. So that's your organisation and probably several departments within your organisation. Why is it so important that you are there? Because domestic abuse takes place behind closed doors and presents itself to the outside world in many ways through calls to the police, through visits to A&E, through calls to helplines, through poor child attendance at school, through friends and so on. A great strength of the MAREX process is that victims can disclose abuse and have their case referred to a MAREX by a number of different agencies, not just the police. This can encourage a greater amount of disclosure overall. One third of all cases are identified not through the police but by independent domestic violence advisers, IDVES, health practitioners and others. MAREX were created in Wales nearly 10 years ago. They are a terrific example of Welsh innovation and creativity. They are not statutory, they are voluntary. The fact that they are still around is a tribute to the results. Remarkable results. From October 2013 to September 2014, there were 5,695 cases discussed at MAREX throughout Wales and 6,885 children were in these families. Now there are over 280 MAREX across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland managing more than 64,000 cases a year. 63% of adult high-risk victims report no further abuse after receiving support from a MAREX or an IDVES service. And in terms of savings, for every £1 spent on MAREX, at least £6 of public money can be saved annually on direct costs to agencies such as the police and health services. Throughout Wales, this would save £28 million to the public purse. Everyone who participated in MAREX benefits, your organisations, families, society and not least the victim. The potential net returns are substantial, particularly in health services, children's social care, the police and across the criminal justice system, as this graph shows. MAREX combine the best that specialist services have to offer in terms of working collaboratively for the benefit of the victims, together with the resources and authority of a range of statutory agencies. As part of a wider response to domestic abuse victims, they represent an effective use of public resources, focusing on the highest risk victims and their children. Multi-agency work is a crucial part of providing effective responses to domestic abuse and an area of practice the Welsh Government supports and intends to further develop. Get ahead, ensure your organisation is represented at your local MAREX and in other relevant multi-agency initiatives such as multi-agency safeguarding hubs or domestic abuse forums. The full participation of all the agencies within MAREX will save both lives and money.