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Prime minister announces new council duty to house domestic abuse survivors
Theresa May has announced new duties on councils to provide accommodation-based support for domestic abuse survivors.
The prime minister said that the requirement would end the “postcode lottery” in quality of support for people fleeing abusive partners and would mean thousands of people receiving better protection.
Extra funding will be handed out to town halls to discharge the new duties “on a long-term, sustainable footing”, the government said, with the amount to be decided after the consultation.
A 12-week consultation on the plans was launched today.
Under the proposals, local authorities will be legally required to assess the level of support needed in their area and to provide services and secure accommodation for domestic abuse survivors and their children.
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They will also have to work with neighbouring councils to provide specialist targeted support for BAME, LGBT, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller survivors.
Many councils already provide tailored support to those fleeing violent relationships, but ministers said there was “variation” in the services available across England.
Ms May said: “I’ve always vowed to leave no stone unturned in tackling domestic abuse – this abhorrent crime has no place in our country.
“And today we are ending the postcode lottery by placing on local authorities a legal duty to deliver support, including secure housing, to survivors of domestic abuse and their children.
“Whoever you are, wherever you live and whatever the abuse you face, you will have access to the services you need to be safe.”
The government estimates that more than two million people are affected by domestic abuse every year.
Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of domestic abuse charity SafeLives, said: “We welcome this consultation and call for the fullest range of support to be considered, including sanctuary schemes and specialist community support alongside refuges.
“A new duty, properly funded, would be a welcome step and could help make the case for change at local level.”
In January, ministers introduced the Domestic Abuse Bill to parliament, which if passed will establish a statutory government definition of domestic abuse for the first time, including economic abuse and non-physical controlling abuse, as well as establishing a new domestic abuse commissioner.
A £22m fund for domestic abuse support projects was also allocated in November.
