Domestic abuse


Councils warned not to adopt allocations criteria that disadvantage domestic abuse victims 14/01/2021 The ombudsman has reminded councils to consider the exceptional circumstances of people fleeing domestic abuse when assessing their housing needs.
Councils warn about 'significant' overspends on children’s services 24/11/2020 The number of vulnerable young people referred to councils’ children’s services increased by 15% in the first three months after the first lockdown, figures have shown.
Social services directors report unprecedented demand for help 23/11/2020 Directors of adult social services have reported a sharp rise in demand in the wake of the pandemic, according to a new survey.
Funding boost to support rape and domestic abuse victims 18/11/2020 Nearly £11m in new funding to support domestic abuse and rape victims this winter has been announced.
Report calls for extra investment in women's centres 20/10/2020 The Government has been urged to invest more funding in women's centres to help reduce the number of women in prison, in a new report published today.
Councils receive extra funding to prepare for new domestic abuse duty 06/10/2020 Councils have been awarded an extra £6m to help prepare for the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Bill next April.
Charity calls for end of domestic abuse data 'scandal' 01/10/2020 The Government has been urged to end the ‘scandal’ of only collecting domestic abuse data for people up to the age of 74.
Councils back evictions ban in face of landlord criticism 15/06/2020 Councils have insisted police powers can still be used to evict perpetrators of domestic violence amid the evictions ban.
Charity reports huge increase in women seeking domestic abuse help 28/05/2020 The number of women seeking help for domestic abuse has 'spiked significantly' since lockdown began, a charity has warned.
Ensuring continuity of care in a time of crisis 22/05/2020 Julie Tyas discusses how tech is becoming the eyes and ears of social workers during the pandemic.
Jenrick unveils £76m funding for ‘most vulnerable’ 04/05/2020 The communities secretary has announced £76m funding to support the ‘most vulnerable’ in society during the pandemic.
Multi-million pound funding to support children affected by domestic abuse 29/04/2020 Specialist services that support children affected by domestic abuse will receive £3.1m in extra funding.
Social landlords asked to only allow essential home moves 28/04/2020 Social housing landlords have been asked to pause any non-urgent house moves to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
MPs call for urgent action to deal with rise in domestic abuse 27/04/2020 The Government has been urged to take urgent action to prevent and address the rise in domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Social landlords issued with new domestic abuse guidance 16/04/2020 New guidance to help social landlords protect tenants from domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic has been published.
Domestic abuse puts children at more risk of exploitation, review warns 01/04/2020 There is an overlap between children’s experience of domestic abuse and their offending behaviour, a review has concluded today.
Council chiefs call for funding for domestic abuse services 03/03/2020 Local authority leaders have welcomed the re-introduction of a Bill aimed at protecting victims of domestic abuse, but called on the Government to fund services designed to prevent violence in the home.
Funding boost to end ‘postcode lottery’ of domestic abuse support 17/02/2020 Councils across England will share £16.6m funding to help provide services and support to survivors of domestic abuse.
Charity warns funding crisis ‘biggest issue’ facing domestic abuse sector 28/01/2020 Nearly two thirds of refuge referrals were declined last year, a charity for survivors of domestic abuse has discovered.
Nearly 700 children a day at risk of domestic violence 21/11/2019 Many children facing domestic abuse are failing to get the support they need because of a 'postcode lottery, a new report has warned today.
Victims of domestic abuse let down by 'fragmented' system 21/11/2019 Victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence are being let down by 'inconsistent, complex and short term' services in Wales, according to a new report.
‘Horrifying’ lack of support for vulnerable men 18/11/2019 Only three councils are providing accommodation for male victims of domestic violence, a new investigation has revealed.
Whitehall confirms plans to end ‘postcode lottery’ for abuse survivors 21/10/2019 The Government has confirmed plans for a new legal duty for local authorities to provide survivors of domestic abuse with safe accommodation.
Fear of homelessness keeping women in ‘dangerous situations’, report finds 17/10/2019 Almost half of women fleeing secure tenancies said that fear of becoming homeless had been a barrier to leaving their abuser, a new study has revealed.
First domestic abuse commissioner appointed 18/09/2019 Local government leaders have welcomed the appointment of the first commissioner responsible for tackling domestic abuse.
Government to reintroduce Domestic Abuse Bill 13/09/2019 The prime minister has confirmed that his Government will reintroduce a Bill to help tackle the ‘horrific crime’ of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse survivors face homelessness, charity warns 12/09/2019 A charity has warned that women escaping domestic abuse face the risk of homelessness due to a lack of refuge bed spaces.
Khan announces 200 new homes for rough sleepers and victims of domestic abuse 09/08/2019 Up to 200 new homes will be built in London to help former rough sleeps and victims of domestic abuse to leave hostels and refuges.
London Assembly reminds PM of past promises 25/07/2019 The London Assembly has written to the new PM urging him to continue opposing Heathrow expansion and calling on him to support moves to tackle domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse victims in rural areas ‘failed’ by system 17/07/2019 Victims of domestic abuse living in the countryside are ‘isolated, unsupported and unprotected’ a damning report has warned today.
Council chiefs call for ‘adequate resources’ to tackle domestic abuse 16/07/2019 Local authority leaders have called for the ‘resources’ needed to fund early intervention services aimed at preventing domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse victims more likely to develop a mental illness 07/06/2019 Women suffering domestic abuse are three times more likely than others to develop mental illness, according to a study.
Nearly 2,000 abuse victims a year struggle to access ‘safe’ council housing 30/05/2019 Around 1,960 people fleeing domestic abuse each year are put at risk of homelessness because they are not eligible for ‘safe, secure housing’, study shows.
Council refuses to accept ruling over treatment of homeless family 30/05/2019 Oadby and Wigston Borough Council has refused to accept an official ruling over its treatment of a homeless family facing domestic violence, according to LGO.
Pledge to end 'postcode lottery' for domestic abuse victims 13/05/2019 Councils will be legally required to provide safe housing for survivors of domestic abuse under new measures announced today.
Domestic abuse services ‘struggling’ due to budget cuts 01/04/2019 Nearly 60% of women accessing domestic abuse support services have children and one in 15 are pregnant, according to a new report.
Deputy mayor suspended from Labour after abuse allegations 08/03/2019 The deputy lord mayor of Oxford City Council has been suspended from the local authority’s Labour Group due to an allegation of domestic abuse.
Council offers extra paid leave to staff who suffer from domestic abuse 08/03/2019 Staff at an east London council who suffer from domestic abuse are to be given 10 days paid leave to tackle the problem.
Austerity is gutting services ‘vital’ to women’s lives, report reveals 07/03/2019 Austerity has hit women the hardest with funding for women’s refuges, social care and youth and children’s services slashed, a new report has found.
Former Spice Girl raises awareness of economic abuse 06/03/2019 Spice Girl Mel B has visited Downing Street as the Government prepares to recognise economic abuse in its definition of domestic abuse for the first time.
Council offers additional leave to victims of abuse 14/02/2019 A Scottish Council is set to be the first in Europe to offer additional leave provision to employees who are victims of domestic abuse.
Council chiefs call for more funding to tackle domestic abuse 22/01/2019 Local government leaders say they support Whitehall’s new measures aimed at tackling domestic abuse, but add that they must be fully funded.
Supporting victims of domestic abuse 21/01/2019 More than a year after the Government promised a domestic abuse bill, Neil Merrick explores what councils are currently doing to help protect victims.
Government failing to treat children as victims of domestic abuse, warns charity 11/01/2019 Nearly a quarter of a million children should be classed as victims of domestic abuse, the NSPCC has said today.
Whitehall confirms £22m for domestic abuse survivors 12/11/2018 Over 60 projects are set to receive a multi-million pound injection of cash in order to help survivors of domestic abuse, the Government has confirmed.
Universal Credit ‘retrograde’ step in tackling domestic abuse 22/10/2018 Single household payments under UC are a ‘retrograde’ step which makes it difficult for victims of domestic violence to escape their abuser, according to MPs.
Universal Credit could increase risk of domestic violence, MPs warn 01/08/2018 Paying the Universal Credit benefit to a household rather than individuals could increase the risk of domestic violence, MPs have warned.
Whitehall launches £8m domestic abuse fund 23/07/2018 Local authorities are now able to bid for money from an £8m fund in order to help children who have been affected by domestic abuse, the Government announced over the weekend.
Two million children at ‘serious risk’, report reveals 04/07/2018 Over two million children are growing up in families where there are ‘serious risks’, a major new study has revealed.
Whitehall announces £19m to support domestic abuse survivors 03/07/2018 The Government yesterday released almost £19m of funding to expand support for survivors of domestic abuse.
Councils turning away abused women warns charity 27/06/2018 Councils are turning away survivors of domestic abuse and their children, forcing them to sleep rough, a report by Women’s Aid has claimed.
Universal Credit could put domestic violence victims ‘at further risk’ 19/06/2018 Reforms to the welfare system could increase women’s vulnerability to financial abuse, a new report has argued today.
Councils chiefs take a stand against domestic violence ahead of World Cup 14/06/2018 Local government leaders have called on the footballing community to raise awareness of domestic abuse as studies reveal a correlation between England matches and violence against women.
Housing experts pledge to tackle domestic abuse 30/05/2018 Housing experts have issued a 'pledge' they say will help tackle domestic abuse.
MPs throw weight behind pledge to tackle domestic abuse 23/05/2018 More than 100 MPs and members of the House of Lords have pledged support for a campaign to end sexual violence and domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse survivors ‘falling through the cracks’ charity warns 10/05/2018 Many survivors of domestic abuse are falling into a cycle of homelessness and abuse due to the complexity of the housing system, a charity has warned.
A public health approach to tackling domestic abuse 26/04/2018 Early intervention is key to tackling domestic abuse, particularly involving children, and as Stuart Gallimore argues, the Government has to take a firmer lead from the front.
MPs to investigate link between Universal Credit and abuse 18/04/2018 The Work and Pensions Committee today announced they will be holding a one-off evidence session on the relationship between Universal Credit and domestic abuse.
Half of children referred to councils for ‘extra help’ have suffered abuse 19/02/2018 Council chiefs have called for more Government support for children’s services after it was revealed half of the children referred to local authorities for ‘extra help’ have suffered domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse victims to be prioritised for social housing 30/10/2017 Local authorities should treat victims of domestic abuse living in safe accommodation as a priority for social housing, new guidance states.
Funding for women’s refuges cut by 24% over last seven years 17/10/2017 Councils have cut the amount they spent on women’s refuges by nearly a quarter (24%) since 2010, an investigation has revealed.
Directors call for more cash to tackle domestic abuse 19/09/2017 Councils need more sustainable funding to invest in the prevention of the domestic abuse of children, say directors of children’s services.
New plans will make it easier for domestic abuse victims to vote 04/09/2017 The Government has confirmed it will implement plans to make it easier for domestic abuse survivors to register to vote anonymously.
Council fined after delays left woman fleeing domestic violence in B&B 31/08/2017 A council has agreed to pay £3,000 after delays left a woman fleeing domestic violence in ‘unsuitable’ bed and breakfast accommodation for nearly two years.
More funding announced to help children affected by domestic abuse 08/08/2017 The Scottish Government has announced an additional £200,000 funding to help support children affected by domestic abuse.
Preventing homelessness of vulnerable is 'achievable goal' say MPs 18/07/2017 Preventing homelessness for care leavers, victims of domestic abuse and people leaving prison is 'achievable' within the next Parliament, a new report has argued.
Domestic abuse victims could be allowed to vote anonymously under new proposals 03/03/2017 Survivors of domestic abuse will find it easier to register to vote anonymously under new government proposals.
Services for domestic abuse victims gets £20m funding boost 17/02/2017 Projects across the country are to receive a share of £20m to support victims of domestic abuse, creating more than 2,200 new bed spaces in refuges.
Late intervention costing councils £6.4bn a year finds research 17/11/2016 It costs local councils £6.4bn a year to deal with damaging social problems affecting children and their families, new research has revealed.
£20m fund to tackle domestic abuse announced 04/11/2016 Local authorities are now able to bid for a share of a £20m fund dedicated to tackling domestic abuse, the communities secretary says.
May pledges to exempt refuges from benefit cap 08/09/2016 The prime minister has signalled her intention to exempt refuges from the housing benefit cap in a move welcomed by charities.
Housing benefit cap could force two-thirds of women's refuges to close 05/09/2016 More than two-thirds of domestic abuse refuges could be forced to close unless they are exempt from the housing benefit cap, new research has warned today
Inspections launched into councils’ approach to domestic abuse 10/08/2016 New inspections will investigate how well local partners, including councils, work together to protect children living with domestic abuse.

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