Agenda item
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEEP DIVE
Presented by Menara Ahmed VAWG Domestic Abuse and Hate Crime Manager, LBTH.
Topics covered will include: the provision in place to identify and manage residents at risk of domestic violence, reporting levels, the impact of universal credit on domestic violence and services for residents with no recourse to public funds.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation from Menara Ahmed, VAWG Domestic Abuse and Hate Crime Manager. Ms Ahmed requested the committee note an error on page 45 of the pack, refugee bed space increased by 17.9% not 17%.
Questions from Members:
- Can you explain if children are included in these figures and if not what provisions are in place for children? Work involving child victims is carried out by the Children’s Safeguarding Team. The MARAC MASH team also support children and Public Health is also doing some work around family violence. There are numerous early intervention projects at youth centres and nurseries as well.
- With regard to turn away rates, your presentation showed 17 people were turned away. Why was this? There may be several reasons including being unable to find a space after phoning the refuge helpline, their preferred refuge was full, they chose to not use the refuge offered, concerns about the safety of the area or they did not meet the criteria – under 16s are not permitted to use the service.
- What is the eligibility criteria? It is quite broad but to simplify it is someone who is 16 years old or over, who is experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence. There is one male refuge in the borough.
- The Broken Rainbow helpline managed by the Greater London Authority was recently cut. It was acknowledged that more work needed to be done to support LGBT people experiencing domestic violence as refuges tended to be geared towards heterosexual women.
- Do you have enough funding to do what you want to do? Efficiency savings have been made but these have not affected the quality of the service. Provision in this borough is better than neighbouring boroughs. If further funding was allocated the team would like to expand their work to develop children’s refuges, LGBT refuge, services for those with no recourse to public funding.
- It was noted that people outside of the borough do have access to Tower Hamlets Services as the remit is to support any woman experience domestic violence. Members suggested doing partnership work with other councils to support this work.
- What impact has universal credit made for those fleeing domestic violence? The Department of Work and Pensions sits on a multi-agency partnership board, partners include the local authority and voluntary sector. Weight will be given to those experiencing domestic violence. Split payments will be possible. The VAWG team are part of DWP training programme which covers implications of universal credit. As this was a multifaceted topic, Ms Ahmed agreed to answer further questions on the topic by email or provide an update at a later meeting.
- Is there any work being done with FGM survivors and has anyone been prosecuted? There is a MOPAC funded service delivered by a voluntary sector organisation called Women’s Health and Family Service. Nineteen cases were identified in the borough for FGM or risk of FGM and there was a 72% conviction rate. The service promotes that FGM is not a religious or cultural issue but a child protection issue. It works within the community. One challenge is that in some cases the victim does not wish to prosecute a family member.
- With regard to Social Housing Allocation for women experiencing domestic violence, why are there only 10 spaces available a year? This number was set as a quota and seems to be adequate; there have not been any requests to exceed this number.
- Is the sanctuary scheme available to private renters? Yes.
RESOLVED:
- To note the presentation on VAWG services.
- To recommend that the council explores the provision of refuge for LGBT people fleeing domestic violence.
- To recommend that partnership work with other councils be explored considering a large number of non-residents use Tower Hamlets services.
Supporting documents: