SafeLives respond to Government commitment to consultation on the future of community-based DA services
We are delighted that the Government has agreed to consult on the provision of community-based domestic abuse services which we hope will lead to a new duty on public authorities.
Community-based organisations support 70% of domestic abuse survivors who use a service, and alongside evidence-based perpetrator interventions, are a crucial part of a ‘whole family’ response to domestic abuse.
We look forward to working with the Government to ensure any extension of provision works to keep adult, teen and child victims of domestic abuse safe in their own homes, while holding perpetrators to account for the harm they cause.
Jess Asato, Head of Public Affairs and Policy at SafeLives, said:
“We would like to thank the over 130 services and practitioners who wrote to the Home Secretary and Lord Chancellor last year, as well as the many survivors who have supported the cross-sector campaign #Invest2EndAbuse.
“We are also grateful to the leadership of Barnardo’s in steering the amendment to create a new statutory duty on public bodies to provide community-based services, and to the cross-sector coalition of children’s and women’s charities who have supported this important campaign including Action for Children, EVAW, and the NSPCC, as well as the Equality and Human Rights Commission who have been excellent advisors. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner and Victim’s Commissioner have also supported our call for community-based services to be recognised in the DA Bill from the start and we are grateful to them too for their strong advocacy.
“Your voices have been powerful and are leading to change. We will continue to work with you to ensure the consultation the Government has promised reflects the huge social value of specialist community-based domestic abuse services and evidences the life-saving support you provide to survivors of domestic abuse.”
Notes
For media enquiries, please contact the Communications Team: Communications@safelives.org.uk
Press Office: 07936 939 653