Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) national, and (2) local, measures are in place to monitor the availability of funding for women’s organisation working with (a) victims, (b) survivors of, and (3) children affected by, domestic abuse.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government works inter-departmentally and with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and domestic abuse organisations to understand funding requirements for these organisations at the national level. Levels and types of funding provided from Government Departments to organisations is monitored by those respective Departments. Details of systems in place at local level, for example through local authorities, are not held centrally.
The Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner has agreed to undertake an in-depth exploration of the current community-based support landscape over 2020/21 which will inform our understanding of the availability of funding for domestic abuse organisations. The precise scope and timing of the review is a matter for the independent Commissioner. The review is expected to take some 12 months
A ministerial-led National Steering Group will be established to monitor and evaluate delivery of the new duty on tier one local authorities in England to provide support to victims of domestic abuse, and their children, within safe accommodation (as provided for in Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Bill). Tier one local authorities will be required to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their strategies for the provision of such support.
The National Steering Group will include representatives from local government, Police and Crime Commissioners, health bodies, specialist domestic abuse service providers and housing associations. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner will also be a member.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place to mitigate the impact of any increase in the incidence of domestic abuse on those women who have no recourse to public funds.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government is committed to supporting people, including those with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach and will continue to review the situation to consider if more can be done.
Following increases in calls to domestic abuse helplines and online services, the Home Secretary announced an additional £2m to bolster organisations’ capacity on April 11. This is in addition to £28m of Government funding for domestic abuse charities to help survivors of domestic abuse and their children by providing more safe spaces, accommodation and access to support services during the coronavirus outbreak.
We have also launched a campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and signpost victims to the support services available. The campaign, under the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone, aims to reassure those affected by domestic abuse that support services remain available during this difficult time. Details of these services can be found at www.gov.uk/domestic-abuse
A £3.2 billion package of funding has been allocated to local authorities to help them respond to pressures across all the services they deliver and support any individual on the basis of any genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution. For example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases.
People granted leave under the family and human rights routes can also apply to have a no recourse to public funds condition lifted or for access to benefits if their financial circumstances change.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that women from BAME communities who have (1) experienced, and (2) reported, domestic abuse receive adequate advice, support and counselling and, where necessary, emergency housing and financial assistance.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We are in frequent contact with the domestic abuse sector, including specialist BAME organisations, as well as the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, to understand the impact of covid-19 on BAME communities.
Following increases in calls to domestic abuse helplines and online services, the Home Secretary announced an additional £2m to bolster organisations’ capacity on April 11. This is currently being allocated.
This is in addition to £28m of Government funding for domestic abuse charities to help survivors of domestic abuse and their children by providing more safe spaces, accommodation and access to support services during the coronavirus outbreak.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the deaths of two children in the Borough of Redbridge on 26 April and reports on the level of domestic abuse nationally, what support and resources they are allocating for women’s organisations and organisations supporting BAME women with advice, counselling and emergency accommodation as part of the COVID-19 emergency funds.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation, no matter what the stresses. We are working closely with the sector, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the police to understand the impact of COVID-19 on domestic abuse incidents and on victims, including BAME women, and have published guidance and advice online.
The awareness campaign, #YouAreNotAlone, launched by the Home Secretary, signposts victims to further support, including specific resources for BAME women.
The Home Office is also allocating an additional £2 million in funding announced by the Home Secretary to support technological capability such as specialist helplines and websites. This is in addition to £750m funding for charities announced by the Treasury.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering a public safety awareness campaign of the danger of acid attacks; and what advice is being given to individuals and emergency services to minimise long-term physical deformity.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Home Office are working closely with a range of partners and agencies to consider the response to acid attacks including what advice is needed for individuals and medical practitioners to respond to these incidents. On 4 July, the Home Office and the National Police Chief’s Council jointly hosted a meeting with medical experts, police, retailers, and officials from a number of Government departments and agencies to share understanding about the nature of attacks and discussed action being taken by the respective agencies.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government, in the light of figures released by the MPS showing an increase in the number of acid attacks in London from 261 in 2015 to 454 in 2016, what action they are taking to ensure public safety.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government is very concerned about the use of acid and other corrosives in violent attacks. The Government and the National Police Chiefs’ Council jointly hosted a meeting on 4 July with medical experts, police officers, retailers, and officials from a number of Government departments and agencies to share understanding about the nature of such attacks and discussed action being taken by the respective agencies. We are currently considering what further action can be taken to ensure public safety.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government whether acid violence is a recognised term within the criminal justice system; and if so, what is its definition.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
There is no recognised term or a specific offence of “acid violence”. However, a range of offences are relevant depending on the nature of the violence and the harm caused.
The most serious violence and harm caused by use of acid or other corrosive substances is likely to be subject to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 causes grievous bodily harm with intent to do so. This carries a maximum life sentence. In addition, someone who has possession of acid or other corrosive substances with an intention to do harm, is likely to be considered to be in possession of an offensive weapon, which is a criminal offence.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to put in place a protocol with police, local authorities, and other emergency services, to respond to acid attacks.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
We are working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on the scale and nature of attacks with acid and other corrosive substances and how to respond to such attacks.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to respond to the recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics, which recorded over 29,000 rape cases in the year ending March 2015; and what support is being provided through statutory and voluntary organisations to provide counselling to support the victims and survivors.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Government has continued its funding commitment until March 2016 to provide support to victims and survivors of rape. This includes £1.72 million to part fund 87 Independent Sexual Violence Adviser posts and £4.4million to fund rape support centres across England and Wales. Reporting of sexual violence is going up and specialised support services to victims and child sexual abuse are experiencing increased demand on their services. In recognition of this, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice announced an additional £7 million in 2014/15 and 2015/16 for non-statutory organisations providing these services as follows:
• £2.15 million as extra funding for 84 existing Rape Support Centres;
• £2 million for a Child Abuse Inquiry Support Fund to better support survivors coming forward as a direct result of the announcement of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; and
• £2.85 million for a Child and Adult Victims of Sexual Abuse Support Fund to help non-statutory organisations providing support across England and Wales meet the increased demand on those services.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the latest data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, and the statistics on the number of incidents of revenge porn recently released in response to a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request, what steps they are taking to ensure that police forces are adequately resourced, and officers adequately trained, to respond to the victims and survivors of sex crimes.
Answered by Lord Bates
Resourcing the response to any type of crime is an operational matter for chief officers. The Government continues to support improvements to the criminal justice system’s response to victims of sexual violence, including the introduction of a new offence to criminalise revenge pornography in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. Alongside this, the Government has also carried out a campaign to raise public awareness of the issue and has established a Revenge Porn Helpline, offering details of free legal advice and liaising with law enforcement and media companies to remove content where possible.
Police recorded crime figures show more victims of sexual violence have the confidence to come forward, and the number of prosecutions and convictions for rape are at their highest levels.