Domestic Abuse: Coronavirus

(asked on 9th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that clear statutory guidance is issued to help local authorities and charities carry out their duty to (a) support and (b) meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 lockdown.


Answered by
Luke Hall Portrait
Luke Hall
Minister of State (Education)
This question was answered on 17th June 2020

My Department’s priority remains for refuges to stay open, up and running, so victims can access support and safe accommodation.

The Government has made available clear quality standards for domestic abuse services through the Violence Against Women and Girls National Statement of Expectations, as well as my Department’s Priorities for Domestic Abuse Services which were updated in 2018. The Priorities are clear that local areas should respond to the needs of all domestic abuse victims, including those from isolated and/or marginalised communities, those with complex needs, BAME, LGBT+, disabled and male victims and older people.

My Department has also issued PHE-approved guidance for domestic abuse safe accommodation providers in support of their service delivery in these unprecedented times. The guidance will help protect victims and their children residing in safe accommodation and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-provision.

There is currently no statutory duty on local authorities or charities in regard to the delivery of support for victims of domestic abuse, or any requirement in legislation to provide guidance in regard to support for victims.

However, we are continuing the progression of the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill through Parliament including the introduction of a statutory duty on local authorities aimed at ensuring that all victims, including children, have access to safety and support within safe accommodation, when they need it. The duty will be underpinned by robust statutory guidance, clearly setting out expectations on local authorities in meeting their duty which is planned to come into force from April 2021.

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