Agenda item

To update the Board on actions, in our Fairer Enfield Policy, to keep people safe from domestic abuse.

RECEIVED the report of Andrea Clemons, Head of Community Safety and Julie Tailor, Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator, a copy of which is attached to the agenda,

NOTED:

(i)            The report provides an update on the sections within the Fairer Enfield Policy which relates to Tackling Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls and provides assurance that the requirements of the policy are being progressed.

(ii)          Updates were provided against each element and full details of these are included in the report.

(iii)         Progress has been made in ensuring that local services designed to tackle domestic abuse support all communities and are easily accessible

(iv)         The Enfield Domestic Abuse Hub was launched on the 1st May last year in response to concerns over increasing domestic abuse incidents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its helpline continues to operate during weekdays between 9am and 5pm.

(v)          The hub had improved the service provided to those contacting it. It has received 242 contacts since its launch and the council aims to keep it running beyond the end of the pandemic.

(vi)         During the last two years the Council has also set up a scheme to encourage perpetrators to change their behaviour and used communication campaigns aimed at preventing abuse by challenging the attitudes that foster it.

(vii)        Demand for services had been higher during the Covid-19 pandemic and delivery had at times been more difficult.

(viii)       The Council had secured a share of around £300,000 from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and crime (MOPAC) to continue its perpetrators programme after a successful pilot, following a joint funding bid alongside Barnet and Brent Councils.

(ix)         The project, set to run until July next year, allows perpetrators of abuse to voluntarily access a programme to help them change their behaviour, rather than doing so in response to a court ruling. The idea is to work with perpetrators from communities which may be marginalised for a variety of reasons and will also work in an intersectional way with the families to make sure that domestic abuse is being addressed in an appropriate way as well as recognising some of the pressures that may exist in terms of gender, culture or other factors.

(x)          Recent communications campaigns also included a project run with Enfield Youth Parliament. This focused on challenging inappropriate behaviour and has been shared on social media platforms.

Following Andrea’s update, the following comments/questions were raised:

·         Responding to a question from Cllr Rawlings, Andrea said that the council also had access to a helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.

·         Cllr Orhan asked how the council could identify and help ‘invisible’ groups of people who were not speaking out about the abuse they faced because they were fearful of coming forward, perhaps because people would not listen or believe them. Andrea said that it was important to repeat the message that people could be confident that help is available for them. Adding that many women may be frightened to leave abusive relationships, she stressed the importance of providing good homes and opportunities with well-paid jobs.

·         Andrea advised the meeting that the council was also looking at working with faith groups to help tackle domestic abuse. The Chair, Cllr Erbil suggested holding a community meeting with faith leaders, as well as working with organisations such as Age UK and Healthwatch Enfield.

·         It was agreed that Andrea would come back to a future meeting of the Equalities Board with further updates to include:

-       Cross Department Practical Solutions (e.g. what’s available across departments, for example housing/finance)

-       Data on ethnicity/gender of reported Domestic Violence

-       Update on any development regarding a community meeting to include faith leaders.

Action: Lucy Nasby/Andrea Clemons

The Chair thanked Andrea for her interesting and informative update.