Domestic abuse can do lasting harm to children’s mental health, confidence, self-esteem, education and future relationships, with its effects often lingering long after incidents occur, a report to Newham councillors has warned.
One 10-year-old girl reported feeling scared, worried and anxious because of domestic abuse.
Newham Council’s Education, Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee is to consider the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people in the borough. It received an overview of local needs, support services and partnership responses. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children as victims in their own right, underscoring the need for interventions that centre their experiences and needs.
Data presented showed that in 2025/26, Newham's Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) received 2,206 contacts where domestic abuse was the presenting issue. Of these, 736 contacts were directed to Children's Social Care, and 305 indicated the need for a Child Protection investigation.
Referrals to the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), which manages high-risk domestic abuse cases, have risen by approximately 62% over five years, reaching 803 in 2025/26. This increase highlights the growing demand for support in complex domestic abuse situations. 
The report also detailed the work of Newham's Children's Domestic Abuse Hub, established in October 2025. Between October 2025 and March 2026, the Hub received 163 referrals and provided 117 professional consultations. Specialist support was accepted for 90 children, with 59 receiving direct support from Children's Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (CIDVAs). The Hub responds to children and young people affected by domestic abuse. The average age of children referred to the Hub was approximately 10 years old. Of the 163 referrals received, 49 were for children aged five and under, 58 were aged six to twelve, and 44 were aged thirteen to seventeen. Children and families from Bangladeshi heritage formed the largest individual ethnic group referred to the Hub (21.12%), followed by those from White backgrounds (10.18%), Other White backgrounds (9.16%), Other Asian backgrounds (8.91%), and mixed ethnic backgrounds (8.65%).
Partnership working is a key focus, with a strategic group bringing together various agencies, including Children's Social Care, Early Help, Adult Services, health, police, and education. The strategic group has identified three priority areas for 2026-27, including prevention and early identification, and support and safety. The Hub can encourage perpetrators to engage with specialist perpetrator programmes.
The committee was asked to note the progress made and the priorities for further development in strengthening Newham's response to children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
