Hackney Council has developed a unique domestic abuse risk assessment that includes prompts designed to address anti-racist practice, intergenerational abuse, and other intersectional factors. The assessment aims to provide a more comprehensive and equitable approach to identifying and addressing domestic abuse within the borough.
The Hackney Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment is the UK's only risk assessment that contains prompts to help practitioners explore considerations of Anti Racist Practice, Intergenerational Abuse, Extra-Familial Harm and Exploitation, Disability and LGBTQ+ Status. This was revealed at a meeting of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, where the commission discussed the Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2022-25.
The Eliminating Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy 2022-25 has four priorities:
- Preventing and reducing VAWG
- Supporting all victims and survivors
- Holding perpetrators to account
- Building trust and confidence
The risk assessment was created, launched and further developed by the Council's Domestic Abuse Intervention Service (DAIS) in 2023 / 2024.
Specifically regarding Anti Racist Practice, the Hackney Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment has Anti Racist Practice prompts including specific considerations of victims/survivors with unresolved or uncertain immigration status (at questions 6 and 20).
DAIS's report to the commission stated that in 2024/25, there was a disproportionality in representation of Black and Global Majority people referred to DAIS compared to the Hackney census population:
| Ethnicity (as per terms used in 2021 Census) | Hackney in 2021 Census | DAIS Referrals in 2024/25 | Self-referrals to DAIS in 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 53% | 40% | 37% |
| Black | 21% | 33% | 43% |
| Asian | 10% | 13% | 11% |
| Mixed | 7% | 7% | 7% |
| Other | 9% | 7% | 2% |
The report stated that it is positive to note that Black residents are 30% more likely to refer themselves for support (43% of all self-referrals) than they are to be referred by professionals (33% of overall referrals); this indicates that the service is experienced as being accessible and supportive.
To further address the disproportionality in referrals, in 2023 DAIS began commissioning Imece to deliver a specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) service delivered by and for Black women of African and Caribbean heritage.
The commission also heard that Hackney is a signatory to the End Racism In The VAWG Sector Charter and notes in particular the tenet *We commit to fair and equal partnerships, with Black and minoritised women's organisations, which includes valuing and paying for their expertise...we need 'by and for' Black and minoritised women's organisations*
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