Wandsworth Council is strengthening its approach to honour-based abuse (HBA) by establishing a specialist team and enhancing support services for victims. This initiative aims to address the increasing need for focused attention on HBA, which involves controlling behaviour within families and communities to protect perceived cultural or religious beliefs.
The council recognises that victims of HBA may be reluctant to come forward. To address this, a standalone section has been created within the high-risk domestic abuse Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) to ensure that more time is allocated to HBA cases, allowing for carefully considered engagement.
During a recent Health Committee meeting, Gabrielle, a manager in the community safety team, explained the council's collaborative approach, stating that the MARAC involves multiple agencies, including the police and charities.
To further enhance their expertise, the council has commissioned Karin Nirvana, a specialist in harmful practices, to work alongside the team and conduct workshops with specialist representatives on the MARAC panel. This ensures continuous upskilling and expertise on HBA cases.
Gabrielle said:
They have also commissioned the DCS partner, Karin Nirvana, to come and sit with them and accompany them on that panel and to do workshops with their specialist representatives on the panel to ensure that they are continuously upskilling and getting their expertise on cases so that they can ensure that they're embedding that within their Marek representatives.
In addition to the specialist team and training, the council provides resources for victims of HBA. Refuge has been commissioned to deliver the Independent Domestic Abuse Advocacy (IDVA) service, including a specialized Enhanced Needs Service, for clients age 16+. This service also leads the One Stop Shops, drop-in hubs offering free support and advice from multiple agencies to domestic abuse survivors and their families. The council also co-manages the commission for refuge accommodation (delivered by Hestia) for survivors fleeing domestic abuse and their children, including specialist accommodation for Enhanced Needs. The Phoenix Project, delivered by Woman's Trust, has also been commissioned to provide therapeutic support to survivors of VAWG, including specialist counselors for youth ages 16-25.
In addition, the council has translated its domestic abuse poster into three languages prevalent in Wandsworth, where there is an overlap in harmful practices and honour-based abuse.
The council's commitment to tackling HBA aligns with the Wandsworth Community Safety Partnership's (CSP) strategy, which identifies preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a key priority. The Wandsworth Council 2024-27 VAWG Strategy emphasises changing attitudes and behaviours, as well as early identification and help, to address the root causes of VAWG and intervene early to prevent and reduce it in the borough.
The council also provides a wide range of training, much of which is focused on particular groups that are at risk of certain types of abuse or that they are not as effective at reaching as professionals sometimes. The training offer has included commissions such as the traveller movement to talk about the traveller community looking at male victims looking at a wide range, and that they've done translations and have quite a few things going on.