Harrow Council's Cabinet has approved plans to recommission domestic abuse services, with a new contract set to begin on April 1, 2027. The service will be split into two distinct lots: 'Domestic Abuse Support Service' and 'Safe Accommodation'. The total estimated value for these services over five years is £2.395 million.

The 'Domestic Abuse Support Service' lot will encompass strategic coordination and direct support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The 'Safe Accommodation' lot will include refuge provision, management, and floating support services.

A dashboard displaying statistics on flagged domestic abuse incidents in Harrow, including trends, comparisons to London, victim demographics, and ward-level data.
Domestic abuse statistics dashboard for Harrow

Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety, highlighted the rising demand for support and the importance of a comprehensive community safety strategy. He noted that while increased reporting may be due to greater awareness and improved services, progress would be tracked at the highest level through the Safer Harrow Partnership. This partnership will ensure that the new services are effectively integrated into the broader community safety strategy.

Councillor David Perry, Leader of the Labour Group, raised concerns about how key performance indicators (KPIs) within the tender documentation would guarantee a robust approach to tackling negative trends in domestic abuse incidents. Councillor Patel clarified that progress would be monitored on a quarterly basis through the Safer Harrow Partnership and other relevant forums.

The total funding envelope for the five-year contract is £2.395 million. Lot 1, the Domestic Abuse Support Service, has a budget of £1,413,304 for the initial three-year period. Lot 2, Safe Accommodation, has a budget of £486,398 for the same initial three-year term.

The decision to recommission the services was made at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The procurement process will adhere to the Procurement Act 2023 and contractual procedure rules. The tender will be awarded on a quality rather than cost basis, ensuring that residents receive the best possible support within the allocated budget.

The new contract is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2027, following the expiration of the current contract in March 2027. The procurement process is designed to ensure a seamless transition of services for victims and survivors.

A chart displaying the most common domestic flagged offenses in Harrow for Q3 2025/26 and domestic offense sanction detection rates for Harrow compared to London.
Common domestic flagged offenses and sanction detection rates in Harrow

Map of Harrow showing the distribution of domestic abuse offences, with a legend indicating various crime types and locations of schools and stations.
Map of domestic abuse offences in Harrow

The service aims to provide safe, high-quality, and legally compliant support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

For further details, refer to the Public reports pack from the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2026.