Issue

Violence Against Women and Girls

21 stories · discussed at 7 council meetings · 18 councils

Councils are adopting new strategies and funding support services to address violence against women and girls, with a focus on prevention and community engagement.

Several councils are currently adopting new strategies to address violence against women and girls (VAWG). Barking and Dagenham Council adopted its 2026-2030 Community Safety Partnership Strategy in September 2026, making VAWG a priority. This follows a formal commitment in February 2026 to embed prevention measures. Croydon Council also adopted a new Community Safety Strategy in July 2026 focusing on tackling VAWG, while Kingston upon Thames Council approved its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2025-30 in June 2026, adding online harm as a new priority.

Councils are also allocating significant funding and implementing specific initiatives. Haringey Council awarded over £3 million in contracts for domestic abuse and VAWG support services in December 2025, and secured £5,000 for outreach to sex workers in October 2025. Waltham Forest's VAWG specialist services secured funding until 2027 in November 2025. Sutton is piloting new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, which began in November 2024, to enhance protection for victims of domestic abuse and VAWG.

The Barking and Dagenham Community Safety Partnership Board is scheduled to meet on 7 October 2026, where discussions related to community safety, including violence against women and girls, are expected. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) encompasses various forms of violence and abuse perpetrated against women and girls, and is a priority area within many councils' community safety strategies.

Key facts

  1. Barking and Dagenham Council adopted its Community Safety Partnership Strategy for 2026-2030 on 23 September 2026. Source
  2. Kingston upon Thames Council approved its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2025-30 on 23 June 2026. Source
  3. Barking and Dagenham Council formally committed to tackling VAWG on 25 February 2026. Source
  4. Haringey Council awarded £3,029,958 in contracts for domestic abuse and VAWG support services on 9 December 2025. Source
  5. Barnet Council's Cabinet approved the Domestic Abuse and VAWG Strategy 2025-2029 in September 2025. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 2

  1. Barnet Council Launches New Strategy to Combat Serious Youth Violence Barnet Council has launched a new strategy to tackle serious youth violence, building on existing efforts to enhance community safety across the borough. The strategy was... Barnet 17 March 2026
  2. Council commits to tackling violence against women Barking and Dagenham Council has formally committed to tackling violence against women and girls. Barking and Dagenham 1 March 2026
  3. Haringey Awards £3 Million in Contracts for Domestic Abuse Support Services Haringey Council has awarded contracts worth £3,029,958 for domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) support services, ensuring the continuation of vital... Haringey 13 December 2025
  4. Waltham Forest VAWG Services Secure Funding Until 2027 Waltham Forest's Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) specialist services have secured funding until 2027, ensuring continued support for survivors of abuse. Funding for... Waltham Forest 23 November 2025
  5. Haringey secures £5k for outreach to sex workers in Fore Street Haringey Council has secured £5,000 from the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) to enhance outreach support for women engaged in on-street sex work in the Fore Street area following... Haringey 28 October 2025
  6. Sutton Pilots New Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to Combat Abuse Sutton is piloting new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) as part of its ongoing efforts to combat domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. Sutton 28 September 2025
  7. Hackney Launches UK's First Guidance for Child Abuse Trauma Related to Domestic Abuse Hackney Council has launched the UK's first local guidance focused on trauma caused by domestic abuse, aiming to improve responses to child victims. The Hackney trauma-informed... Hackney 24 September 2025
  8. Barnet Approves Domestic Abuse and VAWG Strategy Barnet Council has given the green light to a new strategy aimed at tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls (VAWG) across the borough. Barnet 17 September 2025