Issue

domestic abuse

28 stories · discussed at 21 council meetings · 19 councils

Barnet is seeing a surge in domestic abuse referrals, while several councils are implementing new strategies and policies to enhance support for victims.

Barnet's Domestic Abuse Support Hub (BDASH) saw a 24% increase in referrals over the past year, with self-referrals up 68%, as noted at a Safer Communities Partnership Board meeting in September 2026. This rise indicates increased confidence in services but also strains existing resources. In September 2026, Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet approved a new Domestic Abuse Policy for its Housing Directorate, designed to offer enhanced support to residents, including those in temporary accommodation.

Enfield Council adopted a new 10-year Serious Violence Strategy in September 2026, which aims to prevent violence by addressing its root causes. This follows the approval of a ten-year Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in March 2026. In July 2026, Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet approved over £1 million in funding for the Safe and Together London Partnership, which aims to improve outcomes for children and families affected by domestic abuse.

Harrow Council's Cabinet approved plans in July 2026 to recommission domestic abuse services, with a new contract for support and safe accommodation starting in April 2027. Also in July 2026, Barnet Council formally backed government plans to provide social housing landlords with new powers to evict domestic abuse perpetrators, allowing victims to remain in their homes.

Key facts

  1. Referrals to Barnet's Domestic Abuse Support Hub (BDASH) increased by 24% over the past year. Source
  2. Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet approved a new Domestic Abuse Policy for its Housing Directorate in September 2026. Source
  3. Enfield Council's Cabinet adopted a 10-year Serious Violence Strategy in September 2026. Source
  4. Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet approved over £1 million in funding for the Safe and Together London Partnership in July 2026. Source
  5. Harrow Council's Cabinet approved plans to recommission domestic abuse services, with a new contract starting April 1, 2027. 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 3

  1. Newham Adopts New Strategy to Combat Domestic Abuse Newham Council has adopted a new strategy aimed at combating domestic abuse across the borough. The Newham Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2031 and its accompanying action plan for... Newham 22 March 2026
  2. Islington Council's Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee reviews homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation Islington Council's Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the council's performance in tackling homelessness, focusing on homelessness prevention and temporary... Islington 19 March 2026
  3. 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
  4. Enfield Council Approves Ten-Year Strategy to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls Enfield Council's Cabinet has approved a new ten-year strategy aimed at tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) across the borough. The Enfield Safer Stronger... Enfield 15 March 2026
  5. Hillingdon Council Endorses New Community Safety Strategy Hillingdon Council's Cabinet has endorsed a new Community Safety Strategy for 2026-2029, outlining four key priorities to enhance safety across the borough. The strategy,... Hillingdon 22 February 2026
  6. New service to tackle domestic abuse perpetrators Barking and Dagenham Council is set to launch a new service aimed at tackling domestic abuse by working with perpetrators to change their behaviour. Barking and Dagenham 20 February 2026
  7. 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
  8. New Domestic Abuse Policy Approved for Housing Officers Wandsworth Council is strengthening its commitment to combating domestic abuse with a new policy focused on equipping housing officers with the skills to identify and address... Wandsworth 5 November 2025