Domestic abuse devastates the lives of over two million victims and their families every year. No victim should have to struggle to get support, so I welcome the announcement of significant new funding for domestic abuse refuge services in Surrey.
In 2020/21 Surrey County Council will receive over £240,000 to provide victims and their families with essential, life-saving support in safe housing. Across England, a total of £16.6 million will help up to 43,000 victims have access to the help they need.
The funding announced last week comes on top of the £254,000 allocated to Surrey County Council and partner organisations in November 2018 to provide support to victims and their families over two years.
In addition to extra funding, last year the government confirmed that from 2021 local authorities will be subject to a new legal duty to provide support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in refuges and other safe accommodation. This duty will be introduced through the Domestic Violence Bill and will require local authorities to develop and publish strategies which set out the range of support services available. The Bill will also introduce the first ever statutory government definition of domestic abuse, to include economic abuse and controlling and manipulative non-physical abuse.
With this additional funding and new legal powers from the government, local councils – and Surrey County Council in particular – will be able to protect some of the most vulnerable in our local community.
