Wealden District Council

HRA Domestic Abuse Policy

HRA Domestic Abuse Policy For Tenants and Leaseholders October 2019

Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Identifying Tenants and Retirement Living Leaseholders experiencing Domestic Abuse

Chapter 3: Meeting our Objectives

Chapter 4: Multi Agency Approach

Chapter 5: Further Information

Definition

“Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are personally connected to each other regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: psychological, physical, sexual, economic and emotional forms of abuse.”

Purpose of this Policy
This policy aims to:

Provide a framework setting out how the housing service will assist and support council tenants and retirement living leaseholders experiencing domestic abuse.

Objectives
To ensure tenants and retirement living leaseholders are:
1. Are housed in a safe and secure environment
2. Receive housing options advice
3. Sign-posted to appropriate support services

Background

Domestic Violence has a devastating effect on victims, their families and the wider community, regardless of race, geography or social background. One woman in four and one in six men will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetimes, with women suffering higher rates of repeat victimisation and serious injury in her lifetime(1) with women suffering higher rates of repeat victimisation and serious injury.

Domestic Violence accounts for 16% of violent crime, covering offences ranging from common assault to rape and murder. The total cost to society is an estimated £23 billion a year in England and Wales.

Two women are killed each week by a current or former partner in England and Wales(2).

The latest figures from the National Crime Survey for England and Wales show little change in the prevalence of domestic abuse in recent years. In the year ending March 2018 an estimated 2 million adults aged 16 to 59 years old experienced domestic abuse in the last year (1.3 million women and 695,000 men). One in six men will experience domestic violence and abuse during their adult lives.

According to ‘Refuge’ the National Charity for Women and Children against domestic violence, one in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes and 8% will suffer domestic violence in any given year.

Data from Sussex Police show a rise in reported domestic abuse crime in Wealden by 26% in the last two years (2017/18 and 2018/19).

Domestic Abuse falls within the Housing Services Antisocial Behaviour Policy and Procedure.

1 Office for National Statistics (2016) Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences, 2014/15
2 Office for National Statistics (2016) Compendium – Homicide (average taken over 10 years)