LGA responds to Government announcement on funding for child victims of domestic abuse

"This funding is good news and will help councils and partner organisations further support child victims of domestic abuse, which can have a long-term and devastating impact on families."

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Responding to today’s announcement by the Home Office that £3.1 million in funding will be provided to support children affected by domestic abuse, Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:

“This funding is good news and will help councils and partner organisations further support child victims of domestic abuse, which can have a long-term and devastating impact on families, and comes at a key time when COVID-19 restrictions are creating ‘pressure cooker’ situations within households and victims are more exposed to abuse.

“Councils take domestic abuse extremely seriously, but they cannot tackle this crime alone. Councils will need the cooperation of other public services, including the police, to work together on this, to help prepare for an expected surge in demand for support from victims once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

“There needs to be a greater focus on prevention and early intervention measures to tackle the root causes, support more victims, and stop domestic abuse occurring in the first place.”