New strategy to end domestic abuse in Brighton and Hove

The new Pan-Sussex Strategy for Domestic Abuse Accommodation and Support for survivors was subject to a six-week consultation.

The final version of the strategy is due to go before Brighton and Hove City Council’s tourism, equalities, communities and culture meeting on Thursday 13 January.

Supporters of domestic abuse charity Rise hit back at the plans

There were 98 responses to the consultation, with 61 per cent of those who responded living or working in Brighton and Hove.

The largest group of responders were 37 domestic abuse survivors, followed by 24 responses from family members of survivors.

More than half of those who responded backed the six priorities:

• Consistent and collaborative – providing multi-agency and partnership commissioning and working to ensure a consistent offer across Sussex
• Diverse and appropriate – providing a wide range of appropriate and safe accommodation and support options
• Accessible and inclusive – ensuring all services are accessible to all victims/survivors and meet the specific needs of those with a full range of protected characteristics
• Responsive to multiple disadvantage – establishing specialist provision to support victims/survivors with multiple complex needs
• Victim-centred – empowering victims/survivors to remain in their own home through choice
• Trauma informed – embedding trauma-informed practice in practice in service and practice through training and specialist knowledge

Rise Up, a campaign group formed of supporters fighting the decision to end the domestic abuse charity Rise’s contract to run helpline and refuge services in Brighton and Hove, disagreed with the priorities.

The group had encouraged survivors and supporters to read and respond to the consultation, which ran for six weeks from late October to mid-December, but to make up their own minds on how to respond.

A report to councillors said: “Rise Up disagreed with the priorities and have stated three priorities which slightly deviate from the wording of the priorities in the strategy.

“These include more accommodation spaces for women and children according to the Council of Europe’s minimum standards, all women in safe accommodation in Sussex should receive a minimum standard of care and support to include keywork and move on support and that Sussex local authorities will investigate specialist safe accommodation options for victims/survivors from marginalised groups.”

Brighton and Hove was allocated £606,000 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, formerly the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to help survivors and their children in safe accommodation.

Most of the money is spent, with £8,000 still available.

• READ MORE: Domestic abuse victims to get £600,000 cash boost (here's how it could be spent)

In September, councillors agreed to a spending plan for more than £420,000 of the government cash, including money for Rise to continue its work supporting LGBTQ clients and more than £240,000 for the city’s refuge budget.

In November, councillors agreed to spend £170,000 on a sanctuary scheme, a flexible fund for deposits and moving costs, floating support for people in safe accommodation and increased access to interpreters, including British Sign Language.

Across Sussex, an estimated 7 per cent of women and 4 per cent of men have experienced at least one episode of domestic abuse in the past year, more than 67,000 people.

In 2020-21, Sussex Police recorded 20,800 domestic abuse incidents, which was 18 per cent of all recorded crime and 38 per cent of all violence against the person.

Last year saw protests against plans to cut funding for Rise

More than a quarter of homicides in the county are flagged as domestic abuse.

An estimated 5 per cent of domestic abuse crimes in Sussex result in prosecution and 4 per cent in a conviction.

The council’s tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 4pm on Thursday 11 January.

The meeting is scheduled to be webcast on the council’s website.

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