Previous Budgets Impact on Domestic Violence

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE COMING FUTURE FOR SPECIALIST FUNDING AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT?

According to David Cameron, the government has a “good record or helping women” and in the last two budget speeches George Osborne has made a point of mentioning domestic violence services. In the 2014 Autumn Statement, we were told “we’re actually going to be putting more money into women’s charities including charities that fight domestic violence, that fight rape and those that make sure we cut out these appalling crimes in our country”. Yet, the government’s austerity measures have failed these services and the vulnerable women, men and children they support.

The funding shortages have meant that refugees have had to turn away a third of referrals because they lack the space. In the 2014 Annual Women’s Aid Survey, 112 women and their 84 children were denied refuge in just one 24 hour period! It doesn’t stop there, almost 40% of organisations surveyed said they were operating without funding, and around 65% were running on reserves. In addition to this, struggling local authorities led to the closure of 32 refugees between 2010 -2014, and since 2010 research has shown a rise in violent crimes perpetrated against women (on the contrary other types of violent crime has declined) this statistic evidences that the austerity cuts actioned so far have directly impacted domestic violence. There is not enough support for women, men and children to find refuge and leave this abuse.

Vulnerable BME Women

WITHOUT RINGFENCED FUNDING SPECIALIST BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE

Imkann and Southall Black Sisters in London have been arguing for protected funding for their dedicated and specialist services that are able to assist vulnerable people from BME backgrounds. However, without certain future funding as many as 34 services operating in the UK could be faced with closure over the next few years.

No Permanent Plan For Domestic Violence Services

£15 MILLION RAISED FROM THE “TAMPON TAX” WOULD GO TO WOMEN’S CHARITIES – THIS IS OUTWEIGHED BY THE CUTS TO LOCAL COUNCILS

Each budget that the chancellor creates causes additional strain on the services currently being offered to victims and survivors of domestic violence – men and women. We were hoping for a long-term economic plan to secure safety of these victims, without secure funding, they will not be safe. Again, George Osborne spoke about the ‘Tampon Tax’ stating £12 million would be provided to women’s charities. Unfortunately, this is down by £3 million from the previous budget and he is still planning on making additional overall cuts of £3.5 billion over 2019/2020, despite being advised that there is no need at this point in time. Once again, the political gesture of providing women’s charities with these funds is a paradox in itself due to the austerity measures he is making elsewhere. It will not outweigh the impact of local council cuts to these refuge’s.

Women’s Aid Chief Executive Polly Neate, on the Tampon Tax: We need to be clear that domestic abuse is not just a women’s problem for taxation on women’s products to solve – it is an issue for everyone in society and men and women must address it together.

At present due to the localised budget cuts, the safety of domestic abuse victims is relevant depending on where you live within the country. Anita Brown, worker at a specialist BME refuge, explained “Cuts to local council budgets are destroying life-saving services that it has taken my community decades and decades to build. We are turning away vulnerable women every day. It’s like we’re being sent back to a time before these refuge’s existed.”

If the austerity cuts continue to ignore the safety of domestic abuse victims then we will see another increase in the violent crime statistics. Two women per week are murdered due to domestic violence in England and Wales… 2 per week and 1 in 3 women who approach a refuge for safety are turned away due to a lack of space. Domestic violence services are having to concentrate on trying to survive themselves. So, how can they be expected to help victims of this abuse survive?

This is why the work we carry out and the services provided by us at DVUK will always be prioritised. We will not give up in raising awareness of Domestic Violence, and providing hope and on-going support to victims and survivors.