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According to Farah Nazeer, CEO of Women’s Aid, only one in three women escaping domestic abuse can find refuge, putting services on the brink of collapse.
At a session with the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Nazeer revealed a troubling increase in service closures in the past seven months compared to the previous four years.
“We are facing a genuine crisis, with a 65% refusal rate for refuges and a 50% refusal rate for community-based services,” she stated.
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“Survivors are desperate for assistance, but they don’t seek these services as a first option; they arrive when they are in dire need—and these services are turning them away,” she emphasized.
“At this point, there’s no clear path to addressing this issue effectively.”
The urgency of these warnings coincides with the initiation of construction for two safe houses meant for domestic abuse survivors and their children, funded by The Independent’s impactful Brick by Brick campaign, which has successfully raised over £500,000.
These safe houses are expected to be completed by spring.
Nazeer explained that the demand for services is at an all-time high, complicated by the lingering effects of COVID-19, which left many in tough living situations for extended periods.
Simultaneously, dwindling and unstable funding has resulted in the loss of many seasoned staff members, further straining resources.
Alongside Nazeer, Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, expressed concern about the inadequacy of current measures against violence targeting women and girls.
While acknowledging some positive strides made in the sector, Jacobs pointed out, “We still face many deeply entrenched issues that remain unaddressed.”
These pressing concerns arise as Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson, Josh Babarinde, calls for a specific law to categorize domestic abuse as a distinct crime rather than merely addressing it under other offenses, such as assault.
In an adjournment speech to parliament, Babarinde advocated for this new law to be included in the ongoing Crime and Policing Bill.
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As concerns mount, ministers have admitted their inability to determine how many incarcerated individuals are guilty of domestic abuse, many of whom have been released early due to overcrowding measures.
Babarinde emphasized, “It’s alarming that we cannot ascertain how many in prison are guilty of domestic abuse. How can the government commit to reducing violence against women and girls over the next decade—an admirable goal—if the Ministry of Justice isn’t measuring domestic abuse?”
“And how can we evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing reoffending rates among domestic abusers if there’s no consistent measurement in place? It’s a significant oversight.”
The government has been approached for comments regarding these pressing issues.
