Barnet Council is seeking residents’ views on a plan to reduce domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.

The town hall has launched a consultation on its Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2021-2024.

It follows an increase in domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police and the number of referrals to the borough’s support services. 

Domestic abuse incidents reported to the police in Barnet rose from 4,757 between April 2017 and March 2018, to 5,023 between April 2020 and March 2021, the document reveals. In 2020/21, the borough’s domestic abuse multi-agency risk assessment conference received 477 referrals of high-risk cases of domestic abuse compared to 363 in 2019/20.

As well as reducing the prevalence of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, the strategy aims to improve the support available for victims and survivors in Barnet.

It reveals that survivors said they did not always feel they were believed when they told someone about abuse, and the council wants domestic abuse “to be properly understood and recognised in Barnet, so that we can provide victims with the services and support they are entitled to receive”.

The strategy will involve the council working alongside partner agencies and the community to support the earlier identification and intervention of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. 

It sets out five objectives centred on early intervention; providing support for survivors; pursuing perpetrators and changing their behaviour; improving multi-agency working; and creating safer streets, community and public spaces.

The document has been published alongside an action plan setting out how these objectives will be achieved.

The consultation will run until 20th December. Further details, including a copy of the draft strategy and action plan, are available here: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/da-vawg-strategy