PCD 1718 Extension of support arrangements for victims of domestic abuse in London in 2024/25 and 2025/26

PCD 1718 Extension of support arrangements for victims of domestic abuse in London in 2024/25 and 2025/26 

Following the approval of PCD 1691 (Commissioning of Domestic Abuse Victim Services for 2024/25 – 27/28), this decision seeks approval for additional funding to support the continuation of existing support arrangements for victims/survivors of domestic abuse in London until 30 September 2025. This is necessary to enable MOPAC to deliver on its commitments in the Police and Crime Plan (PCP) and to discharge MOPAC’s devolved responsibility for arranging the provision of services for victims of domestic abuse in London. This decision requests approval to spend up to a maximum of £350,000 across 2024/25 and 2025/26 to ensure the continuation of these support arrangements.  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the allocation of up to a maximum of £350,000 across 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support the continuation of the provision for victims of domestic abuse in London.  

2. Approve the carry-forward of up to £200,000 of the £350,000 to be spent in 2025/26. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. A key priority of the Police and Crime Plan (PCP) 2022-25 is to improve the support available for victims of crime in London. The Mayor has been relentless in his pursuit of ensuring good quality support provision is available in London for those affected by crime, whether they chose to report to the police or not.  

2. MOPAC has a responsibility for arranging the provision of services for victims of crime in London, and as part of exercising this duty, needs to ensure that there is no gap in the provision of support to victims of domestic abuse in London.  

3. Therefore, extensions to the existing arrangements for victims of domestic abuse in London were approved in PCD 1691 (Commissioning of Domestic Abuse Victim Services for 2024/25 – 27/28). These extensions were approved in order to ensure continuity of support provision for victims/survivors of domestic abuse in while a procurement process is run to award a contract for a new pan-London domestic abuse service. This follows the discontinuation of the original procurement, approved in PCD 1517 (Victim Services Commissioning), for a new pan-London domestic abuse service. The launch of this new procurement process was also approved in PCD 1691. 

2. Issues for consideration  

1. MOPAC has identified that there are potential additional one-off costs that may be incurred as part of extending the provision of support for victims of domestic abuse in London for a further 12-month period, until 30 September 2025. Therefore, this decision seeks approval for additional funding, up to a maximum of £350,000, to cover these costs.  

3. Financial Comments  

1. The total maximum funding being sought through this DMPC Decision is £350,000. The funding shall come from within MOPAC’s Commissioning and Partnerships budget. 

2. MOPAC shall only pay out cost up to the actual amount incurred, up to the maximum of £350,000, and shall require evidence of costs incurred prior to paying out any additional monies.  

3. This decision also seeks approval to carry-forward up to £200,000 of the £350,000 to be spent in 2025/26. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the Metroplitan Police Service and secure that the Metropolitan Police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7(1) MOPAC has incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2)(a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.    

2. Section 143(1) of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides power for MOPAC, as a local policing body, to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to help victims or witnesses of, or other persons affected by, offences and anti-social behaviour.” The provision of this service would be consistent with this power.    

3. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 or above. 

4. Paragraph 4.13 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all unforeseen variations and extensions to contracts with an original value of £500,000 or above, when the variation or extension is greater than 10% of the original value and/or is for a period of more than 12 months. 

5. Legal advice has been sought in relation to this Decision and further details are contained in the restricted section of the report. 

5. Commercial Issues 

1. The actions proposed can be taken in compliance with procurement legislation and MOPAC’s Contract Regulations. 

6. Public Health Approach  

1. City Hall’s public health approach to violence, including violence against women and girls, recognises the tiers of intervention/opportunities to act. The Violence Reduction Unit looks at violence as a preventable consequence of a range of factors, such as adverse early-life experiences, or harmful social or community experiences and influences intervening early when issues start to emerge and resolving them prior to escalation.   

2. The service(s) included in this decision will support people who have already been impacted by violence and exploitation or are at high risk of being impacted, intervening to ensure ongoing issues are well managed to avoid further crises and reduce the harmful consequences of the issues already faced.  

7. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

8. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. Each year, approximately 800,000 Londoners report their victimisation to the Metropolitan Police Service. Research also tells us that many crimes also go unreported and so genuine rates of victimisation are likely to be much higher than this.  Victims of crime in London come from a diverse range of demographic groups and research shows that some communities and individuals are disproportionately affected by crime and subsequent access to justice.    

3. MOPAC’s Strategic Needs Assessment for Victims in London (SNA) - the biggest ever review of victim’s services in London emphasised the effectiveness of MOPAC’s commissioned services in supporting victims to cope and recover from crime and navigate the CJS. However, the SNA concluded that the system of support is under significant strain and the current model for provision is not sustainable.  There are 3 driving factors for this:    

• Demand outweighs provision    

• Expenditure is not aligned to victims’ profile or needs   

• Projections of an increase in violent crime   

 8.7 Providers continue to navigate the post pandemic climate, facing increased austerity, comparative reductions in funding due to inflation and recruitment and retention issues. These challenges have become increasingly difficult to manage as certain crimes (or those seeking support for such crimes) have shown increases over recent years including domestic abuse and sexual violence. Public campaigns and several high-profile misconduct cases have shone a spotlight on Violence Against Women and Girls which in turn has seen a positive drive for those wishing to access support and report abuse. However, services have struggled to manage the increased demand within existing resources.   

 8.8 Pressure on resources is exacerbated by the delays many victims face in accessing justice. Already too slow, London’s CJS is struggling to bounce back from the postponement of jury trials and social distancing practices during the pandemic and subsequent strikes from the Criminal Bar Association throughout 2022. A combination of these factors has led to a significant backlog of cases in London’s Crown Courts. These delays are significantly above the national average and represent the longest recorded waiting times since records began. Support services work especially hard through the period of limbo to keep victims supported and engaged in the justice process.   

 8.9 Whilst delays pose a threat to justice, so too does victim satisfaction and trust in the Police. Both have been further eroded by several high-profile cases such as the murder and kidnap of Sarah Everard by a serving Police Officer and the conviction of David Carrick, another MPS officer, for heinous crimes against women. The recently published Casey Review echoes victims, women and children have, in particular, been failed by the MPS. Resourcing and structural issues in the force have resulted in a de-prioritisation of victims’ needs, and victims receive a poor service as a result. This is reflected in rates of victim satisfaction which have been stagnant around 65% for several years and are even lower for those who report online at 33%. The dissatisfaction is more evident amongst black, LGBTQ+ and disabled victims.   

 8.10 MOPAC and its commissioned services will play a role in the delivery of the MPS Commissioner’s Plan “A New Met for London”. In addition to maintaining an inward facing focus to identify and respond to disproportionality that arise through the course of delivering these services, they also play an important outward facing role in supporting and challenging MOPAC and other statutory agencies to follow through on their commitment to address disproportionality and discrimination.  

9. Background/supporting papers 

1. PCD 1691 (Commissioning of Domestic Abuse Victim Services for 2024/25 – 27/28) 

2. PCD 1517 (Victim Services Commissioning)