Safer London – Housing and Violence Against Women and Girls

The Police and Crime Plan made commitments to tackle domestic abuse within the priority of Violence Against Women and Girls. This includes continued funding and support, to work with the GLA, local authorities, the voluntary sector and housing providers to improve the availability of refuges and other safe accommodation for victims and survivors.

The DMPC Decision PDC 377 reviewed the indicative 3-year victim and witness resource plan from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020. £26,645,606 from this budget has been allocated for the provision, development and improvement of specialist victim services. This includes a resource to respond to the housing needs faced by people who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Safer London has been supported by MOPAC to provide accommodation and services addressing housing needs to people experiencing violence since 1st December 2016. Safer London has worked closely with MOPAC in order to develop a service model that directly responds to the housing needs presented by those affected by domestic abuse in London. Safer London’s unique model, the Pan London Housing Reciprocal (PLHR) was launched 30th January 2017 and has developed strong relationships with 76 housing partners, VAWG and community safety partners across London. A total of 380 property requests have been received by the service since its implementation. The programme has successfully moved 70 households, equating to 160 adults and children.

A decision is required to authorise a grant to Safer London to further develop and deliver a service to address the housing concerns facing those experiencing domestic abuse and fleeing other forms of violence. The grant is for the period January 2019 to March 2020 with maximum value of £175,000. The service will include the Pan London Housing Reciprocal, developing work with the GLA on housing moves, access to refuge provision for victims of domestic abuse and facilitating the VCS in gaining access to capital funds made available by the Mayor.

Funding allocated for this purpose is detailed in the budget decision attached to DMPC Decision PCD377 which underpins delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. This decision is requesting a maximum allocation of £35,000 for financial year 2018-19 (quarter 4) and £140,000 for financial year 2019-20.

That the DMPC is asked to:

• authorise a grant for Safer London as the only viable provider available to deliver housing services responding to needs faced by people who are experiencing domestic abuse as detailed in this report.
• delegate authority to sign any individual grant agreements related to the work described in section 2 to the Chief Executive Officer.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2018-2021 makes a commitment for “the Pan-London Housing Reciprocal to continue to look to raise awareness of its services and bring in additional Housing Associations.”

1.2. MOPAC have previously supported Safer London via a grant to deliver the above work streams. The initial grant agreement was in effect from 1st December 2016 to 1st July 2017 (DMPCD 143). This grant agreement was extended until 31st December 2018 (PCD 212).

1.3. The programme has achieved significant success in developing housing policy for victims of domestic abuse. In conjunction with MOPAC, Safer London completed extensive research and consultation with housing and VAWG partners to evidence the need for a cross-borough scheme.

1.4. Safer London successfully developed the unique Pan-London Housing Reciprocal (PLHR) that was launched on 30th January 2017. It is a housing pathway which enables social tenants who are at risk of, or are experiencing abuse where they live to move to another borough in London, while keeping their social tenancy.

1.5. The scheme is a collaboration between local authorities and housing providers in London and is centrally coordinated by Safer London. This model is supported by an MoU formulated in partnership with Housing Directors, G15 and VAWG forums.

1.6. The service has successfully implemented the PLHR with a total of 380 property requests have been received by the service since its implementation. Households referred to the Pan-London Housing Reciprocal are fleeing multiple forms of violence, for example both domestic abuse and gang-related violence.

1.7. The programme has successfully moved 70 households, equating to 160 adults and children. The majority of moves have supported individuals and families fleeing domestic abuse including child to parent violence.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. Authorisation to offer a grant to Safer London for the delivery of this programme is requested. Safer London cater to a very specific need that no other known provider is able to deliver currently.

2.2. The PLHR is a unique model and programme that has been designed, established and now successfully run by Safer London.

2.3. Safer London currently work with 76 housing partners, VAWG and community safety partners across London. The pathway supports households fleeing any form of VAWG and other intersecting violence such as LGBT hate crime which is in line with the priorities within the Police and Crime Plan 2017-2021.

2.4. Safer London have set up their own database and monitoring system and provide monthly reports to partners.

2.5. They are the only organisation with this network of housing partners and model set up in the whole of the UK or worldwide. This network and partnerships have been built up in just three years. Another provider would not be able to establish these relationships across London without starting from scratch.

2.6. In recognition of their unique and successful service, the Safer London team have won the London Homelessness Award 2018 (top 3 – Final position to be announced on 18th October 2018).

2.7. The current agreement does not contain a clause to extend the programme to March 2020.

2.8. Should MOPAC identify a continued need for this programme following the end of this proposed award, future options including market development will be explored.

2.9. A possibility of extension for up to a maximum of 18 months will be included within the grant agreement should, at the end of the grant term, the market position has not matured.

2.10. This Decision recommends supporting the work of Safer London, focusing on housing needs for victims of Domestic Abuse. Key deliverables of the programme will include:

• Maintaining the Pan London Reciprocal, also working towards a sustainable future model.
• Developing existing work around Move On from refuge provision, as well as focusing on those that are not in refuges.
• Working with MOPAC, London Councils and the GLA to progress Housing and Refuge solutions with the voluntary sector.
• Developing work with female offenders and potentially, care leavers.
• Exploring options for witnesses of violence and application of the scheme, particularly where engagement with the scheme will increase safety of the witness(es) assisting any criminal justice process.

2.11. A grant to Safer London is recommended from 1st January 2019 to 31st March 2020 up to a maximum value of £175,000. The agreement will include a potential option to extend for a maximum of 18 months.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. As per Decision DMPC PDC 377 the table below sets out MOPAC’s total financial commitments for Integrated Victim Services against the specified areas of work over the next three years. This includes the allocation of the Ministry of Justice’s Victims’ Grant and details MOPAC’s additional funding for the provision of victim and witness services for London.

3.2. £436,690 of the specialist service provision allocation is apportioned VAWG Housing Support of which £94,000 has been spent in financial year 2017-18 and £80,000 is committed for spend in financial year 2018-19.

3.3. £171,365 has been allocated each for financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20.

3.4. This decision requests £35,000 is profiled for quarter 4 2018-19 and £140,000 for FY2019-2020.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. 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 metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 MOPAC has wide 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.

4.2. Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides an express 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.” Section 143(3) specifically allows MOPAC to make grants in connection with such arrangements and any grant may be made subject to any conditions that MOPAC thinks appropriate.

4.3. The powers in section 143 were given to MOPAC following the Government’s response to the consultation Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses (2 July 2012) in which it set out a package of reforms to the way in which support services for victims of crime are to be provided.

4.4. The recommendations in this decision are in line with the legislation.

4.5. Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, approval of the strategy for the award of individual grants and the award of all individual grants (for crime reduction or other purposes) is a matter generally reserved to the DMPC (paragraph 4.8). The release of funding in accordance with the proposals set out in this decision form is accordingly to be approved by the DMPC. The delegation of responsibility for the finalisation of planning and contractual/grant arrangements, including relevant terms and the signing of agreements, to the Chief Executive Officer for activities to the value of £499,000 or less, is in accordance with the general power of delegation in section 5.

4.6. Officers must ensure that the funding agreement is varied in accordance with the provisions of the same, executing all necessary documentation, before any commitment is made to the provision of the funding proposed.

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. Through the management of this programme, MOPAC does not process, use or receive any personally identifiable information and therefore there are no GDPR compliance issues.

5.2. All providers funded by MOPAC are required to comply with the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. MOPAC grant agreements require providers to demonstrate that

• They have undertaken a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to identify, minimise and reduce risks to data subjects;
• They have met GDPR obligations to ensure the security of processing and will notify MOPAC of any data breaches as soon as they are identified;
• Staff processing survivor’s data are subject to duty of confidentiality and have taken appropriate measures to ensure the security of data held by their centres;
• Clients/Victims/Survivors who wish to utilise the Subject Access Request to data held by the centres are able to do so;
• They have a documented process in place for Subject Access Requests outlining how requests from survivors will be managed and how centres will ensure that a survivor’s identity is confirmed before data is shared;
• They can demonstrate why data on survivors is being retained, for what period it will be retained for and that they have received consent from a client/victim/survivor for the retention of the data;
• They will submit to audits and inspections and provide MOPAC with whatever information is needed to ensure that they are meeting their Article 28 obligations; and finally,
• They will immediately inform MOPAC if they are asked to do something which will infringe GDPR or other data protection laws of the EU or a member state.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. The service is commissioned on the basis of meeting the needs of London’s diverse communities, including those with specialist needs and those that are harder to reach. The original DMPC Decision 2014 143 outlines the equality considerations that have been made throughout the previous commissioning process.

6.2. The VAWG Strategy Refresh 2013-17 Community Impact Assessment and Imkaan report ‘Beyond the Labels’ outline the impact of domestic violence on different groups. Women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence and these documents highlighted that for certain groups of women the risk of violence is even greater due to aspects such as ethnicity, faith, culture and age. These documents were considered in developing the original approach for the Pan London DV Service and this has been corroborated through the recent consultation process for the VAWG strategy refresh.

6.3. To fulfil their role, providers must have an understanding of local demographics, including the client base; the under-represented groups; the specific needs of different groups; and any service barriers that exist. MOPAC also expects providers to demonstrate how their services, including referral and integration with other local services and partners where appropriate, will meet this need and will ensure accessibility and maximum value for all victim groups identified.

6.4. Whilst women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence, the service will deliver services for men in addition to provision of women-only spaces and services that we know that women and girls value, and that make them feel safer, protected and understood.

6.5. MOPAC is clear that the outputs from this service will provide a better standard of provision to victims of Domestic Abuse whilst having a greater positive impact on certain groups in society who are disproportionately vulnerable to and affected by crime.

6.6. Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Equality Act), as a public authority, the Deputy Mayor/MOPAC must have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and any conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act; and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics under the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status (the duty in respect of this last characteristic is to eliminate unlawful discrimination only).

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. PCD-377 and associated budget breakdown

7.2. Safer London Progress Report September 2018