Violence Against Women and Girls - 2022/23 Commissioning Decisions

The Mayor has committed to continuing to Make Violence Against Women and Girls a top priority as part of London’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision requests continuation and extension of funding to the end of March 2023 to the following projects and services for victims and survivors of Violence Against Women and Girls, and programmes to tackle perpetrators, to ensure they continue to have access to specialist support needed to help them cope and recover from crime or trauma and/or reduce risk of victimisation and exploitation, or perpetrating.

The following six services have been identified as key programmes supporting the delivery of the Mayor’s ambition to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls and support victims and survivors:

· the four London Rape Crisis Centres, covering north, south, east and west London.

· Survivors UK, specialist support for male victims of rape and sexual abuse

· London Survivors Gateway, a partnership providing services for survivors of sexual violence

· Galop, specialist support for LGBTQI+ victims of rape and sexual abuse

· Pan London Housing Reciprocal

· London’s Stalking Threat Assessment Centre

· Drive South BCU, a programme tackling the behaviour of perpetrators of domestic abuse

The total financial commitment will be £4,378,735 in 2022/23

1. Approve 12 months funding and service extension for projects relating to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, at a total financial commitment of £4,378,735

2. Delegate responsibility for agreeing the specific terms relating to individual grants, contracts or extensions to the Director of Commissioning and Partnerships.

1. Introduction and background

1. Our first principle for tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is not for women to change the way they live their lives in order to feel safe - it's men that need to change – to challenge their attitudes and to challenge sexist, harassing and demeaning behaviour amongst their peers. The next Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy must take a public health approach – focusing on the complex underlying causes of these offences, alongside tackling perpetrators and ensuring that victims have the support they need. The Mayor’s, ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’ approach recognises that protecting Londoners is not just about policing.

2. Much as we don’t view other types of violence as isolated incidents or solely as a police enforcement problem, we need to treat violence against women and girls in the same way. We need to approach the problem as a preventable consequence of a range of factors, from adverse early-life experiences to harmful social or community experiences or influences, looking at its root causes and opportunities for prevention. The funding outlined below takes into consideration the compounding effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on rates of exploitation and harm to Londoners.

3. In order to expedite the decision process and meet our commitment to give providers and commissioners six months’ notice of funding for 2022/23, the projects and services for which extension is requested have been grouped into themes. This decision relates to delivery of services relating to Violence Against Women and Girls.  

2. Issues for consideration

1. All funding arrangements to projects and services which are due to expire in March 2022 have been considered under their own merits; how these contribute towards the Mayor’s aims to make London the safest and most welcoming city in the world; and to ensure that they have demonstrated satisfactory performance and value for money.  The projects and services below are requested for extension to the end of March 2023. They include continuation of investment in ground-breaking initiatives to reform the behaviour of perpetrators of domestic abuse and focus on the prevention of these horrific crimes.

2. Rape Crisis Centres 

London’s four Rape Crisis Centres, run by Women and Girls Network, Nia, Solace Women’s Aid and RASASC, provide specialist support, including counselling and the provision of an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), to women and girls who have experienced rape, sexual violence, or sexual abuse at any time

3. London Survivors Gateway

London Survivors Gateway is a partnership arrangement (led by Women and Girls Network) between the four London Rape Crisis Centres, Galop and Survivors UK. The London Havens (SARC) are affiliated to the partnership but are not a delivery partner. The Gateway delivers initial and enhanced support to survivors of sexual violence through a pan London single point of contact.

4. Survivors UK

Provision of specialist support, including counselling, an ISVA service and groupwork, to male victims of sexual violence and abuse.

5. Galop

Galop provides provision of specialist support (ISVA service, counselling provision, outreach and engagement) to LGBTQI+ and male survivors of sexual violence.

6. Pan London Housing Reciprocal

Alternative housing pathway coordinated by Safer London, for those holding a social housing tenancy, fleeing domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls, and other forms of serious violence. It ensures settled long-term accommodation, vital to enable survivors to cope and recover, particularly relevant in London where social housing is at a premium and survivors who lose their tenancies face insecure housing options such as the private rented sector, temporary accommodation or being pushed out of the capital. This decision requests for the reciprocal scheme to be funded for a further 18 months to enable a comprehensive review of the delivery model to be conducted and recommendations implemented responsibly and sustainably.

7. London’s Stalking Threat Assessment Centre (S-TAC)

An innovative unique multi-agency approach to safeguarding victim-survivors, supporting professionals and those working with perpetrators to rehabilitate and/or disrupt behaviour. It is comprised of partnerships between the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Suzy Lamplugh Trust (SLT), Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust (BEHMHT), and National Probation Service (NPS) London. This decision requests funding for the victim advocacy element through SLT as part of multi-agency contribution to support S-TAC until March 2023.

8. Drive South Basic Command Unit

This is an intensive, coordinated multi agency response to serial/repeat high harm domestic abuse perpetrators to change their behaviour with a crucial focus on increasing victim safety, working alongside and complimenting existing interventions. An extension to the Drive South BCU project and service is requested 30 September 2022, following the award and acceptance of continuation funding for this programme from the Home Office for October 2021-March 2022.

3. Financial Comments

1. This decision requests funding approval to enable the extension of Violence Against Women and Girls contracts or grants delivered across six services detailed in section 2.2 to 2.7.

2. Total financial commitment of £4,378,735, is requested for a period of 12 months from 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2023, except for Drive South BCU which is requested for 6 months until 30 September 2022 and Pan London Housing Reciprocal which is requested for 18 months until March 2023. An overview of the individual allocations and the proposed funding source is set out in the table below. 

3. The funding from the MoJ Victims Grant includes an allocation from the MoJ Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund, ring-fenced within the terms of the MoJ Victims Grant for services supporting victims of sexual violence. The allocations above for the Rape Crisis Centres, Galop and Survivors UK include funding from both the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund and the core Victims Grant.

4. As the total funding available to MOPAC from the MoJ Victims Grant, including the ring-fenced allocation within it from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund, will not be confirmed until later in 2021/22. The total financial commitment set out above remains indicative and represents the maximum allocation approved under this decision. Any increase in allocation of funding to these services would require a further DMPC Decision. The final confirmation of the MoJ funds will take place in March 2022 and this will be the level at which MOPAC can fund up to.

5. The funding for Pan London Housing Reciprocal is part funded by PPAF and funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for delivery of the Tier 1 duty within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 that is expected to come in in the next year. There will be a separate decision to allocate the remaining part of the funding to deliver the pan London Housing Reciprocal.

6. Funding through Suzy Lamplugh Trust as part of multi-agency contribution to support S-TAC will be sourced through earmarked reserves (Violent Offenders services).

7. Payments will be made in line with current arrangements in the contract or grant, following satisfactory performance and contract or grant management meetings.

8. Funding sources are provisional only and subject to change. Confirmation of funding sources will be finalised as part of the final budget submission.

4. Legal Comments

3. 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 (1) 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. 

2. Section 143 (1) (b) of the Anti-Social, Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides for MOPAC to provide or commission services “intended by the local policing body to 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.

3. There are further relevant powers set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a) to (c) which place MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. 

4. Under MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, the approval of business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 and above, are for the DMPC. The strategy for grant giving, the award of individual grants, all offers made and the award of grant funding are also for the DMPC. The decisions in this report can be approved by the DMPC.  

5. Officers must ensure the Financial Regulations and Contract Regulations are complied with. 

6. Officers should ensure that the funding agreements are put in place with and executed by MOPAC and each of the providers before any commitment to fund is made. 

7. Officers confirm that sufficient assurance has been carried out to this decision to determine that the DMPC has legal authority to agree the recommendations on funding and the extension of grants and contracts. 

5. Commercial Issues

1. This decision requests to extend existing grants and contracts, as laid out in 2.2 to 2.7, or create new grants where needed.

2. There are no procurement issues with this decision, as where contracts are in place, the value of these contracts is not being increased by more than 50% of the current value,and is in line with the terms and conditions of the contract variations or grant agreements amendments, as relates to extensions. 

3. MOPAC makes no commitment to fund the organisations listed in 2.2 to 2.7 above until grant amendment, contract variation letters or agreements have been signed by both parties. These will detail the new performance and payment schedules, in line with previous arrangements.

4. Further details on the commercial issues for each project or service can be found in the decisions referenced in 9.1 below. 

5. The modification request to the grant agreement/contract will comply with the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation. 

6. Public Health Approach

1. Violence against women and girls is a public health issue. Grant award to these services is informed by the Mayor’s public health approach to violence reduction and therefore part of MOPAC’s contribution to overall efforts support victims and perpetrators of violence. The public health approach to violence prevention is being led by London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which supports the MOPAC work through preventative programmes supporting young people.

2. Further details on the public health approaches of each project or service can be found in the decisions referenced in 2.3.

7. GDPR and Data Privacy

1. The extension of the projects and services listed in 2.2 to 2.7 will not alter the data protection measures in place for each. Where required, DPIAs will be updated to reflect the extension of the corresponding project or service. 

2. Further details on the data protection considerations for each project or service can be found in the decisions referenced in 9.1 below. 

8. Equality Comments

1. Under s149 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). 

2. The providers listed in 2.2 to 2.7 will be required to have due regard to the protected characteristics of the people and communities relevant to this piece of work.   

3. Equality comments for each specific project or service can be found in the decisions referenced in section 9. As part of the quarterly performance monitoring of each service we collect demographics information, which helps us to understand who is accessing each service and how any barriers to accessing may be overcome

9. Background/supporting papers 

1. Previous decisions relating to the programmes laid out in 2.2 -2.7 and their delivery are listed below:

• PCD 846 signed in October 2020 committed £2,609,563 to support the 4 Rape Crisis Centres in FY 2021/22.

• PCD 889 signed in November 2020 committed £674,734 to continue funding of the Drive programme in FY 2021/22.

• PCD 943 signed in July 2021 committed £252,805 to continue funding to the Male Rape and Sexual violence support service provided by Survivors UK in FY 2021/2022

• PCD 480 signed in October 2018 committed £514,095 to funding the pan London housing reciprocal for FY 2018/19 to 2019/20

• PCD 943 signed in July 2021 committed £510,983 to continue funding the LGBT+ and Male sexual violence support service provided by Galop in FY 2021/2022

• PCD 639 signed in November 2019 committed £925,000 to support the London Survivors Gateway in FY 2020/2021 to 2021/2022.