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FOI - Funding for domestic abuse victims [Nov 2021]

Key information

Request reference number: MGLA151021-5417

Date of response:

Summary of request

Your request:

Please can you provide the following information about the commissioned funding for 
domestic abuse support services in your local authority. 

1. Do you directly commission refuge services for victims and survivors of domestic 
abuse?

2. If yes, is the refuge service you commission for women only (single sex)? 

3. The Domestic Abuse Bill 2021 introduced a new legal duty for local authorities to 
fund "safe accommodation" for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and their 
children. Is the safe accommodation you fund under the new duty women only 
(single sex)?

4. The Domestic Abuse Bill 2021 introduced a new legal duty for local authorities to 
fund "safe accommodation" for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and their 
children. Does the safe accommodation you fund under the new duty provide 
specialist support designed for women who have survived domestic abuse?

Our response to your request is as follows:

As per my previous response of 3 November 2021, although the GLA and MOPAC are closely linked, they are separate Public Authorities for the purposes of The Freedom of Information Act 2000, as per schedule 1 of the Act. I have confirmed with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and they have confirmed that they hold relevant information, so you may wish to send your request to MOPAC at [email protected]

I will now respond to each point of your request in turn:

1. Yes, we fund services to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse who reside in 
refuge accommodation.

2. See above. These include services in refuges for women only (single sex). 

3. All services that the GLA funds, or will fund, under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Part 4 
duty are or will be in line with the definitions of ‘safe’ and/or ‘relevant’ accommodation set 
out in the legislation and relevant regulations and statutory guidance. These may include 
services in single sex accommodation.

4. See response to 3 above. In line with statutory requirements, the provision we fund or will fund may include specialist support for women who have survived domestic abuse. 

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact me, quoting
reference MGLA151021-5417.

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