Warning over gaps in support for child victims of domestic abuse

Figures released this week show an eight per cent rise in child protection referrals by police to social services over the last year relating to domestic abuse.

The total of almost 245,000 referrals is the equivalent of 669 a day, according to analysis of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary figures for 2020/21 by the NSPCC.

Jo Casebourne, chief executive of the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) said the figures highlight the need to improve support for families, especially to tackle long-term problems around poor access to therapy and other specialist support for children.

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“There are longstanding gaps in provision for families, including in relation to the availability of prevention services and long-term therapeutic support, support for babies and very young children and culturally specific interventions for minority groups,” she said.

Future government action to tackle domestic abuse must “focus on improving services for child victims” and have a commitment “to fund and evaluate the most promising support”, Casebourne added.

This is needed “in order to build crucial evidence of what works for families affected by domestic abuse”, she said.

From this month children are officially recognised as domestic abuse victims, through the Domestic Abuse Act, and councils must provide housing to families escaping violence and abuse in their home.

In addition, Justice Sectary Dominic Raab is looking to enact a Victims’ Bill, to improve support for victims of crime. A consultation around this bill closes this week. 

But councils still do not have to provide specialist therapeutic services for domestic abuse survivors, said the NSPCC, which wants more community-based support made available.

“Support is already patchy across the country and without a legal duty, things could get worse if cash-strapped councils divert more resources to accommodation-based services, even though community-based services are better used,” said the NSPCC.

Police made on average 669 child protection referrals a day for domestic abuse to social services across England & Wales last year. We want all child victims have access to specialist, therapeutic services in the community to support their recovery. https://t.co/q2g8W78d9Y pic.twitter.com/fJHFP2Movg

— NSPCC (@NSPCC) February 1, 2022

Anna Edmundson, NSPCC head of policy and public affairs, added that latest figures around domestic abuse are “the tip of the iceberg” as often it is unreported.

“Domestic abuse can derail a childhood and it is unacceptable that support to recover remains patchy across the country, and what is available risks being axed by cash-strapped councils,” she added.

“We urge Dominic Raab to use the Victim’s Law to address this and ensure young victims of domestic abuse have easy access to professional services within their community so they can rebuild their lives no matter where they live."

In December last year the EIF released figures that estimated at least 16,000 children were at greater risk of domestic abuse over the Christmas period.