Birmingham Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy 2024+

Overview

Birmingham City Council is consulting with citizens again on the city’s draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy 2024+. At the end of 2023, we asked citizens whether the draft strategy set out the right key priorities and actions for how we, with agencies across the city, will work together to tackle domestic abuse over the next five years. Over 90% of the respondents agreed with that the priorities, vision and focus and we received valuable constructive feedback for this bold and ambitious strategy for Birmingham. 

Domestic abuse is abuse in a personal relationship, such as from a partner, ex-partner or a family member. It can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, controlling behaviour (e.g., telling you what to wear, where you can go), financial abuse (e.g., not letting you have money, stopping you from working), and spiritual abuse (e.g., using religious texts to control). More information can be found here.  

Why your views matter

Having revised the strategy based on valuable stakeholder and citizen engagement at the end of 2023, as a local authority, we are required by law to publish a draft 10 weeks before finalising our Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy.  
 
Local authorities should ensure they meet existing statutory requirements including (but not limited to) those set out in: 

• Equality Act 2010 
• Human Rights Act 1998 
• Housing Act 1996 
• Homelessness Act 2002 
• Crime and Disorder Act 1998 

Part 4 The Safe Accommodation Duty places several requirements upon local authorities, including:  

• Provide support for survivors and their children in refuges and other safe accommodation.  
• Appoint a multi-agency partnership board. 
• Conduct and produce a Needs Assessment.  
• Publish a strategy.  
• Ensure sufficient provision for minoritised groups, including disabled people, older people, male survivors.  
• Report back to the Government on progress. 

The Law recognises the critical importance of support for victims and their children within relevant safe accommodation, as they rebuild their lives after the trauma of domestic abuse. 

Our draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy sets out how we intend to meet our Part 4 Duty by improving support within safe accommodation. 

We are consulting with Birmingham citizens to understand your views on our draft strategy, including how we will discharge our Part 4 duty. 

The online survey should take about 10 minutes to complete and is completely confidential, so your information will not be shared, and you will not be contacted about your answers.  

But if you would like to discuss this consultation with us or you would like to submit consultation responses to us by email, please contact: DAteam@birmingham.gov.uk    

You can download the draft Birmingham’s Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024 – 2029 using the link below.  

Help and support 

We know that domestic abuse can affect anyone. If you would like to speak to someone, please see support services below. In an emergency, please call 999. 

For women: 

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid 
Helpline is open every day 9:15 – 5:15 on 0808 800 0028 

Webchat is open Monday to Friday 10 – 4, and more information is available at https://bswaid.org/.  

 
For men: 

Cranstoun helpline is open Monday to Friday 9-5 on 0121 633 1750 or go to their website for more information. 

Trident Reach helpline is open Monday to Friday 9-5 on 0800 111 4223 or go to their website for more information. 

For LGBT+: 

Birmingham LGBT’s helpline is open Monday to Friday 10am – 9pm and Saturdays 11:30am to 7pm on 0121 643 0821 or go to their website for more information.