BCP Council has approved a new five-year domestic abuse strategy focused on prevention, survivor support and action against perpetrators, set to run from 2026 to 2031.
The plan is structured around three linked documents: the Safer BCP Prevention of Domestic Abuse Strategy, the Safe Accommodation Strategy, and the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Strategy.
In 2023–24, the council recorded 5,467 domestic abuse crimes, including 734 high-risk Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference cases and 898 repeat suspects.
Key priorities include early intervention, professional training, education for children, and raising public awareness to prevent abuse before it starts.
Improved support for survivors is also planned, with an integrated domestic abuse service launching in August 2027, combining community support and safe accommodation.
Housing provision will feature an 18-unit refuge, a new 10-unit block, and 15 dispersed properties, designed to support male victims, larger families, and those with specific needs.
Annual funding is expected to be between £1.4 million and £1.5 million, mainly from the Safe Accommodation Grant and council budgets. The strategy was unanimously approved by the Cabinet.
