Hampshire County Council Allocates £38 Million for Domestic Abuse Support

Hampshire County Council plans to allocate nearly £40 million over the next seven years to support domestic abuse victims in Hampshire. The authority also intends to spend up to £1.5 million on services aimed at changing the behaviour of offenders. According to council data, an estimated 95,000 individuals, including 43,000 children, experienced domestic abuse in Hampshire during the past year. Domestic abuse encompasses various forms, such as violence, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological or emotional abuse. In accordance with the Domestic Abuse Act, the county council has provided diverse forms of assistance to victims and their children through safe accommodations, including refuges, sanctuary schemes, and dispersed accommodation. During the 2023-24 period, commissioned services for domestic abuse extended aid to 298 adults and 381 children and young people within refuge accommodations across 11 locations in Hampshire. Within the identical timeframe, community services assisted 954 victims and survivors, with 696 individuals benefiting from the sanctuary scheme, which helps them remain secure in their homes. Furthermore, data revealed that 169 victims and survivors, including 42 pregnant women, obtained domestic abuse support at Basingstoke, Winchester, and Andover hospitals. Russell Oppenheimer, the Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, commented: “I’m pleased that we are working with the police and crime commissioner, it makes sense. We are likely to get a better deal. We are likely to get better outcomes for residents.” Presently, Hampshire County Council functions as the primary commissioner for services catering to victims and survivors, alongside those for individuals displaying abusive behaviours. A proposal suggests that the council maintain its role as the lead commissioner for services directed at victims and survivors starting in April 2026. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.