Navigating Camden’s VAWG Needs Assessment

As this is an extensive report, the table below outlines the structure and focus of each section to support readers in navigating the document and identifying areas of particular relevance. Links to each section can be found in the main contents page.

Section	Navigating Camden’s VAWG Needs Assessment
Executive summary	This section provides a very short summary of what this needs assessment is, the findings and its high-level recommendations. It doesn’t give the breadth and depth of detail but helps provide context and a snapshot of the overall findings for those who may not review the entire document.
Chapter 1: Background and intro	This includes an introduction to the topic and why it is important. It also includes the process taken to produce the needs assessment and clearly sets out the purpose, rationale, scope and aims and objectives. It also includes definitions of key terms.
Chapter 2: Policy context and best practice	This includes all important and relevant national legislation and policy, then the evidence on risk factors and best practice for VAWG. Evidence was gathered from system leaders, large programmes of work, and a literature search supported by the UKHSA Knowledge and Library Services team.
Chapter 3: The local picture	This section aims to use quantitative data to build a picture of VAWG in Camden by describing its prevalence, including comparisons to London and national figures, changes over time, types of VAWG, and geographical variation. It also examines the characteristics of victims and suspects, service demand and referral pathways, and the outcomes of crime reporting and service use.
Chapter 4: Our local response	This chapter summarises the different services, interventions, policies, and ways of working that are currently in place and work to prevent and address VAWG in Camden, including, policies and strategies, partnerships and multi-agency arrangements, services, preventive interventions, and communication campaigns.
Chapter 5: Stakeholder views and insights	This is where we gathered insights on a range of issues related to VAWG from a variety of sources. This included experts by lived experience, professionals working in the field, and individuals who may encounter victim/survivors in the course of their work, even if their role is not specifically focused on domestic violence and abuse. It includes a summary of the most common and cross-cutting themes across all groups.
Chapter 6: Recommendations	This has the detailed recommendations from the evidence and best practice, the quantitative data and the insights. They are areas for focus that inform strategy development and have more detailed illustrative examples. A list of full stakeholder recommendations is in the appendices.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Summary of findings

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) continues to be a critical public health issue which drives inequality and long-term consequences for those affected. This needs assessment presents an overview of VAWG, and the impact it has in Camden. It draws on extensive stakeholder engagement, data analysis, existing provision, and a review of policy and best practice.

VAWG is a multi-faceted and complex issue. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence and abuse of multiple forms, usually at the hands of men or the system. The full definition of VAWG is set out in Chapter 1 of this report. While the intention was to assess every element of VAWG within this report, the limited data for and systemic understanding of certain aspects of VAWG (e.g. forced marriage, online abuse, and stalking) means this report primarily reports on domestic violence and abuse (DVA).

In preparing this report, it was clear from the outset that the local authority and its partners are deeply committed to tackling VAWG and DVA. We recognise and greatly appreciate the dedication, expertise, and hard work of the many individuals and teams involved in this area. This report is not intended as a judgement on the work undertaken to date, but rather as a constructive contribution to ongoing efforts. While the focus here is on identifying challenges, gaps, and opportunities for improvement, this should be considered in the context of – and alongside – the significant progress and commitment already demonstrated.

This needs assessment is closely aligned with Camden’s strategic priorities and work to date, including the We Make Camden[1] vision and Community Safety Partnership Action Plan[2]. The local authority recognises the importance of a holistic approach beyond its statutory responsibilities to address VAWG in the borough, and that working in partnership is the most effective way to achieve this.

VAWG is not unique to Camden, however, the borough’s population, geography, and vast number of services, local institutions, and community groups provides both challenges and opportunities to act to reduce and respond to VAWG preventatively and reactively in a collaborative manner. While there are still areas of partnership working and preventative work that can be improved, there are also examples of positive and successful projects and partnerships in Camden from training to support services to campaigns.

Taking a public health approach to VAWG and conducting a needs assessment not only provides a comprehensive understanding of the related needs to inform strategy and service development but also illustrates and acknowledges the complexities of the issue. Underpinning the approach to this needs assessment and the public health approach is prevention at a population or system level. Therefore, the needs assessment seeks to identify the factors which can increase someone’s risk of being affected by VAWG, and being affected negatively more than others, as well as what protects someone from VAWG and its effects. Identifying the issues and understanding the data and evidence can inform strategy and service development to have the most impact and, perhaps most importantly, understand how prevention and earlier intervention can be successful and therefore prevent harm. The evidence shows that prevention is the best and most impactful opportunity to reduce and prevent VAWG. While it must be recognised that this has to be balanced with the more urgent need to provide support to those currently experiencing VAWG and its effects, and resourcing appropriately for this, failing to resource and develop preventative programmes and work will lead to an ongoing cycle and limit the impact that can be had at scale.

In addition to focusing on prevention, the public health approach seeks to understand the short and long-term impact of an issue, including across generations and social behaviours. Therefore, this needs assessment has considered children to be equal victim/survivors to adults, which is also in line with legal definitions and guidance, and explore the impact of VAWG across generations (e.g. people who have experienced DVA as a child is more likely to be in an abusive relationship when they are adults).

The key findings described in this needs assessment include the high prevalence of DVA in Camden, the intersection of VAWG with housing and financial insecurity as well as mental health and social complexity, and the systemic barriers faced by victim/survivors. Victim/Survivors from marginalised communities or who have multiple needs including mental health or substance use face additional barriers to access support. Furthermore, there is little long-term support for victim/survivors, especially when the immediate risk of violence has ended, even though the psychological, emotional, and physical impact can be life-long.

When examining the local picture of VAWG through quantitative evidence, specific trends within Camden begin to emerge. It is important to note, however, that quantitative data offers only a partial view. To build a truly holistic understanding of VAWG, both quantitative and qualitative evidence must be considered together. Moreover, the quantitative data presented here reflects only those incidents that are formally recorded and therefore does not capture the full extent of women and girls’ experiences.

With that in mind, data from Metropolitan Police Service indicated Camden’s 2024 VAWG rate was 29 VAWG offences per 1,000 female residents. This is above the rest of London, ranking Camden 11^th highest across London. The majority of recorded VAWG offences are concentrated within DVA, stalking and harassment and sexual violence. Since 2020 to 2023, Camden witnessed an 8.2% increase in VAWG offences, significantly above the rest of London, which saw a 5.7% increase. Despite this, as a proportion of all crimes within the borough, 8% are related to VAWG. When disseminating by VAWG abuse types, sexual violence stands out as significantly higher than the rest of London, as does stalking and harassment, physical and sexual abuse and violent of threatening behaviour, whilst DVA rates were lower.

While Camden records a high rate of VAWG offences, the true scale is likely underestimated due to underreporting and inconsistent data recording. Internal services such as Adult Social Care, Camden Safety Net, and Children Safeguarding and Social Work identify significant volumes of abuse, particularly DVA, yet police data shows lower proportions, suggesting gaps in formal reporting. Victim withdrawal is a major barrier to justice, especially in DVA and coercive control cases, and younger and older women appear less likely to progress through support pathways despite being high-risk groups. Housing and homelessness data show a sharp rise and identification in DVA-related applications, and Camden’s Adult Pathway research highlights severe unmet need among homeless women.

Across services, poor data completeness, especially for protected characteristics like disability, gender reassignment, sex, and ethnicity, limits the ability to assess equity and unmet need. Definitions of VAWG vary between services, and recording systems are inconsistent, making cross-service analysis difficult. The introduction of the CONNECT system in 2024 also disrupted crime recording, complicating year-on-year comparisons. These limitations underscore the need for improved data quality, shared definitions, and integrated systems to build a more accurate and actionable picture of VAWG in Camden.

In order to reflect the lived experience of victim/survivors and the professionals who work with them, multiple insight gathering sessions and focus groups were conducted as part of this needs assessment. These conversations revealed that while some victim/survivors receive life-changing support, others have to overcome significant barriers to accessing services including fragmented services, re-traumatisation, and institutional mistrust or judgement. Therefore, the importance of a holistic, collaborative, and trauma-informed approach to working with victim/survivors was raised multiple times by victim/survivors and professionals.

Professionals who participated also noted how short-term funding for posts and programmes, service gaps, and a need to improve coordination across organisations and services can all impact the support a victim/survivor receives as well as negatively impacting the staff attempting to support them. Due to these issues often services are unable to meet demand, staff hold on to cases for longer than they should, and the emotional toll of not being able to get victim/survivors the support they need can result in staff burnout and turnover.

As well as reflecting the current need, this needs assessment demonstrates the existing provision for victim/survivors, perpetrators, and professionals. As shown in Chapter 4, Camden has a number of services, policies, and partnerships working to address VAWG which show how seriously the local authority is taking the issue. The services available in the borough provide crucial and impactful support, with professionals and stakeholders often sharing how positive their experience has been when working with them. However, there is still work to do to fill the gaps in provision as well as ensuring services are able to meet demand and adequately assess and respond to risk.

This needs assessment will support the development of Camden’s local strategy and service provision over the coming years. While regional and national VAWG policies and strategies are being updated at the time of writing, each local authority faces its own unique context, challenges, and priorities. It is therefore essential that Camden develops a strategy rooted in a clear understanding of local needs, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and responsive to the lived experiences of its communities. We would like to thank all colleagues, stakeholders, partners, providers, and victim/survivors who generously shared their time, knowledge, experiences, and suggestions to inform this important work.

Summary of recommendations

The recommendations included in this needs assessment are intended to inform the development of a local VAWG strategy. Therefore, while the recommendations in Chapter 6 share examples of specific actions, they focus on the issues that need to be addressed or good practice that could be expanded. The high-level recommendations reflect evidence reviewed, and the themes that emerged from both our quantitative and qualitative research. In considering these recommendations, it is important to view them in the context of building on our existing initiatives and approaches, while also recognising the realities of public sector and local authority delivery, including limited resources. These are a summary of our high-level recommendations. For detailed recommendations please see Chapter 6.

Public health approach

Having a comprehensive strategy that considers prevention; earlier intervention by system/professions; response/support, perpetrator accountability/programmes and intergenerational cycle breaking to stop violence

Alongside robust responses to VAWG, invest in early action to prevent DVA and VAWG, including schools/education, community engagement, and earlier identification and intervention by the system/professional, including with perpetrators. Ensure intergenerational transmission of trauma, risk and behaviour is considered and addressed in strategic planning and response.

Data and evidence

Improving insights, data and monitoring

Strengthen the collection, integration, and use of VAWG data and insights to build a shared evidence base that drives effective prevention, response, and partnership working.

Support gaps

Whole-journey support for all victim/survivors

Ensure tailored, consistent support for victim/survivors of DVA and other forms of VAWG from first disclosure through to long-term recovery, regardless of risk level or complexity of need, including post-separation abuse. Explore and address gaps in identification and support for other, often hidden forms of abuse such as ‘honour-based’ abuse.

Mental Health

Trauma-informed mental health and wellbeing

Expand accessible, culturally competent mental health services that are informed by the impacts of VAWG including DVA, sexual violence, and coercive control, and address co-occurring needs.

Children’s support

Protection and recovery for children affected by abuse

Recognise children as direct victims of DVA and provide sustained, trauma-informed support across education, health, and family services. Give consideration also to wider forms of violence against women and girls, including often hidden forms such as ‘honour-based’ abuse.

System related harm

Minimising harm from systems and services

Eliminate re-traumatisation by ensuring services respond with dignity, continuity, and coordination, keeping victim/survivor safety at the centre.

Housing and benefits

Safe, secure, and appropriate housing

Increase availability and quality of safe accommodation and housing pathways that meets the needs of women and children, reduces disruption, and supports recovery. Efforts are made to use Alternative Payment Arrangements to help reduce financial control and/or rent arrears.

CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION

Introduction

This needs assessment is intended to improve the understanding and awareness of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the London borough of Camden, in order to inform strategy development, commissioning plans, and staff practice. The United Nations (UN) defines VAWG as “an act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.[3]

Within We Make Camden[4] – the Council’s shared vision for the borough – there is a commitment to make Camden a fairer and more equal place with safety at home and in the community as one of the challenges the strategy looks to address. Eliminating VAWG is a prioritised work area in the strategy. In addition, improving women’s safety in public spaces and taking effective action to address gender-related crime is a priority within the borough’s Community Safety Partnership Action Plan (2024-2027).[5]

It is a statutory requirement[6] for local authorities to conduct a DVA needs assessment locally, however this requirement is limited to accommodation-based support services. To better align this needs assessment with the corporate strategy, this needs assessment will be broader in scope to provide a holistic understanding of VAWG in the borough, and in turn, a comprehensive strategy and support offer.

This needs assessment will provide contextual information about VAWG including: (i) why it is considered a priority area of work for the Council; (ii) political and legal context locally, nationally, and globally; (iii) the snapshot of local data and the scale of the issue in Camden at the time of the needs assessment; (iv) views and insights from people with lived experience, the community, and stakeholders; (v) the current offer of support and response available in Camden; and (vi) recommendations for next steps.

This needs assessment will use data available within and to the council as well as collected locally, and best practice which is available publicly or shared with the council. While the term VAWG highlights the gendered nature of the issue, this needs assessment will include all children, rather than just girls. This expanded scope recognises that all children in families which experience violence within the home or family are affected, even if girls are typically targeted more often than boys.[7]

The needs assessment has been developed through a collaborative process led by the public health team, and with contributions by members of the corporate strategy, corporate data, children’s & learning, and adults & health teams who focus on DVA, VAWG, supporting families, and/or community engagement.

In compiling this report, we acknowledge the substantial work already undertaken by the local authority and its partners to address VAWG and DVA. The commitment, professionalism, and sustained effort of those working in this field are evident and commendable. The purpose of this report is not to assess past or current work, but to support future progress by highlighting current challenges and areas where further development may be beneficial. The findings should therefore be considered within the context of the strong foundations and positive initiatives already in place.

Background

What is Violence Against Women and Girls?

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is defined by the United Nations (UN) as “gender-based violence, that is, violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental, or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty.”[8] While it is recognised that men also experience violence and abuse, this definition highlights the disproportionate impact of violence on females. For this reason, VAWG has been identified as a priority area of intervention globally.

Beyond domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and sexual assault, VAWG can also include female genital mutilation, stalking, abuse of other kinds (e.g. financial, psychological, and verbal), coercive control, forced marriage, harassment, trafficking, and honour-based violence. However, most data available and work in this area is related to DVA and sexual assault due to the high incidence of these crimes and the significant impact on victims/survivors.

Why is Violence Against Women and Girls an important issue?

Globally, it is estimated that almost one in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime,[9] and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified VAWG as a “major public health problem and violation of women’s human rights.”[10]

The impact of violence on the health of women incudes death, physical injuries and symptoms, mental health issues, and increased need for health care due to injuries, ongoing care needs, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, abortions, and pre-term or low birth weight babies.[11]

In addition to the impact on the woman themselves, children who grow up in families who experience violence are likely to have behavioural and emotional needs, may also experience or demonstrate violence as they get older, and are more likely to have higher rates of health conditions or early mortality.[12]

In order to address this issue and prevent violence against women, the WHO developed the RESPECT framework[13] for policy makers. They have also summarised the impact of VAWG and opportunities for prevention in an ecological model of VAWG.

The government in England introduced the Domestic Abuse Act[14] and Tackling VAWG strategy[15] in 2021 and are currently undertaking a Public Accounts Committee inquiry to understand how VAWG is being prioritised and prevented by the Government. The Crime Survey for England and Wales from March 2022[16] shows that over one in four women are victims/survivors of sexual assault or attempted assault in their lifetime, and one in 12 are victims/survivors of VAWG each year (although it is noted that this is likely up to 79% higher due to people not reporting incidents).[17]

Figure 1: Ecological model of Violence Against Women and Girls, United Nations RESPECT Guide and Workbook (2020)

In addition, the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) called for a whole-system approach to addressing VAWG as they found that VAWG-related crimes accounted for 20% of all recorded crimes by the police and had increased by 37% between 2018 and 2023.[18] For the year ending March 2024, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that approximately 7.4% of women experienced DVA in the last 12 months (an increase from 6.5% in the year ending March 2023), and 72.5% of domestic-abuse related crime victims were women.[19]

Estimates using national prevalence statistics suggest that over 14,000 residents of Camden experience DVA each year.[20] Furthermore, the charity Women’s Aid has calculated that the cost of supporting victim/survivors of DVA could be approximately £180,000 to support one person but could be reduced to approximately £20,000 if intervention happens early.[21] Additionally, it can cost victim/survivors up to £50,000 to leave an abusive situation.[22]

Considering the financial challenges many Camden residents face on a day-to-day basis, as well as the additional impact of the cost of living crisis, and the resource pressures public services such as the Council and NHS are facing, reducing VAWG is beneficial for the individuals affected, their families, and the system at large.

Needs assessment process

A needs assessment provides an overview of the needs of a population – usually a specific group (e.g. users of a service, age group) – and is often based on a particular health-related issue. Needs assessments summarise the data and current service provision (as well as any gaps) to produce a set of actionable recommendations based on best practice and evidence, to inform the strategy development and future commissioning intentions.

Conducting a needs assessment will ensure the development of the borough’s VAWG strategy is informed by data and evidence; relevant to the needs of victim/survivors and those impacted by VAWG; targeted as necessary; and effective. The needs assessment provides a holistic view of the need in the borough as well as providing a baseline to evidence the impact of the subsequent strategy.

In order to ensure the recommendations are as informed as possible, the needs assessment will collate quantitative and qualitative data from a range of sources including the Council, local service providers and voluntary sector partners, professionals who work with the population / condition the needs assessment is focused on, and the people who are going to be impacted by the assessment’s recommendations and the subsequent strategy. The needs assessment will also summarise the relevant political and legal context, best practice, and evidence for interventions that are effective. Together, the data and evidence will contribute to the recommendations in the needs assessment, which will, in turn, inform the strategy.

Rationale

While there are multiple VAWG-related services provided by Camden Council and a range of other providers across the borough, the borough has not yet conducted an overarching needs assessment of VAWG.

In Camden, community engagement during the development of the We Make Camden Vision[23] raised the issue of VAWG as an area of concern for residents. Leading to the identification of ensuring that everyone in Camden feels safe at home and in the community as a challenge that the Council is aiming to achieve over the coming years. Therefore, with plans to develop a VAWG strategy in place, it is necessary to undertake a needs assessment to ensure the strategy is developed with as much information and insight as possible.

The needs assessment is being led by Health and Wellbeing and delivered in partnership with colleagues from across the Council who bring expertise in the data and service provision available across the borough.

Scope

It is important to define the scope of a needs assessment to ensure the purpose and intended impact is clear as well as to guide the needs assessment development. As set out above, the scope of a needs assessment can be defined by the population and health-related issue it is focused on – as set out below.

Population of Focus	Women and children impacted by violence, who live in Camden
Justification	This population is disproportionately affected by violence, and reflects the remit of control which the Council has to make change.

Health-Related Issue of Focus	Understand the needs of people impacted by violence against women and girls (VAWG) – using the full UN definition1
Justification	It is important to recognise the breadth of VAWG and its impact in order to develop a strategy which can address both the root causes and the response required which is comprehensive and understands the different types of violence which can affect people.

While the Council recognises that a range of people are affected by a range of health-related issues, and there are multiple complexities and intersectionality to consider, it is important to define a needs assessment in order to contain it and make it practical for those creating, reading, and using it. This needs assessment is framed within existing definitions of VAWG. As such, it primarily addresses the experiences of women and girls. This reflects the way VAWG is currently defined in national and international policy frameworks, as well as limitations in available data. We acknowledge, however, that other genders also experience gender-based violence, however, this is outside the scope of this assessment.

This needs assessment is intended to provide an overview of the impact and consequences of VAWG including the opportunities for prevention and response. As the first needs assessment of its type for Camden, it provides a crucial understanding of the situation overall, acting as the basis for future work and a baseline for evaluating relevant strategies.

Alongside this needs assessment, a deep dive is being undertaken to understand the mental health needs of people who are impacted by DVA. This overarching VAWG needs assessment will act as the foundation and context for the mental health-focused deep dive. Further deep dives will take place on other priority areas, ensuring that our understanding continues to grow and evolve. While this assessment provides a snapshot in time, it is intended to be a living resource that can be added to and refined. This ongoing approach is crucial, as it allows us to build a richer picture of need and respond in a timely and informed way to the changing experiences of those affected.

Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of this needs assessment are to:

• Provide an understanding of VAWG and its political and legal context

• Collate and summarise the prevalence and scale of VAWG in Camden

• Map the current provision of services to support people involved in and impacted by VAWG

• Explore the evidence base of best practice and effective interventions to prevent and respond to VAWG

• Evaluate the local response to VAWG

• Suggest evidence and data informed recommendations for subsequent strategies, policies, commissioning, and practice

It is expected that the needs assessment will be used to inform a Camden VAWG strategy, and by local partners (e.g. local safeguarding board, police, service providers) to inform programmes of work and support a collaborative, multi-agency approach to preventing and responding to VAWG in Camden.

Limitations

Despite a significant amount of quantitative and qualitative data being collected and assessed for this report, the data available was primarily related to DVA. There is a lack of data for other elements of VAWG across organisations and services, in part due to the way data is collected and potentially due to the sensitive or hidden nature of VAWG (e.g. forced marriage, female genital mutilation, stalking, and online abuse). Therefore, this needs assessment was not able to fully describe or assess the need for all other areas of VAWG.

Whilst a wide range of insight and focus group discussions were conducted for this report - including commissioning external partners to engage with groups who may otherwise choose not to engage directly with the Council - it is recognised that not all perspectives will be captured. The very personal nature of the topic, alongside cultural norms and stigma, means that some experiences are likely to remain unspoken, particularly within group discussion settings. Given the resources available to complete this needs assessment, it was not possible to carry out additional data collection within the timeframe, or to conduct individual interviews which may have elicited additional insights. To address this, existing insights were incorporated where appropriate, and plans for further engagement to build on this evidence base are set out in the needs assessment.

Finally, due to the nature of VAWG and the wide range of roles and responsibilities across the council, as well as the likelihood of contact with those affected, we have tried to reflect the work taking place within the local authority. However, we recognise that we may not have captured all of the valuable contributions being made by everyone.

CHAPTER 2: POLICY CONTEXT & BEST PRACTICE

Policy context

While this needs assessment and the following strategy is focused on the borough of Camden, it sits amongst various national and regional policies and strategies which provide useful context and can inform local approaches.

Domestic Abuse Act 2021[24]

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 created a clear legal definition of domestic abuse in the UK, recognising not only physical and sexual violence but also threatening, controlling, coercive, economic, and psychological abuse. It applies to people aged 16 and over who are personally connected, whether the abuse happens once or repeatedly, and includes situations where harm is directed at someone else, such as a child. Importantly, the law recognises children as victims if they witness, hear, or feel the effects of abuse within their family.

The Act places firm duties on local authorities to prevent DVA and support those affected, requiring them to provide accommodation-based support and guaranteeing priority housing for homeless victims/survivors. It also protects secure tenancy rights for social housing tenants forced to move because of DVA.

In 2022, statutory guidance was issued to help agencies understand the impact of abuse, respond effectively to different groups’ needs, and work together through coordinated, multi-agency approaches. This guidance underlines the importance of risk assessment, the unique role of health services, and ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing alongside that of adult victims/survivors.

National Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2021[25]

The Government launched the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in 2021, which was a replacement of a previous strategy which ran until 2020. The strategy explains that VAWG refers to acts of violence or abuse known to disproportionately affect women and girls, but the strategy itself refers to all victims/survivors of offences such as rape and other sexual offences, DVA, stalking, honour-based abuse, and online offences.

The strategy’s ambitions are to increase the support for victim/survivors; increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice; increase reporting to the police; increase victim engagement with police and wider public services; and reduce prevalence of VAWG. It notes that a cross-system, coordinated approach is necessary to achieve these ambitions. The strategy notes that a coordinated, cross-system approach is necessary to achieve the ambitions alongside the following actions: prioritising prevention, supporting victims/survivors, pursuing perpetrators, and strengthening the system.

At the time of writing, a new cross-government VAWG strategy is being developed. This will set the direction over the next ten years to deliver the Government’s ambition to halve VAWG in a decade, and set out commitments to prevent violence, support victim/survivors, and bring perpetrators to justice. This is currently expected to be completed in September 2025.

Equality Act 2010[26]

This Act is a consolidation of prior anti-discrimination legislation to protect people against discrimination, harassment, or victimisation based on the characteristics of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, and belief. These characteristics are known as ‘protected characteristics’. Within the legislation there are duties for public organisations to ensure unlawful conduct under the act is eliminated, ensure equality of opportunity for people with the protected characteristics listed above, and ensure the relationships between people with a shared protected characteristic and those who do not share that protected characteristic – especially in their procurement and commissioning arrangements.

Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan 2022[27]

The government’s Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan builds on previous strategies and complements the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy published in 2021. It seeks to deliver aspects of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 by working to prevent DVA from happening, providing more support to victim/survivors, and implementing stronger management of and consequences for perpetrators.

The plan looks to address four major problems identified from evidence and data: (1) the high prevalence of DVA; (2) the loss of life caused by DVA; (3) the negative health, emotional, economic, and social impact on victims and survivors during and after DVA, and (4) improving the system, collaboration, and data in order to identify more cases of DVA and increase the system’s understanding of DVA.

Online Safety Act 2023[28]

This Act protects children and adults by giving providers new duties to protect and reduce the risks to their users through systems and processes. This includes preventing children from accessing age-inappropriate content through age-checks.

The Act specifies that the content and activity that users need to be protected from is that relating to: child sexual abuse; controlling or coercive behaviour; extreme sexual violence; extreme pornography; fraud; racially or religiously aggravated public order offences; inciting violence; illegal immigration and people smuggling; promoting or facilitating suicide; intimate image abuse; selling illegal drugs or weapons; sexual exploitation; and terrorism.

The behaviours and content specified in the Act are either actions and activities which are specified in the VAWG definition, or closely related to them. This close alignment highlights the importance of recognising the role online activity can have within VAWG and the opportunities it presents for prevention and response. This is further evidenced by the number of victim/survivors of online VAWG supported by the technology team at Refuge increasing by over 250% between 2018 and 2022.[29]

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) - Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004[30], a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) is a review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from DVA. A significant proportion of DHRs involve cases where a victim of DVA has died by suicide. Reviewing suicides linked to DVA is an important step and critical to improving understanding of risk factors for both victim/survivors and perpetrators, strengthening early interventions, and preventing further tragedies.

A Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) is an opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities, and society as a whole to pay attention to each individual victim and to treat every death as preventable. Since the guidance was last reviewed, the government committed to reforming the DHR process in the 2022 Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan.[31] The reform package included driving systematic change across government, implementing mandatory training for DHR Chairs, enhancing the oversight mechanism for DHRs and refreshing the statutory guidance. See Chapter 4 for more detail including how DHRs are conducted in Camden.

Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities 2018[32]

The Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities 2018/22 outlines how councils should fulfil their duties under the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2022, and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, with clear provisions for supporting victim/survivors of DVA. It confirms that those made homeless by DVA must be prioritised for accommodation, and that no referral should place them or their household at risk.

The guidance emphasises the need for trained staff who can identify victim/survivors, assess their needs, and work with other councils, commissioners, VAWG groups, and refuge providers to ensure policies and practices do not disadvantage victim/survivors. DVA is defined broadly to include physical violence, threats, intimidation, harassment, economic abuse, coercive control, and honour-based abuse.

Authorities are expected to take reasonable steps to help victim/survivors remain safely in their homes where possible, or to provide secure alternative accommodation if not. Social services must cooperate with housing authorities, including sharing relevant safeguarding data and projections relating to DVA.

Improving Access to Social Housing for Victims/Survivors of Domestic Abuse 2022[33]

This guidance assists local authorities to apply allocation legislation to support DVA victim/survivors to move into social housing from temporary arrangements. The guidance relates to the Housing Act 1996, and is in addition to the statutory guidance on social housing allocations, providing social housing for local people, and guidance on the Right to Move.

The aims of the guidance include ensuring a consistent approach to considering housing applications from victim/survivors of DVA in temporary accommodation, that victim/survivors are given appropriate prioritisation, and are not disadvantaged by residency or local connection requirements.

Women’s Health Strategy for England 2022-2032[34]

The Department of Health and Social Care published this strategy which contained seven priority areas, of which the health impacts of VAWG was one. The priority area states that the health impacts of VAWG is both a public health issue and criminal justice issue, and sets out the following ambitions:

• Prevention and reduction of VAWG is prioritised by the health and care system

• Women and girls who are victims/survivors of violence or abuse are supported by the healthcare system and in the workplace including increased focus on prevention, early identification and provision of victim/survivor support

• Greater awareness among the general population of healthcare services that provide specialist treatment and support for sexual violence and FGM

• NHS and social care staff who are victims/survivors of VAWG are better supported in the workplace by employers and colleagues, and know how to access support they may need.

• Learnings and recommendations from the Domestic Homicide Reviews for health should be embedded.

Sexual Offences Act 2003[35]

The Sexual Offences Act (2003) provides details of what is considered to be a sexual offence, and the necessity to prevent and protect children from harm. It includes a definition of consent and criteria for offences where consent is not required to be proven (e.g. specific sexual offences against children and people with a mental disorder in specific circumstances).

Protection from Harassment Act 1997[36]

The UK Government signed the Harassment Act into law in 1997. Within the act both harassment and stalking are defined as breaches of law.

The following behaviours are set out in the act as those associated with stalking:

• Following a person

• Contacting or attempting to contact a person

• Publishing a statement or material relating or purporting to relate to a person, or purporting to originate from a person

• Monitoring the use of the internet, email or electronic communication by a person

• Loitering

• Interfering with the property that belongs to a person

• Watching / spying on a person

The act also states that causing another person to fear violence (on at least two occasions) is in breach of the law if they know that their behaviour or actions will cause another person to reasonably fear the consequences of the behaviour or action. It also states that causing someone to have serious alarm or distress to the point at which it as a significant negative effect on that person’s day-to-day life is an offence.

Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003[37]

The Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act defines FGM as a criminal offence and the acts which are included within the definition of FGM – such as excision, infibulation or other mutilation of part of or all of a girl’s labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris.

It established that people in regulated professions (e.g. healthcare professionals and teachers) are required to notify the police of FGM, as well as a duty for local authorities to do what they can to prevent FGM through raising awareness and working with communities to change perceptions and attitudes, alongside a responsibility to support victim/survivors of FGM from practical and specialist health services to emotional support.

Modern Slavery Act 2015[38]

This Act establishes definitions for modern slavery and exploitation as well as the penalties, prevention orders, and required actions and support to protect victim/survivors. Within the Act, it states that exploitation includes when a person is subjected to force, threats, or deception in order to cause them to provide services, provide benefits to another person, or enable another person to acquire benefits.

London VAWG Strategy 2022-2025[39]

The VAWG Strategy for London published by The Mayor of London has taken a public health approach to addressing VAWG with prevention at its centre and a focus on education and partnership working. It sets out four priority areas for London: (1) preventing and reducing VAWG; (2) Supporting all victim/survivors; (3) Holding perpetrators to account; and (4) Building trust and confidence.

Within the strategy, key principles for the approach are set out: making decisions based on data and evidence, prioritising early intervention and prevention, placing communities at the heart of change, develop immediate and long-term solutions with partners, and evaluate activities to understand what works. The strategy ensures that victim/survivors are at the centre of the strategy and the work that stems from it. The strategy also states that the actions of perpetrators will have consequences which hold them to account, alongside the goal of reducing offending and changing behaviour.

London’s health partners renewed their commitment to the strategy and the public health approach at a summit in late 2023. As part of this commitment, they signed up to six core pledges (below) which look to integrate tackling VAWG into every aspect of the service they provide.

1. Recognise all forms of VAWG in everything we do

2. Embed action to end perpetration of VAWG

3. Work together to actively tackle VAWG

4. Strengthen workplace safety

5. Promote a collaborative learning environment

6. Ensure an anti-misogynistic environment

At the time of writing it is expected that the refreshed Mayor’s VAWG Strategy will be published in autumn 2025.

London Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy 2025 – 2028[40]

The Mayor of London has published a refresh of their original domestic abuse safe accommodation strategy which ran from 2021 to 2024, based on a pan-London needs assessment and updated equalities impact assessment. The strategy is part of the Mayor’s duty within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The strategy’s objectives are:

• A clear and coordinated network of support in safe accommodation for all victim/survivors

• Accessible and inclusive services that meet the diverse needs of all victim/survivors

• Services and accommodation that are physically and psychologically safe, of high quality, and use up-to-date and appropriate practice

• A system of various organisations across sectors that works across specialties and geographies, and is centred on victim/survivor outcomes

• A sustainable and robust sector, which is funded to best meet victim/survivors’ needs

Additional relevant legislation and policy include:

• Care Act 2014 – The Care Act modernised social care in England, placing duties on local authorities to promote wellbeing, prevent needs, safeguard adults, support carers, and ensure smooth transitions from children to adult services.

• Children Act 1989 – The Children Act 1989 set the framework for child welfare and protection, outlining parental and local authority responsibilities to safeguard children at risk, including in situations linked to VAWG.

• Children Act 2024 – The Children Act 2024 aims to ensure co-operation between public bodies to improve children’s wellbeing and for them to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote wellbeing.

• National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2023–2028 – This strategy prioritises high-risk groups (e.g., children, middle-aged men, DVA survivors, people in justice or mental health systems) and addresses risk factors such as financial hardship, isolation, and abuse, many of which overlap with VAWG.

Guidance for the NHS and Police

The 2017 DHSC guidance[41] remains the official national resource for healthcare professionals responding to DVA and continues to provide a valid foundation for practice. However, it is now increasingly complemented - and in some areas challenged - by newer guidance, critiques, and planned reforms. In practice, health professionals should continue to refer to the 2017 document for core principles while also engaging with more recent developments, including the Royal College of Nursing’s updated guidance published in 2023[42] and evolving statutory definitions and training requirements relating to issues such as honour-based abuse.

The police response to DVA in England is currently grounded in the statutory framework established by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (see above), which introduced a comprehensive legal definition of domestic abuse, including coercive control, and established protective tools such as Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders (DAPOs/DAPNs), now being piloted by the College of Policing. Complimenting this statutory base, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing released a refreshed VAWG Framework for Delivery (2024–27)[43], offering guidance and assessment mechanisms under a “4P” model (Prepare, Prevent, Protect, Pursue) to guide police implementation and improve coordination. 

Evidence & best practice for addressing VAWG

Taking a public health approach

It is widely recognised that taking a public health approach to tackling VAWG is beneficial and is able to recognise the complexities of the issue. The public health approach involves a comprehensive strategy that as well as including holistic support for victim/survivors, also focuses on different types of prevention, earlier identification and intervention by the system/professionals, and perpetrator accountability.

The methodology uses a data driven assessment of the issue, identification of the risk factors and protective factors for a range of causes and across the life course, developing effective interventions across the life course and with both short- and long-term impact, and mobilising effective partnerships to ensure a coordinated and collaborative approach to the issue.

The public health approach also advocates for recognising and responding to individuals as ‘whole people’ by understanding the experiences, characteristics, and situations which may impact them and their circumstances. It also advocates for taking a family-centred approach where possible - which means consideration and support for all those in a family impacted by violence and abuse, as well as holding perpetrators to account and perpetrator programmes. This approach ensures that the needs of everyone who is impacted by the violence/abuse is supported and prevents risks and behaviours being passed onto the younger generations, therefore breaking any cycles that the adults in their lives may have experienced.

Finally, by looking to address and prevent violence across the life-course, it ensures each opportunity to intervene is considered and acted on to prevent future harm. A life-course approach also recognises that VAWG is something that can recur and have life-long consequences on those involved.

This approach needs to also be informed by intersectionality. An intersectional approach to VAWG recognises how sex intersects with other forms of inequality and oppression - such as sexuality, gender identity, ethnicity, indigeneity, immigration status, and disability (see risk factor section below) - to shape unique experiences of violence. This perspective highlights the varied ways violence/abuse is perpetrated and experienced across different groups. Crucially, an intersectional framework does not rank inequalities or oppressions; women and girls should not be expected to prioritise one aspect of their identity or experience over another when seeking support for VAWG.

In order to identify risk factors, evidence and best practice of interventions that reduce and prevent VAWG, a search was done of the evidence available from system leaders and large programmes of work, as well as a literature search which was conducted with the support of the UK Health Security Agency Knowledge and Library Services team. Upcoming Camden Council reports for projects which are relevant are also included in Appendix 4.

Population level risk factors

Population patterns versus individual prediction

Whilst this section describes the factors associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing VAWG including DVA, these are best understood as ‘population-level risk factors’ that highlight patterns and inform prevention strategies, rather than for screening or predictive tools for individual risk. Over-reliance on risk profiles could result in both stereotyping and overlooking those who do not fit identified categories and can result in inaccuracies in identifying high-risk victims/survivors. Similarly, while the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) Risk Checklist is a tool widely used in practice, concerns have been raised about its validity and reliability as a predictive tool. It was developed as a structured method for information gathering rather than a means of determining future risk and should therefore be applied with caution. In line with recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), risk assessment tools are most appropriately used alongside professional judgment, the perspectives of those at risk, and ongoing review within a holistic safeguarding approach.

Summary of population-level risk factors

Evidence suggests that there are certain risk factors which increase the risk of VAWG and/or barriers to seeking support. In particular, intimate partner violence can be linked to poverty, patriarchal privilege and norms which are accepting of violence in inter-personal relationships.[44]

Risk factors are often related to or described as a characteristic a person has or inequalities they experience. However, it is important to recognise the intersectionality which occurs across these types of risk factors in particular. Alongside the data presented in this needs assessment, this type of evidence can be used to identify the moments across the life-course which can be opportunities for prevention and intervention.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective-longitudinal studies[45] reviewed 60 studies and conducted a meta-analysis of 35. The risk factors that had the strongest evidence were unplanned pregnancy and having parents with less than a high school education (a possible proxy for low economic status). On the other hand, being older or married were found to be protective factors against violence. This study is a good example of how factors can be seen as either a risk or protective based on statistics, but it may not reflect the reality as we know women who are older and married can also be victim/survivors of VAWG.

• Disabled women and girls are twice as likely to experience violence and abuse than those without a disability, yet the reporting and referral rates for disabled women is very low and they tend to experience abuse for longer before accessing support services.[46] Often this is due to a lack of services that account for additional needs of those with disabilities (e.g. need for interpreters or difficulty using online services), a lack of advocacy available, and a lack of awareness and understanding of how disability (including hidden impairments) relates to DVA and VAWG more broadly.

• Women from Black, Asian, and other minoritised groups have been found to experience additional barriers when accessing VAWG support[47] including language barriers and no access to independent interpreters, social isolation from the wider community, family and community norms/pressure, a lack of trust in and/or fear of the authorities, immigration concerns, and a fear of their children being removed by social services.

• The guidance for healthcare practitioners working with migrant women from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) notes that women who have experienced forced migration are at increased risk of experiencing VAWG throughout and after their migration journey.[48]

• Members of the LGBT+ community have an increased risk of abuse both within intimate relationships[49] and throughout childhood. They are additionally at risk of abuse and violence related to their gender. Furthermore, due to the prevalence of homophobia and transphobia within society this community also experiences barriers when accessing services and disclosing or reporting abuse and violence.

• Faith and religion may affect a person’s understanding of and response to VAWG. Similar to other groups, the potential to be isolated from wider society or be excluded from their own community may be a barrier to reporting and accessing services. However, it is important to recognise that faith and religion can also be beneficial for victim/survivors.

• People involved in prostitution or sex work are at increased risk of violence and abuse from a range of perpetrators, and more likely to experience VAWG from a number of different people than those who are not involved in these activities.[50] They are also less likely to report violence and access services or support due to stigma and fear of punishment.[51]

In addition to the above, there are also factors that may increase the likelihood of experiencing DVA specifically (as one type of VAWG), and these include:

Sex – Women are more frequently affected than men.1 Age – Highest risk for women aged 16–24 and men aged 16–19.2 Sexual orientation and gender – Around 80% of trans people or gender-variant individuals (including people that cross-dress, transgender, and transsexual people) report emotional, physical, or sexual abuse from a current or former partner. Additionally, 38.4% of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people say they have experienced DVA.3 Long-term illness, disability, or mental health conditions – People with a physical disability are about twice as likely, and those with a mental illness about three times as likely, to be victims of DVA.4,5,6 Relationship breakdown – The period during or shortly after separation carries a heightened risk, including threats to physical safety, often due to the perpetrator feeling a loss of control.7,8 Pregnancy and the postpartum period – While pregnancy can reduce risk for some women, it increases it for others.9 Low socio-economic status – Although DVA occurs in all social classes, financial hardship, limited income, or reduced access to support networks can elevate the risk.10

United Nations General Assembly. Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women: resolution adopted by the General Assembly. A/RES/48/104. New York: United Nations; 1993 [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/179739

British Medical Association. Domestic abuse: a report from the BMA Board of Science. London: BMA; 2014 [cited 2025 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www.bma.org.uk/media/1793/bma-domestic-abuse-report-2014.pdf

SafeLives. Getting it right first time: Executive summary. SafeLives; 2023 [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://safelives.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Getting-it-right-first-time-executive-summary.pdf

Keynejad R, Baker N, Lindenberg U, Pitt K, Boyle A, Hawcroft C. Identifying and responding to domestic violence and abuse in healthcare settings. BMJ. 2021;373:n1047. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1047

SafeLives. DASH risk checklist. SafeLives; 2019. Available from: https://safelives.org.uk [Dash risk…SafeLives]

Home Office. Domestic Abuse: statutory guidance (accessible version). London: GOV.UK; 2023 [cited 2025 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-act-2021/domestic-abuse-statutory-guidance-accessible-version

Home Office. Domestic Abuse: statutory guidance (accessible version). London: GOV.UK; 2023 [cited 2025 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-act-2021/domestic-abuse-statutory-guidance-accessible-version

Home Office. Domestic Abuse: statutory guidance (accessible version). London: GOV.UK; 2023 [cited 2025 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-act-2021/domestic-abuse-statutory-guidance-accessible-version

As highlighted above, caution is warranted when applying risk factors at the individual level; they should not be used as a proxy for predicting individual risk but rather as a means of informing broader prevention and safeguarding strategies.

Intersectionality

The term ‘intersectionality’ has been used to understand women’s experiences at the intersection of a number of simultaneous oppressions including (but not limited to) race, class, caste, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, nationality, immigration status, geographical location, religion and so on. VAWG and DVA are shaped by intersectionality, with factors such as ethnicity, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, and socio-economic background often overlapping and compounding barriers to safety and support. Victim/survivors from marginalised groups often face reduced access to services.[52]

Opportunities for intervention

This section will look at the evidence for interventions related to reduction in VAWG, DVA, and violence in general. It looks at different levels of and opportunities for prevention/response across the following areas: policy; data driven prevention; primary prevention; early identification and intervention; response and support; and breaking cycles / intergenerational prevention.

Policy

In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published their ‘RESPECT Women: Preventing Violence Against Women’ guidance for policymakers. It includes seven strategies for preventing violence against women which create the RESPECT acronym.

• Relationship skills strengthened

• Empowerment of women

• Services ensured

• Poverty reduced

• Environments made safe

• Child and adolescent abuse prevented

• Transformed attitudes, beliefs and norms

There are multiple areas and approaches which have been identified as effective interventions and opportunities to intervene in order to prevent and reduce VAWG. These are summarised below, however, there are still opportunities to innovate and do things differently. The College of Policing has also compiled an evidence briefing of interventions which reduce VAWG in public spaces[53] which provides more detail about some of the interventions below (e.g. additional environmental interventions such as Neighbourhood Watch and increasing police presence at night).

Data driven violence prevention

There is compelling evidence supporting the implementation of interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of violence-related data for the purpose of targeting more effective intervention strategies.

Spotlight: Cardiff Model1 The beginning of the Cardiff Model dates to 2001 when it was introduced as a response to the underreporting of a significant portion of violent incidents to the police. There are three key components of the model: Continuous data gathering within hospital Emergency Departments, focusing on detailed aspects of violence such as location, timing, weapons used, and the number of perpetrators involved. Regular anonymisation and sharing of this information by hospitals with crime analysts. These analysts merge and synthesise data from both the police and Emergency Departments to pinpoint areas and timeframes where violence is most concentrated. The combined data is then utilised by a Violence Prevention Board to inform and shape violence prevention efforts. Information sharing and use were associated with a substantial and significant reduction in hospital admissions related to violence. In the intervention city (Cardiff) rates fell from seven to five a month per 100 000 population compared with an increase from five to eight in comparison cities.2 An evaluation of the project revealed that it reduced the economic and social costs of violence in Cardiff by £6.9 million in 2007 compared with the costs the city would have experienced in the absence of the programme.3

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Domestic violence and abuse: multi-agency working. Public health guideline [PH50]. NICE; 2014 [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph50/chapter/Recommendations

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Domestic violence and abuse: multi-agency working. Public health guideline [PH50]. NICE; 2014 [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph50/chapter/Context

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1. Cardiff University. The Cardiff Model for Violence Prevention. Cardiff: Cardiff University; 2023 [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/documents/2665796-the-cardiff-model-for-violence-prevention

2. Florence C, Shepherd J, Brennan I, Simon TR. An economic evaluation of anonymised information sharing in a partnership between health services, police and local government for preventing violence-related injury. Injury Prevention [Internet]. 2014 Apr 1 [cited 2023 Sep 4];20(2):108–14. Available from: https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/20/2/108

3. Florence C, Shepherd J, Brennan I, Simon TR. An economic evaluation of anonymised information sharing in a partnership between health services, police and local government for preventing violence-related injury. Injury Prevention [Internet]. 2014 Apr 1 [cited 2023 Sep 4];20(2):108–14. Available from: https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/20/2/108

Primary prevention

Primary prevention to reduce VAWG focuses on addressing the root causes of violence and creating conditions that prevent it from occurring in the first place. It involves a range of strategies and interventions aimed at changing social norms, attitudes, and behaviours to promote sex and gender equality and prevent violence. Primary prevention strategies may also address systemic factors like discriminatory laws, poverty, and sex and gender inequality.

Several promising violence prevention initiatives have been successfully delivered in school settings, these include Fourth R, Healthy Relationships Programme, Shifting Boundaries, Safe Dates and Stepping Stones. They are primarily aimed at reducing adolescent dating violence and a number of these programmes have been evaluated in robust randomised-controlled trials demonstrating evidence of behaviour change and decreased rates of perpetration (see spotlight – Safe Dates).

There are several examples of family-based educational interventions that are often delivered in community settings such as clinics or schools. They seek to improve parenting skills and parents’ ability to foster their children’s development. There are a number of high-profile programmes that target parents with children presenting with behavioural problems, including Triple P (developed in Australia to help parents deal with problem behaviours); Incredible Years (developed in the US and based on video vignettes and group-based role-play of parenting situations); and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) (developed in the US, which provides coaching to parents on specific techniques to improve interactions with their children).

Spotlight: Safe Dates1 Safe Dates is a comprehensive program involving educational and community-based initiatives designed to foster primary and secondary prevention of dating violence. Its core objectives encompass the transformation of norms related to partner violence, the reduction of gender stereotypes, and the enhancement of conflict resolution abilities. Within school settings, the program features a theatre production, a structured 10-session curriculum, and a poster contest. In the broader community context, it encompasses services aimed at assisting adolescents caught in abusive relationships, along with training for community service providers. Compared with controls, adolescents receiving Safe Dates reported significantly less physical, serious physical, and sexual dating violence victimisation and perpetration 4 years after the program.2

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1. Foshee V, Langwick S. Safe Dates: A Teen Relationship Abuse Prevention Curriculum. Third Edition. Center City (MN): Hazelden Publishing; [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://www.hazelden.org/store/item/545255?Safe-Dates-Third-Edition [Hazelden P…rd Edition]

2. Foshee VA, Bauman KE, Ennett ST, Linder GF, Benefield T, Suchindran C. Assessing the long-term effects of the Safe Dates program and a booster in preventing and reducing adolescent dating violence victimization and perpetration. Am J Public Health. 2004 Apr;94(4):619–24. doi: 10.2105/ajph.94.4.619. PMID: 15054015; PMCID: PMC1448308.

On a societal level, effective primary prevention includes advocating for and implementing policies and legislation that protect the rights of women and girls and hold perpetrators accountable. These policies may include DVA laws, sexual harassment policies in workplaces, and anti-discrimination laws.

Education

Changing the social norms which support and encourage violence is a key opportunity for educational interventions for all age groups. However, the evidence of effectiveness is limited. Evidence has shown that developing young people’s life and social skills can be a protective factor against violence.[54] Therefore, educational interventions are often associated with legislation and policy which seeks to change behaviour and norms. Furthermore, focusing on this primordial, preventative intervention shifts the focus onto those who can prevent VAWG and reducing the likelihood or being a perpetrator. Evidence has shown that addressing unequal gender power relations can lead to a change in attitudes and behaviours relatively quickly.[55]

To be successful, educational interventions need to account for the group being engaged with or targeted through the intervention. A systematic review of education interventions to address FGM found that sociodemographic factors, socioeconomic factors, traditions and beliefs, and intervention strategy, structure, and delivery were associated with the effectiveness of the intervention.[56]

Another systematic review which reviewed interventions addressing the social norms and reduction of inequity in gender relations[57] found interventions need to focus on multiple risk factors and at different levels of intervention (e.g. community, family, individual) to shift the perception of masculinity, power, and oppression, and the elements within society which enable them.

Examples of effective educational interventions include the improved understanding of consent which has been achieved through a multi-faceted approach via school-based interventions and parallel awareness raising campaigns in wider society, and is now common parlance in the UK. Whilst the evidence review did not identify studies explicitly examining the links between violent or problematic pornography and VAWG, this absence should not be interpreted as a lack of association. This remains an area warranting further exploration and focused research.

School-based interventions

In England, the current education curriculum includes compulsory education regarding relationships and sex. During primary school this focuses on the building blocks of healthy relationships (with a focus on family and friends), and information about what it means to be healthy.[58] In secondary school the curriculum focuses on understanding health and risky behaviour such as alcohol and drugs, and having positive and healthy intimate relationships.[59]

What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls is a programme funded by the UK Foreign Office. The programme produced an evidence summary[60] which reviewed 36 school-based interventions with a primary focus on preventing violence from around the world. It found that the key features which were apparent in all the successful programmes were:

• Engagement with the wide range of factors that drive violence in the wider school and community via a whole school or whole community approach.

• To change attitudes and norms it required several sessions, with the most effective programmes being delivered over several years. Sessions are often short but occur frequently (at least weekly) to reinforce knowledge and behaviour change.

• Staff are carefully selected, and they are provided with sufficient time to train and support them.

• Approaches which focused on participatory and group-based work enabled critical reflection and the development of life skills including coping with stress, conflict resolution, empathy, and communication skills. This can be done through sports and play to make the interventions fun and age-appropriate.

Interventions reviewed within the summary that specifically worked with boys to prevent violence against girls were most successful when they were explicit in their attempt to change attitudes and norms, as well as promoting positive bystander actions (such as how to safely intervene) while reducing negative bystander actions. The most effective interventions were delivered by trained teachers or mentors using participatory methods to enable critical reflection on gender relations and their use of violence, and were of sufficient intensity.

Future efforts should place greater emphasis on understanding how online environments — including social media, digital misogyny, and problematic pornography — shape norms and behaviours, and how these can be addressed through healthy relationship education and prevention work.

Bystander intervention

Bystander intervention training helps people to understand how to intervene safely to prevent and stop violence. It is an essential aspect of improving safety for women and girls, especially in public spaces, and moving the focus of approaches being on potential victims to those who can prevent the violence from taking place.

A study which reviewed the implementation of community-level bystander intervention training in the UK[61] found there were promising outcomes with participant feedback being consistently high and a significant change observed in behavioural intent and bystander efficacy.

The College of Policing created an evidence briefing of bystander programmes in 2022.[62] The briefing found that most programmes were school-based and can be successful in improving the following factors when delivered by well-trained individuals and using age-appropriate and culturally relevant approaches: (1) identification of situations where intervention is necessary; (2) the sense of responsibility for and confidence in intervening; (3) warning signs of sexual assault and how to intervene; and (4) reduction of the rape myth acceptance. However, there is no evidence of bystander programmes that impact gender attitudes, and limited evidence of a positive impact on date rape attitudes. Bystander programmes such as Green Active Bystander Communities have shown promising results, particularly when delivered in university settings (see spotlight Green Dot).

Spotlight: Green Dot1 The Green Dot program employs bystander training to actively involve witnesses in the prevention of situations with an immediate or potential risk of violence. It aims to enhance individuals’ self-efficacy, offering skill development and specific strategies that increase the likelihood of trained individuals intervening effectively. Green Dot’s objective is to transform the acceptance of violence among trained students and engage them as potential bystanders who can take safe and effective action to reduce the risk of interpersonal violence within their social circles and communities. Through this training, students learn to identify situations and behaviours that might lead to violence or abuse. The program is tailored to various age groups, ranging from primary school to secondary school, college, and the broader community. The programme was evaluated in a cluster randomised-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness at both school and individual levels in the US. It found that the training was associated with reductions in both perpetration and victimisation of sexual violence, sexual harassment, and physical dating violence among sexual majority yet not sexual minority2 youth.3

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1. Alteristic. Green Dot: A Bystander Intervention Program. Alteristic; [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://alteristic.org/green-dot/

2. Sexual majority and sexual minority are descriptions used by the author of the study. Sexual minority includes a variety of gender and sexual identities and expressions that differ from cultural norms, and usually comprise of LGBTQ+ individuals.

3. Coker AL, Bush HM, Clear ER, Brancato CJ, McCauley HL. Bystander program effectiveness to reduce violence and violence acceptance within sexual minority male and female high school students using a cluster RCT. Prev Sci. 2019 [cited 2025 Sep 30]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-019-01073-7

Online safety and interventions

While most VAWG data is related to person-to-person violence, online VAWG can take many forms, especially harassment, stalking and threats. In addition, the sharing and creation of images which can be shared with or used against someone is a form of VAWG. Therefore, it is important for people to understand what constitutes online VAWG, what the Online Safety Act 2023 protects against, and how people can protect themselves and others from this type of violence. As of 17 March 2025, platforms have a legal duty to protect their users from illegal content online. Ofcom (the government-approved for broadcasting, internet, communication, and postal industries in the UK) are actively enforcing these duties and have opened several enforcement programmes to monitor compliance.

While the Online Safety Act mentioned above was welcomed by DVA and VAWG groups, many feel more can be done to protect people from these types of abuse and protect victim/survivors from further abuse. In particular, the reliance on the platform providers to implement the necessary systems and processes is one that requires monitoring and enforcement.

The preventative approach to online safety is key, especially for young people who are often online and the incidence of peer-to-peer victimisation which may not be visible to parents and carers. Therefore, school-based interventions and awareness raising to ensure young people are able to detect and intervene against online VAWG early, as well as understanding how to report this content is essential. It is also the most common proactive method of tacking online VAWG.

The All-Parliamentary Group on Domestic Violence produced a report about tackling DVA in a digital age in 2017.[63] The report noted the role of online providers in preventing online VAWG alongside specialist training to ensure responses to this type of crime is effective. The report also noted that the police needed training and support to effectively tackle online abuse and to do so consistently. However, the report acknowledged that tackling the causes of inequality and misogynist attitudes will be key to preventing online abuse, reinforcing the importance of school/education-based interventions. These recommendations are echoed by the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security[64] which noted that the root causes of VAWG need to be tackled to prevent online VAWG, but that improving the police response and holding technology providers to account are opportunities for immediate intervention alongside investment to enable additional research in this space.

Earlier identification and intervention by system/professionals

Earlier identification and intervention seeks to prevent violence before it occurs, or approaches that intervene early once violence has already happened to prevent it from continuing.

Earlier intervention – training and resources

As set out in the NICE guidance and other evidence, ensuring staff are properly trained regarding VAWG and feel confident about the action they should take is key to ensuring victim/survivors are identified and supported early and effectively. It is important that the training not only focuses on raising awareness and understanding of the nuances and complexity of VAWG but also the pathways and processes for referral. Furthermore, as discussed below, training in how to communicate and act in a trauma-informed and culturally competent way is crucial to a positive engagement with the person requiring support.

The Identification and Referral to Improve Safety Programme[65] provided online training to GPs to better support people experiencing DVA. It also included signposting and information for male victim/survivors and for perpetrators. Although the programme was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic it found that GPs were more aware of DVA and more confident in talking to patients about abuse after the training. GPs also reported that the programme’s single, clear pathway of referral to a named worker and its focus on fostering expertise on diversity were highly beneficial.

A study of child protection practitioner responses to children and young people involved in forced marriage[66] were found were more likely to effectively respond when they identify a child who is in a forced marriage when there was clear local policy and guidance, access to good training and risk assessments, and a high standard of inter-agency work locally. With these resources and networks available practitioners are able to work proactively and assertively.

A review of Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews published in 2024[67] by Standing Together found at least 89% had at least one recommendation for either health professionals or the health system. Common themes in the reviews were a lack of learning over time and between locations, a need for training and learning amongst healthcare professionals, and improved practice in the intersection between mental health and DVA. It is important to recognise the crucial role that health and care staff have and can play when identifying, preventing, and responding to VAWG. Therefore, providing high quality training regularly alongside embedding best practice into ways of working can have significant impact.

It is crucial to not only think of health and care professionals when considering who would benefit from training in how to identify and address VAWG. For example, faith leaders could play a key role both within their communities and across wider society, as well as voluntary sector staff, education staff, and frontline local authority staff (e.g. repairs and housing officers).

Safety in public spaces

In order to enable women and girls to feel safe in Camden, creating safe public spaces where they can enjoy the space without fear or experience of violence is important. This can be implemented through laws and policies that prevent and respond to violence in public spaces, as well as investment in public spaces.

A summary of the evidence for improving women and girls’ sense of safety in public spaces submitted to the Government’s Public Accounts Committee for VAWG[68], states that data from the Office of National Statistics (2021)[69] shows that women in Britain are significantly more likely to feel unsafe when walking alone, especially in parks and open spaces. They also reference data from Girlguiding in 2020 which indicates that 40% of girls 11-21 feel unsafe outside.[70] The submission also notes that the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that young people are at increased risk of sexual violence in public spaces.[71] They also reference a project in West Yorkshire which found that while there is significant variation in what helps women and girls to feel safe in public parks, the common factors include parks that are well used, especially by other women and girls. The work in West Yorkshire has developed three themes to guide action to improve women and girls’ safety in public parks: (1) Eyes on the Park – well-used parks with visible women and staff; (2) Awareness – able to clearly see their surroundings and be seen; and (3) Inclusion – a sense of belonging and familiarity.

A narrative review of academic articles which identified the factors which contribute to a sense of safety found that it is both built environment and societal characteristics that need to be considered.[72] With regards to the built environment street lighting and visibility, walking path conditions and cleanliness, presence of security and surveillance, and the degree of openness are all directly associated with a perception of safety. Although the built environment influences a woman’s perception of safety, their perception of safety is also impacted by their age, socioeconomic status, cultural context, personal individual risk acceptance, and expectation of risky behaviour from others. For example, women from global majority ethnicities tend to have higher safety concerns in public spaces. The review also notes that improvements to the built environment are highly likely to positively influence the surrounding community which will further improve people’s sense of safety in the area.

Responding to VAWG

Responding to and most interventions for VAWG are aimed at mitigating the negative consequences and addressing the needs of those who have already experienced violence. These interventions focus on helping victim/survivors recover, rebuild their lives, and prevent further victimisation. They play a role in breaking the cycle of violence, making perpetrators accountable and preventing repeat offending. A report commissioned by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has highlighted restorative justice and cognitive behavioural therapy for offenders and prison education programmes as interventions that have promising evidence for their effectiveness. Restorative justice encompasses victim-offender conferencing, family group conferencing, mediation or arbitration, community sentencing, restitution to the victim/survivor, and reparative boards.

Support for victim/survivors

In December 2021, the Camden Women’s Forum conducted an inquiry into DVA.[73] It noted that victim/survivors experience inequalities when reporting abuse and violence and accessing services, and that by centring disproportionality and intersectionality in how victim/survivors are supported can help to remove the barriers many women experiencing VAWG in Camden face. The report also identified recommendations for support services based on insights from women with lived experience. These recommendations include:

• Ensuring victim/survivors of DVA have clear information about how to report DVA including the process to report and the steps involved

• Camden Council to promote specialist community-specific services

• Funding a commissioned legal service to offer universal free legal advice to DVA victim/survivors

• Ensure child survivors of DVA can access dedicated, specialist support to support their recovery

• Camden Council to support the voluntary sector to provide support for victim/survivors of DVA

• Police to promote Camden Safety Net for victims/survivors involved in the criminal justice system

• Improve police understanding of VAWG and support culture change within the workforce

NICE published their DVA guidance in 2014.[74] The guidance sets out a series of recommendations for multi-agency working, led by local authorities, to address DVA. The guidance sets out multiple recommendations for the services that should be provided as well as the training and professional development required.

Trauma-informed and culturally competent approaches

Ensuring trauma-informed and culturally competent approaches are used when developing and delivering services and support for victim/survivors, and perpetrators is key to being both effective and preventing additional trauma and negative impact. When considering culturally competent approaches it is also important to not just think about ethnicity but other groups and populations that have their own culture e.g. sex workers.

A study of British Somali heritage women living in Bristol, UK[75] provides evidence of how important it is to ensure that training, policy, and practice needs to be culturally competent and reduce stigma and trauma. The study found that the women they spoke to were supportive of the eradication of FGM, but they felt the approach implemented was detrimental to the goal of identifying and preventing FGM.

A systematic review of literature about how to reduce the victimisation of sex workers found that promising strategies included peer-led outreach, the creation of safe spaces, financial literacy training, alcohol harm reduction initiatives, community mobilisation, legal empowerment, and sociocultural activities.[76]

Perpetrator-focused interventions

When considering how to prevent and reduce VAWG, it is essential to ensure action plans and interventions also seek to prevent perpetrators from victimising others again. However, there is limited evidence for how to successfully implement perpetrator programmes.

A report created by Durham University and London Metropolitan University researchers conducted four case studies of DVA perpetrator programmes for effectiveness in reducing VAWG.[77] Overall, their quantitative and qualitative data showed positive changes for the majority of programme participants, with a notable shift in their understanding of violence and abuse including controlling behaviour. In their study, they found that physical and sexual violence ended for the majority of women participating, however, everyday abuse and harassment was harder to stop.

Through their case studies and interviews they found that men who are in existing relationships tend to be more engaged with the programmes compared to those men who have had a period of separation and limited / no communication with previous partners and children. The study also found that the women in the partnerships within the programme also gained confidence to set boundaries and reclaim control.

Their assessment of these programmes found that men who participated experience a series of moments where they better understand their actions and how they can embody and utilise a number of simple methods to interrupt patterns of abuse and violence, rather than a single lightbulb moment. For example, several of the men who were interviewed found the use of positive self-talk practice enabled a number of them to recognise and admit when they had wound themselves up rather than being wound up by a woman, and therefore they could control their emotions and prevent this escalation or de-escalate if necessary.

The researchers state that group work sessions are useful in promoting change due to peers holding each other to account and providing challenge, seeing themselves through others, and providing a space to explore topics such as ‘ways of being a man’. Participants also reported that one-on-one discussions about their behaviour can be helpful to prepare for these sessions, and the repetitive nature of the sessions was necessary to embed changes. Significant length and depth of the programmes is needed to lead to deeper behavioural changes, rather than simple disruption of behaviour.

Breaking cycles / intergenerational prevention

Breaking cycles of DVA refers to interventions designed not only to support those currently affected, but also to prevent the repetition of violence across generations. By addressing the underlying patterns that place children and families at risk of perpetuating harm, these approaches aim to interrupt transmission of abuse and create pathways toward safer, healthier relationships.

Children/Family-focused interventions

While school-based interventions can support primordial prevention of VAWG, it is also important to work with the children affected by VAWG to break intergenerational cycles and avoid long-term negative consequences. As noted in the Camden Women’s Forum report[78], having dedicated support for children who have witnessed and are victim/survivors of VAWG is beneficial for enabling their recovery.

The Greater London Authority Violence Reduction Unit has funded pilot projects which have looked at children and family-focused interventions. One project showed that providing parents, whose children are at risk of experiencing violence, with the training that is usually provided to professionals resulted in parents feeling more empowered to both support their children as well as friends and family.[79] A Scottish review of evidence also found that developing parent skills and the parent-child relationship can reduce the perpetration of youth violence.[80] Another pilot project providing one-to-one trauma-informed, early intervention support for children and young people who have been impacted by DVA[81] found that participants showed positive change and improvements including in average scores for life satisfaction. The evaluation noted that it can be challenging to find locations to provide interventions outside school settings, and that boys were more likely to disengage earlier or engage less deeply with support.

The ‘For Baby’s Sake’ programme[82] is a UK-based, whole-family, trauma-informed initiative that works with both parents - starting in pregnancy and continuing until the child is two - to break cycles of DVA, improve parental mental health, and strengthen parent–infant attachment. Delivered by specialist practitioners, it addresses adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and intergenerational trauma while promoting healthy relationships and nurturing environments for babies. King’s College London led an independent evaluation of the For Baby’s Sake programme to assess its development, feasibility, acceptability, and early outcomes. Early findings indicated that families valued the trauma-informed, attachment-based approach, especially the therapeutic relationships with practitioners, and that the programme effectively reached its intended audience and addressed critical gaps in existing DVA interventions.[83]

Health services

Health services play a vital role in addressing DVA and VAWG. For many victim/survivors, healthcare professionals are often the first people they encounter outside of the abusive environment, making health settings an essential gateway to safety and support.

One of the most important roles health services have is in relation to early identification. Clinicians and frontline staff are well-placed to notice patterns - such as repeated visits with unexplained injuries, chronic pain, or mental health struggles - that may indicate DVA. By providing a safe and confidential space, they can encourage disclosure, which is often a very difficult step for victim/survivors.

Beyond identification, health services are central in delivering immediate care. This includes treating physical injuries, addressing the emotional impact of abuse such as anxiety or depression, and supporting sexual and reproductive health needs, including emergency contraception or STI testing. Offering this care in a trauma-informed way helps victim/survivors feel believed, respected, and supported rather than judged or dismissed.

Health professionals also carry safeguarding responsibilities. They must be able to recognise when victim/survivors, or their children, are at ongoing risk of harm and ensure that appropriate referrals are made to social services or specialist DVA agencies. In many cases, accurate documentation of injuries and patient accounts becomes vital evidence, should victim/survivors decide to pursue legal action in the future.

CHAPTER 3: LOCAL PICTURE

The aim of this section is to use quantitative data to build a picture of VAWG in Camden. The objectives are to describe:

1. The prevalence of VAWG in Camden, including comparison to London and national figures; changes over time; types of VAWG; and geographical variation

2. The characteristics of victims and suspects of VAWG in Camden

3. Service demand and referral pathways in Camden

4. Outcomes of reporting crimes and services

The acronyms used in this section are listed below.

Acronym	Full Form
APTR	Accused Perpetrator
ASC	Adult Social Care
CSN	Camden Safety Net
CSSW	Children Safeguarding and Social Work
CSEW	Crime Survey for England and Wales
CYP	Children and Young People
DVA	Domestic Violence and Abuse
EH	Early Help
FGM	Female Genital Mutilation
MARAC	Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference
MASH	Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
MPS	Metropolitan Police Service
ONS	Office of National Statistics
VAWG	Violence Against Women and Girls
IDVAs	Independent Domestic Violence Advisers

Approach

Scope

This report focuses on VAWG as defined by the United Nations definition of gender-based violence. This assessment covers the whole population of Camden and crimes that occur within the borough.

Informed by a mixture of legislation, and other adopted abuse types within VAWG, the abuse types covered in this report are:[84]^,[85]

• Domestic violence & abuse (DVA)

  • Controlling or coercive behaviour

  • Violent or threatening behaviour

  • Economic abuse

  • Physical or sexual abuse

  • Psychological, emotional, or other abuse

• Female genital mutilation (FGM)

• Forced marriage

• Domestic homicide

• Honour based violence

• Sexual exploitation

• Sexual violence

• Stalking and harassment

While data focusing on DVA is undoubtably the most comprehensive, this assessment aims to ensure other forms of VAWG are represented where possible. A common challenge in measuring the prevalence of VAWG is the absence of a robust, comprehensive data source, as it is often a hidden crime.[86] In addition, difficulties in identifying and recording different forms of VAWG, coupled with inconsistencies across data sources, can lead to double counting of offences. This underscores the reality that VAWG-related offences frequently overlap and co-exist.

Whilst this analysis primarily focuses on 2024, data will also go back five years to 2019 where available, ensuring that trends across time are considered. The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the incidence and reporting of VAWG offences, and this which is likely to affect the data captured between 2020-2024 period. By looking back to including data from 2019, it allows comparison of 2024 data to pre-pandemic data and reflect the changes over that period.

It is worth noting that victim and survivors of VAWG may only disclose the offence or their situation until many months after it has commenced or occurred, if they report it at all. For this reason, data used in this report will focus on the date that offences were first recorded rather than the date that the offence was alleged to have taken place.

Analysis will primarily be conducted on at a Local Authority level, allowing for benchmarking to other boroughs. There will also be comparison to London wide trends, and England national figures where possible.

Data sources

The main data sources were Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) crime data and data from Camden Council services. A full table of data sources can be found in Appendix 6a.

Metropolitan police service data

The largest external data source used across this assessment is from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The data is comprised of London crime level data from 2020 to 2024, data on Camden-specific crimes since 2019, and suspect and victim demographic information.

Structure of MPS data

Within MPS data, each offence is assigned a group and subgroup, following national guidelines.[87] The MPS then apply a further categorisation, flagged as a specific VAWG offence where appropriate. The full categorisation of crimes within MPS data can be found in Appendix 6b. Moreover, MPS supply the data with flags for DVA, FGM, forced marriage and honour based violence. One offence can have multiple flags if applicable.

The conditions which might lead to an offence being flagged as VAWG within MPS data are:[88]

• At least one victim of a recorded crime has a recorded sex of female

• Victim(s) should be 10 years and over

• Either any crimes that have a DVA or honour-based abuse flag, or one of the following crimes, whether flagged as DVA or honour-based abuse or not:

  • forced marriage

  • female genital mutilation

  • homicide

  • rape

  • other sexual offences

  • violence with injury

  • public fear, alarm or distress

  • exploitation of prostitution

  • stalking and harassment

  • modern slavery

To align MPS data to the definition and included abuse types used within this work, flags have been created. Informed from the UN definition of VAWG, these flags form the basis for analysis of each abuse type.[89] The full table is available in Appendix 6c. As VAWG-related offences often overlap and co-exist, some offences are counted as more than one type of abuse. While DVA includes different subtypes, this analysis takes a broad approach, including any VAWG offence that could be related to DVA, even if it’s not clearly labelled as such.

This analysis uses date of recording, not date of offence, as there is often a delay between a VAWG offence occurring and it being reported.

Limitations of MPS data

Underreporting of VAWG offences

One of the biggest limitations of VAWG data is the underreporting of VAWG cases, and the actions taken afterwards. Figure 2 details the pathway that DVA cases follow within the legal system, highlighting at which point individuals may enter or leave the system. In addition to this, the MPS data only contains crimes, rather than non-crime incidents. This analysis relies predominantly on police records logged as “domestic-related crimes”, meaning it captures only incidents that were formally reported. As a result, it implicitly highlights the many cases that go unrecorded, and therefore remain absent from the dataset.

Many types of VAWG are often hidden; For example, sexual violence, stalking, and honour based abuse often occur in private or are obscured and may never come to the attention of authorities. Victim/Survivors may be deterred from reporting due to fear of retaliation, lack of trust in services, or cultural and social pressures.[90]

As a result, the official figures significantly underestimate the true prevalence of VAWG, creating substantial challenges in understanding the scale of the issue and effectively allocating resources. This data gap also limits our ability to assess the effectiveness of interventions and develop evidence-based policies to combat VAWG.

Figure 2: How domestic abuse data are captured through the criminal justice system - Office for National Statistics

Recording of VAWG crimes by MPS

In March 2024, the MPS introduced a new system, CONNECT, which integrates several previous legacy systems. With this implementation, the methodology used to count DVA offences has changed. Due to this, totals from March 2024 onwards cannot be directly compared to other periods.[91]^,[92] To account for this, while 2024 will serve as the sole basis for yearly analysis, temporal comparisons across different years will only extend up to 2023, or within a year.

Camden local authority service data

Within Camden Council, data linked to VAWG is drawn from the Supporting People and Supporting Communities directorates. These directorates bring together a range of services that are directly involved in preventing, responding to, or supporting survivors of VAWG, making them the most relevant sources of information. These sources include:

• Adult Social Care (ASC): Safeguarding concerns, introduced in the statutory duties set out in the Care Act 2014, raised through ASC frequently overlap with abuse types that fall under VAWG, providing a critical and robust dataset for understanding adult victim/survivors at risk.

• Camden Safety Net (CSN): Camden’s high risk DVA service, CSN inherently deals with victim/survivors of VAWG.

• Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work (CSSW) and Early Help (EH): VAWG-related issues can surface either at the initial referral stage or during later assessments, highlighting how children and families are affected.

• Domestic Abuse Navigators: Provide support for victim/survivors of DVA experiencing multiple disadvantage.

• Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC): This multi-agency meeting ensures that cases that have been assessed to be of serious risk of harm or homicide of DVA are jointly assessed and managed, making it a vital source of information on the most serious cases.

• Housing: For victim/survivors of DVA, housing pathways are a key area of support. DVA issues may appear through statutory routes (applications under Part 6 or 7 of the Housing Act 1996) or through non-statutory provision, such as Camden’s Adult Pathway, rough sleeping services, and refuge accommodation. There is also DVA risks that can be raised by housing officers for tenants of Camden housing.

Together, these services hold the most relevant data for VAWG within Camden, as they reflect the different points at which victim/survivors are identified, supported, and safeguarded. A table overviewing these internal data sources is provided in Appendix 6a.

Considerations of internal data

Accurately recording VAWG offences in Camden service data is challenging. VAWG can be difficult to of identify, there is no common definition of VAWG and DVA across services and it can be difficult to determine whether recorded instances of VAWG relate to present or past risks. Furthermore, some services do not always use the prescribed recording system.

Even when VAWG is identified in the data, there is still often important information, such as demographics, missing. This is because some questions in assessments with clients aren’t compulsory to answer, nor would be appropriate to record as clients can present in distress.

When there are fewer than seven cases reported, absolute numbers have been suppressed to protect the confidentiality of individuals.

Population data

Where possible, crime rates have been calculated specifically for this analysis based on Office of National Statistics (ONS) population estimates. Where the crime was marked as VAWG, the crime rate is calculated using the population estimates for the female population as the denominator, whilst the crime rate for all (non-VAWG specific) crimes has been calculated using the entire population estimate. The estimates used are based on the year in which the offence was recorded, with 2024 offences being divided by the mid-2023 population estimates from ONS. A table of calculations used to make metrics is available in Appendix 6d.

These calculations are complicated by the doubts over accuracy of population measures; The 2021 Census recorded Camden’s population at approximately 220,000, which was significantly lower than the previously projected figure of 280,000 based on the 2011 Census. This gap may be partly explained by temporary population shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some evidence suggesting a reversal of that trend in subsequent years. Camden Council recognises that while the 2021 Census figures may underestimate the true population, the earlier projections may have overestimated it.[93] Due to this, crime rates could be overinflated and should be interpreted as estimates.

The 2021 Census was also used to provide information on the demographics of Camden population for comparisons, where appropriate. The 2021 Census cannot be used as a comparator for disability due to differences in how the information is collected. The census asks about health conditions people have that affect their daily life, rather than whether someone identifies as disabled, so likely captures people who would not identify as disabled when interacting Camden services.[94]

Other data sources

Data on victim demographics was collected from Victim Support from the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

Any other data sources used in this section are cited when used. Throughout this report, we will indicate whenever data is missing, insufficient, or unavailable for certain populations. Where local data is unavailable, we have presented regional, national, or other published evidence instead. However, the risk of VAWG in Camden is likely different from the risk regionally or nationally and therefore these figures may not be applicable to Camden.

While we are aware of numerous organisations delivering VAWG related services in Camden, data requests were focused on Council provided or commissioned services and key partners (e.g. police) due to the limited time and capacity to complete the needs assessment. These sources were prioritised primarily due to existing data sharing arrangements, the scale and comprehensive nature of the data, and them being the main source of VAWG-related data. Where it was possible to capture service-specific data from additional sources, that has been summarised in Chapter 4 and incorporated into the data analysis where possible.

Approach to analysis

Camden’s population

Data from the 2021 Census was used to describe the population of Camden. The percentage of the population within at-risk groups in Camden were compared to figures from London and England and Wales.

Recorded VAWG offences in Camden

Crime rates were calculated as the number of offences per 1,000 residents. The prevalence of VAWG offences were calculated per 1,000 female residents for Camden, all London boroughs and England that were reported in 2024. Rates for 2024 used the 2023 population estimate as 2024 estimates were not currently available at the time of analysis.

Data were examined by abuse type. Changes over time were only considered from 2019 to 2023 due to the change in data collection system in 2024.

Victim and suspect profiles

VAWG victim/survivors and suspects in 2024 were described in terms of protected characteristics and other characteristics relevant to risks associated to VAWG abuses. Information on victim/survivors and suspects were sourced from data on reported crimes and people accessing Camden services.

The report looks at all protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 and care leavers, which is considered a protected characteristic in Camden.[95]

In addition to protected characteristics, this report also considers other groups who are disproportionately affected by VAWG offences. The other factors we consider are Children and Young People (CYP), women experiencing homelessness or in temporary accommodation, employment status, school pupils, children involved in social care and child protection services. Other vulnerable populations were not included due to a lack of data, for example women on low incomes or single parents.

Service demand and referrals

Referrals to and progress through each service where VAWG abuses may be seen are described.

Outcomes

A positive outcome is recorded in crime data if there is a criminal justice outcome, including formal charges, cautions, community resolutions, and penalties.

Measuring outcomes for survivors that utilise Camden services is challenging. Progression through the services is not linear, measures of success are indeterminate and there can be several outcomes at each stage of contact. For numerous services, the support offered cannot be quantified or recorded, such as emotional support or building a strong relationship with the survivor that empowers them.

It is difficult to get a holistic view of one survivor’s movement through multiple services: For example, system limitations, complexity in cases and differences in data collection methods can hinder the accuracy of service progression. There is now an internal focus to develop a single view of victims, aligning several data sources to ensure the outcomes can be tracked and measured.

Statistical testing

All comparisons were tested for statistical significance. Any differences reported are statistically significant unless otherwise stated. Details of statistical methods used for significance testing are in Appendix 6e.

Camden’s population

The latest population estimates, released in 2023, put Camden’s population at 220,903, and 117,718 of these were women and girls. The distribution of sexes within Camden is 53% female and 47% male.

In the 2021 census, the median age of Camden residents was 34 years old, slightly younger than the London median of 35. Camden residents are more likely to be single and have never been married or in a civil partnership (42.3%) compared to London (35.7%) and England and Wales overall (26.7%).

The 2021 Census reported that 15.2% of residents were disabled. In GP practice records, 0.36% of patients in Camden have a learning disability recorded. Poor health and disability rates are higher in Camden than in London, with women more affected than men.[96]

Within Camden, 0.7% of the population identified with a gender different from their sex registered at birth. Focusing on trans women, Camden has 0.1% less than the London total but is in line with England and Wales. However, there were issues with how the question was asked in the census and correct interpretation by those with limited English proficiency.[97]

In 2024, there were 23,890 births. The birthrate in Camden has been declining; From a peak of 30,487 in 2018 to 2024, there has been a decrease of 21.64%.[98]

In comparison to England and Wales, Camden has an ethnically diverse population. The overall proportion of White residents in Camden is 59.5%, this is lower than the national average of 81.7%, but slightly higher than London’s 53.8%.

Camden has a more diverse sexual orientation profile than both London and England and Wales, with a higher proportion of resident identifying as gay or lesbian (3.7%), bisexual (2.5%), and pansexual (0.2%).

For the year ending March 2024, Camden had a looked-after children rate of 59 per 10,000 children, which is higher than the London average of 51 per 10,000 but still below the national average of 70 per 10,000.[99]

At risk groups

While VAWG can affect anyone, certain populations experience increased vulnerability due to intersectionality and compounded disadvantages.[100] Table 1 provides an overview of these at risk populations within Camden.

Table 1: Prevalence of at risk populations within Camden

Characteristic	At Risk Group	Camden	London	England and Wales	Source
Sex	Female Population	53.29%	51.45%	50.97%	ONS Census 2021, RM121 – Sex by Age table, via Nomis
	Female Adult Population (16 yrs old or over)	45.79%	41.8%	41.36%
	Female Children Population (under 16 yrs old)	7.15%	9.25%	9.01%
Gender	Trans Women	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%	ONS Census 2021, TS070 – Gender identity - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics
Housing	Households assessed as homeless (per 1000 applications)	1.91	2.83	1.86 (Just England)	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 2024, Statutory homelessness: Detailed local authority-level tables
	Households in Temporary Accommodation (Single parent Female, Single adult)	N/A	35.9%, 11.0%	33.3%, 11.6%
	Socially rented housing	33.7%	23.1%	17.1%	ONS Census 2021, TS054
Ethnicity	Black, Asian and other Ethnicity Minorities	43.6%	48.5%	19.4%	ONS Census 2021, TS021
	Black, Asian and other Ethnicity Minorities (Female)	41.57%	46.89%	18.30%	ONS Census 2021, RM032
Legal partnership	Divorced (Total)	7.4%	7.3%	9.1%	ONS Census 2021, TS002
	Divorced (Female)	8.53%	8.56%	10.34%	ONS Census 2021, RM074
Sexual Orientation	LGBTQ+ Individuals	6.9%	4.2%	3.2%	ONS Census 2021, TS079
	LGBTQ+ Individuals (Female)	5.62%	3.63%	3.31%
Disability	Disabled in Census	15.2%	13.2%	17.5%	ONS Census 2021, TS021 - Disability.
	Disabled in Census (Female)	16.29%	14.15%	18.45%	ONS Census 2021, RM073
	Learning disability: QOF prevalence	0.4%	0.5% (North Central London ICB)	0.6%	Department of Health and Social Care, Learning Disability Profiles, 2024
Children and Young People	Children in need at 31 March aged under 18 years (rate per 10,000)	490.2	370.2	332.9	Department of Education , Children in Need reporting, 2024
	Children Looked After (rate per 10,000)	59	51	70
Deprivation	Households in one dimension of deprivation	31.9%	33.5%	32.9%	ONS Census 2021, Household deprivation - Census Maps, ONS

Recorded VAWG offences in Camden

Crime in Camden

In 2024, Camden recorded a total crime rate of 193.7 offences per 1,000 residents, nearly double the London-wide average of 102.5. The borough’s most dominant crime type was theft, accounting for over half of all recorded crimes locally. Violence against the person, public order offences, vehicle offences and burglary were all more prevalent in Camden than London.

Recorded VAWG offences in Camden

Across the country, at least one in twelve women experience gender-based violence each year, and in 2022–23, offences related to VAWG accounted for 20% of all crimes recorded by the police.[101]

In Camden, there were 18,856 VAWG-related offences recorded in MPS data between 2020 and 2024. These make up 2.8% of the 662,819 VAWG-related offences recorded in London during this period. This also comprises 8.10% of crimes within the borough in this time. VAWG offences make up a smaller proportion of all crimes in Camden (8%) than in other London boroughs (13.6%).

Focusing on 2024, using data standardised using population estimates to calculate the rate per 1,000 female residents, the VAWG offence rate in London was 26.49 per 1,000 female residents, whereas in Camden it was 29.05 per 1,000 females, representing an increased rate of 8.83%, and above the average for London Boroughs of 26.53 per 1,000 females. The absolute figure for Camden in 2024 is 3,466 VAWG crimes. This is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01).[102] Camden had the 11^th highest prevalence of VAWG of the 32 London boroughs.

Within the abuse types of VAWG, the majority of both VAWG crimes and all crimes in 2024 for Camden are concentrated within DVA, stalking and harassment and sexual violence, comprising 35.8%, 23.7% and 18.0% of VAWG crimes respectively. Across London, a similar pattern is observed, with DVA comprising 48.4% of all VAWG crimes, followed by 37.4% stalking and harassment, and 14.1% in sexual violence.

When looking at specific crime types, sexual offences are overwhelmingly related to VAWG, with 69.8% of all sexual offences in Camden in 2024 falling under this category. Violence against the person is also significantly driven by VAWG, accounting for just under one in three offences. A similar pattern is observed in public order offences, where 28.1% are linked to VAWG.

The relationship between the victim/survivor and alleged offender changes. A key finding is that across all VAWG offences, 68% were known to the victim/survivor, which increases in Violence Against the Person to 76.6%. Stranger based incidents are more common in Public Order Offences, where over half of suspects were not known to the victim/survivor, and in Sexual Offences, where 49.8% were not known to the victim/survivor.

Changes over time

Within London, VAWG has increased over the last year and has been described as “endemic”[103]. According to published figures from the Metropolitan Police reported sexual offences increased by 7.4% in the 12 months up to the end of January 2025, compared to the previous 12 months.[104]

As previously discussed, trends in VAWG offences over time is complex, in part because changes in recording methods in April 2024, limiting the ability to compare data since the change to offences recorded before the change. This is further compounded by the impact of COVID-19 and the lag in recording offences.

Looking at offence rates among women in Camden between 2020 and 2024, there were noticeable changes from year to year. Rates went up in 2022 and 2023 compared with 2020 (by about 6% and 8%), but then dropped sharply in 2024, falling by around 16% compared with 2020. The small rise in 2021 was not meaningful.

From 2020 to 2023, Camden has seen an 8.2% increase in VAWG offences. In comparison, between 2020 to 2023, London has seen a 6.4% increase, and the average for all other boroughs was 5.7%. A statistical test showed that the percentage change in Camden’s crime rate from 2020 to 2023 was significantly different from the rest of London, indicating that this difference is unlikely to be due to chance. The fact that this difference is statistically significant suggests that Camden’s increase is not just part of a general upward trend across the capital, but may reflect specific local factors or emerging risks.

When reviewing 2024 data, from January to December, a reduction in VAWG offences in Camden per 1,000 female residents of approximately 15% was observed. London saw a 17.6% reduction in total. As previously discussed, this decrease is due to the introduction of a new CONNECT system.

Within Camden, 2020 and 2022 saw a higher proportion of VAWG crimes from all crimes, ranging from 13.3% to 12.3%. VAWG rates peaked in 2023, at 11.1%, showing an increase before the new system was introduced in 2024 when the proportion drops to just 8.1%.

Camden has maintained a fairly high position in ranking of VAWG rates per 1,000 female residents, when compared to other London Boroughs, with a rank of 7^th in 2020, dropping to 8^th in 2023, and now sitting at 11^th.

Figure 3: Proportion of VAWG offence among all recorded crimes

Figure 4: Rate of VAWG Offences per 1,000 female residents

VAWG abuse types

Some types of offences are noticeably more common in Camden than in the rest of London. Sexual violence stands out, with rates more than 40.8% higher (5.2 per 1,000 people in Camden compared with 3.7 per 1,000 across London). Other offences also occur more often in Camden, including stalking and harassment (+18%), physical and sexual abuse (+23%), and violent or threatening behaviour (+18%). All of these differences are highly statistically significant.

Figure 5: Comparison of VAWG abuse rates per 1,000 female residents

Conversely, DVA rates in Camden were 18.9% lower than the rest of London (10.5 compared to 13.0 per 1,000), a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001).

Other offence types such as FGM, forced marriage, honour-based violence, sexual exploitation, and controlling or coercive behaviour showed no statistically significant differences, with very low overall rates.

Table 2: Table comparing VAWG Rates. Rows that are statistically significant are in bold.

Offence Type	Camden Rate (per 1,000)	Rest of London Rate	All London Rate	% Diff (Camden to Rest of London)	Z-Score	P-Value (2.d.p)	Significant (p < 0.05)
Overall (all VAWG Offence)	29.05	26.46	26.49	9.82%	5.47	0.00	True
Domestic Abuse	10.47	12.91	12.83	-18.93%	-7.35	0.00	True
FGM	0.01	0.00	0.00	443.49%	1.78	0.08	False
Forced Marriage	0.03	0.02	0.02	44.47%	0.63	0.53	False
Honour-Based Violence	0.05	0.08	0.08	-35.52%	-1.07	0.28	False
Sexual Exploitation	0.34	0.32	0.32	6.05%	0.37	0.71	False
Sexual Violence	5.19	3.69	3.73	40.58%	8.32	0.00	True
Stalking and Harassment	11.66	9.88	9.91	18.04%	6.09	0.00	True
Physical or Sexual Abuse	11.91	9.70	9.75	22.76%	7.61	0.00	True
Violent or Threatening Behaviour	11.78	9.95	9.98	18.47%	6.26	0.00	True
Controlling or Coercive Behaviour	1.08	1.05	1.05	2.95%	0.32	0.75	False
Psychological, Emotional or Other Abuse	0.01	0.01	0.01	52.18%	0.41	0.68	False

Domestic violence and abuse

In 2023, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that one in four women (27%) had experienced DVA since the age of 16.[105] While long-term trends from the CSEW suggest a gradual national decline in prevalence since 2005, DVA remains a major concern[106]. In the year ending March 2024, police recorded 851,062 DVA-related crimes across England and Wales, comprising 15.8% of all recorded crime. Of these, 72.5% of victims were women.[107] Notably, the number of DVA-related incidents rose to 499,366 from 482,772 the previous year, but the number of DVA-related crimes actually fell. This marks the first annual decline since police records began in 2015. This likely reflects previous improvements in reporting and recording practices, rather than a sharp shift in prevalence.[108]

In 2024, 6.4% of all recorded crimes in London were flagged as DVA related. This was lower than the national average of 8.0%. For women specifically, the rate in London was 7.3%, compared to 9.5% nationally.

In Camden, just 2.9% of all recorded crimes were flagged as DVA in 2024, with a rate of 10.5 per 1,000 female residents, lower than London’s 12.8. DVA crimes comprises 36.0% of all VAWG crimes in Camden, whereas one in two VAWG crimes across London were flagged for DVA.

Figure 6: Rate of Domestic Abuse offences per 1,000 female residents in Camden compared with London (2020–2025) [3σ control limits, showing impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and CONNECT system introduction]

Between December 2023 and December 2024, Camden experienced a 6.3% increase in DVA offences. However, this change was not statistically significant. In contrast, the rest of London saw an 8.6% decrease over the same period, and this reduction was statistically significant.

In terms of volume, there are consistently records between 1,500 and 1,600 DVA crimes per year recorded within Camden. While DVA represents a smaller share of total crime in Camden compared to the London average, the rate itself has remained relatively stable over time. Most DVA-flagged offences in Camden fall under violence against the person (14.2%), sexual offences (8.6%), and miscellaneous crimes against society (6.5%). Although these categories mirror the London-wide pattern, the intensity differs: in London, 20.6% of violent offences are flagged as DVA-related, compared to 14.2% in Camden.

Within services offered by Camden, DVA is routinely the top risk identified within CSSW and Early Help (EH) cases, with two in five pathways for girls and young women being for DVA in 2024. This has reduced since 2022, where it was one in four. One in six of all pathways are for DVA between parents. A pathway, or workflow, is used to describe how a case or individual moves through a service, from initial referral, through assessment and ongoing review, to eventual case closure.

Within CSN for 2024, 826 clients were referred in for DVA, across 949 workflows. This accounts for 85.0% of all cases. The predominance of these are for DVA perpetrated by ex-partners, followed by current partner and then within the family (46.4%, 34.2% and 21.1% respectively).

This implies that, although DVA is a significant concern for internal Camden services and constitutes a high proportion of their casework, there may be barriers, such as not wanting to go to the police. According to the MPS, this pattern has been consistently observed over time and is attributed to Camden’s unique local context. While the specific factors weren’t detailed, this could include differences in housing stock, population demographics, service pathways, or community engagement models.

The intersections between VAWG, specifically DVA, and homelessness are under-estimated in the data. The reporting field “main reason for loss of last settled accommodation” is typically used to understand the drivers of homelessness on the case management system locally and nationally. In Camden, internal temporary accommodation and housing data shows that approximately 11% of homelessness applications identify DVA as the main reason for their application (according to data reported internally in August 2025). However, when additional abuse flags on the case management system are reviewed – “domestic abuse as a support need” and “domestic abuse identified through assessment” – the number of DVA-linked housing applications increases by 60%. Work is underway within the Camden Council housing and homelessness prevention teams to improve the data collection and how it is made available to staff to enable them to provide the appropriate support to DVA victim/survivors.

Controlling or coercive behaviour

Controlling or coercive behaviour offences have remained steady in Camden between 2019 and 2024 with a rate of 1.1 per 1,000 female residents. Notably, within the broader category of violence against the person, the proportion of controlling or coercive behaviour cases doubles from 0.8% in 2019 to 1.7%. Comparatively, London-wide data also indicates a steady rise in this offence type, increasing from 0.8 per 1,000 female residents in 2020 to 1.2 per 1,000 by 2023.

Within CSN, from all cases active within 2024, 26.2% of clients said their abuser had tried to control them or were excessively jealous. This is extracted from the risk indicator list, which comprises DASH, alongside extra questions on risk level and changes in risk.[109]

Physical or sexual abuse

Camden has a rate of 12.1 per 1,000 of offences within MPS data marked with the physical or sexual abuse flag, making Camden the 4^th highest borough across London. Two in five VAWG offences in Camden are flagged for physical or sexual abuse, comprising 41.0% of VAWG offences, and is statistically higher than the rest of London. The majority of physical or sexual abuse cases are categorised within sexual offences, and violence against the person.

Within Camden services, ASC safeguarding has seen an increase in the proportion of physical or sexual abuse flagged cases within their case load from 6.2% in 2022 to 8.9% in 2024.

From VAWG cases within EH and CSSW, based on cases for girls within 2024, 26.6% had a form of physical or sexual abuse raised.

Figure 7: Rate of Physical or Sexual Abuse offences per 1,000 female residents in Camden compared with London, (2020–2025) [3σ control limits, showing impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and CONNECT system introduction]

Violent or threatening behaviour

In 2024, Camden had a rate of 11.9 per 1,000 female residents experience violent or threatening behaviour and is one of the most common VAWG abuse type flagged across VAWG offences; 40.6% of VAWG offences were flagged for this abuse type, and this is statistically higher than the rest of London (by 7.9%).

Despite a continuing steady decline observed since 2020, Camden is still the 5th highest borough in London for these offences. Between December 2023 to December 2024, Camden saw a 29.5% decrease in violent or threatening behaviour, as did the rest of London (21.5%). These changes are statistically significant from each other. Camden’s drop is significantly larger than the rest of London.

Conversely, ASC Safeguarding recorded an increase, with the proportion of cases flagged as involving VAWG-related violent or threatening behaviour rising from 5.64% in 2020 to 7.77% in 2024.

In the CSN risk indicator checklist, among the 611 workflows where a risk form was completed, 38.0% indicated that the individual, or someone they know, had been threatened with being killed by the abuser.

Figure 8: Rate of Violence or Threatening Abuse offences per 1,000 female residents in Camden compared with London (2020–2025) [3σ control limits, showing impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and CONNECT system introduction]

Economic abuse

In the UK, around one in six adults have experienced economic abuse from an intimate partner.[110]^,[111] Research also shows that 95% of DVA victim/survivors have faced at least one form of economic abuse.[112] However, accurately measuring national prevalence remains challenging, as economic or financial abuse is often grouped under broader categories like non-physical or psychological abuse in official data.[113] For instance, in England and Wales, financial abuse is assessed through a subjective question about whether a partner prevents fair access to household money, an approach that fails to reflect the full complexity of economic abuse.[114]

Within MPS data, there is no clear indication of economic abuse across the categorisation of crimes, meaning a flag could not be created. It is possible that crimes categorised under ‘Fraud and Forgery’, with a DVA flag, could be interpreted as economic abuse. However, there are a minute amount of cases across London that fit these criteria. Fraud and Forgery is also recorded under different crime categories. However, akin to MPS, the numbers are small; Within 2024/25, there were around 50 cases across London.

Within ASC Safeguarding data, the proportion of cases linked to economic abuse reached a high of 14.6% in 2021 and dropped to 11.4% in 2024. There is limited data collected on economic abuse within CSN data and is likely documented within free text case notes.

Psychological, emotional or other abuse

In the year ending March 2023, the CSEW estimated that 3.0% of individuals aged 16 and over experienced partner abuse, with a significant portion involving non-physical forms such as emotional and psychological abuse. Specifically, around two-thirds (65.7%) of partner abuse victim/survivors reported experiencing non-physical abuse, including emotional abuse.[115]

Nationally, emotional abuse is a significant concern. In 2022/23, over 61,000 police-recorded offences related to emotional abuse were documented in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.[116] Within the MPS data, emotional abuse is implicitly embedded within other VAWG offences, as it is often a natural consequence of such behaviours.

In Camden, specific data on psychological and emotional abuse is limited. Within ASC Safeguarding, the proportion of cases flagged with such abuse declined from 14.5% in 2020 to 6.9% in 2024. Within CSN data, from the 611 risk forms competed, 69.9% reported feeling frightened, 36.3% reported feeling isolated from family and friends, and 67.1% were finding their emotions hard to deal with.

Domestic homicide

Ultimately, DVA can lead to homicide. In the UK since 2009, a woman is killed by a man every three days, with men’s violence against women a leading cause of premature death for women globally.[117]^, [118]

The characteristics of homicides are striking; 90% of perpetrators were family, partners or known to the victim, 61% were killed by a current of former partner, and 80% of offences were committed in the home of the victim or perpetrator.[119]^,[120]

Within London, from 2019 to 2024, there have been 969 murders recorded by MPS, making up 97% of homicides. 22% of the victims were female, and 15% were linked to DVA. However, when reviewing cases of murders where the victim was female, from the resulting 151 cases, 53% are linked to DVA.[121] The data on domestic homicide within Camden is not sufficient to draw conclusions from. Moreover, research has highlighted how more women take their own lives following DVA, than are killed.[122] Within CSN for 2024, of the DVA clients that had a case intake form (n=288), 10.8% had either threatened or attempted suicide.

Female genital mutilation or cutting

The prevalence of FGM is difficult to determine as this kind of harm often occurs at a young age and is only disclosed or identified in later life, such as when women attend maternity services. This is evidenced within the MPS data. From 2020 to 2024, only 88 cases within London were recorded, with less than 10 in Camden. [123]

The NHS releases an annual report examining FGM rates.[124] A full table of all metrics is available in Appendix 6. Nationally since 2015, 37,615 women and girls who have undergone FGM have been seen in NHS services (this is only where FGM was relevant to their attendance). Based on these cases, the majority of FGM is undertaken in girls between the ages of 5 and 9 (37.2% of cases with age recorded), and all cases were first seen over aged 18 This can in part be explained by that the majority of cases are dealt with by Midwifery, at 80.7%, followed by Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics (33.3%, 6.65 and 2.4% respectively).

From the NHS FGM annual report for 2023/24, Camden displays high engagement and identification of FGM within healthcare settings, when compared to London and England figures. This isn’t to say it has a higher prevalence of FGM, but instead that FGM is being identified better within healthcare settings. It has a high rate of attendance within healthcare settings, at 1.8 per 1000 female residents, and distinct patients of 0.9 per 1,000 female residents, placing it 4^th highest among London boroughs. However, this represents only a small proportion of those who have experienced this type of harm.

Proportionally, Camden shows a higher rate of positive responses to advising women on health implications and illegalities of FGM, and lower levels of missing data in key areas. Demographically, its population profile includes a higher proportion of women born in Eastern Africa, and more cases of FGM being reported at occurring under age 5.

Despite this, it is also important to highlight that whilst the figures are above other areas, it is likely that still likely represents an underreporting of women and girls who have experienced this type of harm. As highlighted by the NHS report, poor data quality on FGM makes it challenging to draw clear conclusions in this area. The NHS characterises the FGM type, age when FGM was undertaken and country where FGM was undertaken as key information; for those seen by NHS services in England, 28% of women and girls have none of these key data items recorded, with only 22% having all three. To fully estimate the rates of FGM, the City of London University in conjunction with Equality Now and ONS released national and local authority estimates in 2017.[125] However, the estimates were calculated based on 2011 census data, there has been no re-estimation since, despite the 2021 census being available.

Within Camden services, FGM can be raised as a safeguarding risk in CSSW. Within 2024, there were under 7 cases of FGM reported. Since 2022 to April 2025, there have been less than 7 cases in EH assessments, and between February 2023 to current day, there have been under 7 cases in CSSW assessments.

Forced marriage

Within the MPS data, the recorded instances of forced marriage are low. Since 2020 to 2024, 514 instances have been reported across London, with just 82 cases reported in 2024. Forced marriage is also rarely recorded by Camden services, with fewer than 7 cases recorded in 2024. In 2023, the national Forced Marriage Unit received 802 contacts for both forced marriage and FGM nationally and offered advice or support for 283 cases related to possible forced marriage or FGM instances.[126]

Sexual exploitation

Camden has a sexual exploitation rate of 0.35 per 1,000 female residents in 2024. This is 6.05% higher than the rest of London, albeit this is not a statistically significant difference. The absolute figure is 41, with the predominance of these within the Violence Against the Person category. Since 2020, Camden’s rate has remained stable, ranging from 0.27 in 2020 to 0.46 in 2022, and now dropping to 0.35.

Sexual violence

Sexual violence is a prevalent VAWG abuse category within Camden when standardised by population; within 2024, the rate of 5.2 per 1,000 female residents placed it 2^nd highest across all London Boroughs. When compared to the rest of London, Camden’s 2024 rate is statistically significantly higher, with a rate of 4 per 1,000, Camden’s rate sits 40.6% higher.

Sexual violence makes up 18.0% of VAWG offences within Camden in 2024, which is 28.0% higher than the rest of London. This difference is statistically significant, implying that it is unlikely to be due to random variation, and may reflect specific local dynamics

Between 2019 and 2022, Camden saw a gradual rise in the rate of sexual violence, increasing from 4.0 in 2019 to a peak of 6.0 offences per 1,000 female residents in 2022. However, since 2023, this rate dropped sharply to 5.2 in 2024. Between December 2023 to December 2024, sexual violence saw a 27.0% increase from a monthly rate of 0.5 per 1,000 females to 0.4. However, this change is not statistically significant.

Figure 9: Rate of Sexual Violence offences per 1,000 female residents in Camden compared with London (2020–2025) [3σ control limits, showing impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and CONNECT system introduction].

So-called ‘honour’-based violence

Between 2019 and 2024, annual case numbers remained extremely low in Camden, with only 7 to 14 offences recorded in any single year. The proportion of honour-based violence within overall crime types consistently stayed under 0.05%.

Stalking and harassment

According to the CSEW, approximately 3.1% of individuals aged 16 and over experienced stalking in the year ending December 2024.[127] This equates to an estimated 1.5 million victims nationwide. Women are disproportionately affected, with 4% reporting stalking incidents compared to 2.3% of men during the same period. Younger individuals, particularly those aged 16 to 19, are also more likely to be victims, with 8.8% reporting stalking experiences.

Domestic stalking remains a significant concern, with 28% of victims reporting being stalked by a partner or ex-partner, and 9% by a family member. Despite improvements in police recording practices, the number of police-recorded stalking offences remains well below the CSEW estimates, highlighting potential underreporting and the sensitive nature of the crime. The introduction of Stalking Protection Orders in 2019 marked a step forward in providing early intervention, but challenges persist in effectively addressing stalking cases.[128]

In Camden in 2024, the rate of stalking and harassment was 11.8 per 1,000 female residents, placing it 5^th highest across all London boroughs. When distinguishing between stalking and harassment, 58.8% of recorded offences in 2024 were of harassment, whilst the remaining were stalking. Within London, the proportion is similar, with 52.5% in harassment, and 47.5% in stalking.

Across all VAWG offences reported in Camden in 2024, 40.1% were for stalking and harassment. When disseminating between the two categories, harassment makes up a higher proportion of VAWG offences than the rest of London, with 23.6% being flagged for harassment within Camden.

Stalking and harassment VAWG offences have shown fluctuations between 2019 and 2024. The number of such crimes ranged from a low of 1,391 in 2024 to a peak of 1,808 in 2021. The Stalking and harassment rate per 1,000 female residents reached its highest point in 2021 at 16.2, before gradually declining to 11.8 by 2024. Between December 2023 to December 2024, stalking and harassment had a 28.6% decrease, and London had 21.3%. These changes are statistically significant, and the difference between the two are also significant.

Within Camden, stalking and harassment is primarily recorded under public order offences and violence against the person categories. For example, in 2024, stalking and harassment crimes made up 26.6% of public order offences, and 11.2% of violence against the person offences.

Within CSN in 2024, from the 611 risk indicator forms completed, 37.0% of victims reported that their abuser constantly texted, contacted followed, stalked or harassed them.

Figure 10: Rate of Stalking and Harassment offences per 1,000 female residents in Camden compared with London, (2020–2025) [3σ control limits, showing impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and CONNECT system introduction]

Geographical variation

When examining the location of reported offences, it’s important to provide context: this data reflects where incidents were located, and reporting behaviour can vary by area. For example, due to greater police presence or stronger community relationships with services, people in some locations may be more likely to report offences.

Overall, VAWG crimes being reported are centralised within the ward of Camden Town, a direct reflection of higher levels of night-time economy activity, public transport hubs, and large visitor numbers in the area; In 2024, there were 249 recorded VAWG crimes, with a rate of 73.4 per 1,000 female residents. This ranks it 7^th highest ward across all of London. This is likely due to an inflated rate of crimes occurring for non-Camden residents compared to the local female population used to calculate the rate, and a direct reflection of Camden Town’s night time economy and tourist attraction.

When looking within Camden Town, the predominance of VAWG offences are flagged with physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour and stalking and harassment, with the predominance being harassment instead of stalking (24.8%, 17.6% and 17.2% respectively).

Analysis of spatial patterns shows that wards in the south of the borough form statistically significant clusters according to the Local Moran’s I test. This means that these areas, and their neighbouring wards, have consistently higher levels of VAWG compared to other parts of the borough, indicating a clear concentration of cases in the south of the borough.

Compared to the rest of London, several Camden wards stand out for high rates of VAWG offences. Kilburn ranks 9th for DVA (29.21 per 1,000 female residents), 5th for stalking and harassment overall (29.06), with a particularly high 4th place for stalking alone (13.77), and 5th for violent or threatening behaviour (29.21). Regent’s Park is 8th for sexual exploitation (1.93) and also 8th for controlling or coercive behaviour (3.26). Camden Town ranks 7th for sexual violence, 9th for stalking and harassment overall (26.24), including 5th for harassment specifically (18.87), 5th for physical or sexual abuse (37.15), and 9th for violent or threatening behaviour (26.83).

Figure 11: Map showing distribution of VAWG offences across Camden wards (2024)

Figure 12: Maps showing distribution of DVA and sexual violence offences across Camden wards (2024)

Figure 13: Maps showing distribution of stalking and harassment offences across Camden wards (2024)

Deprivation

When examining the relationship between VAWG rate per 1,000 female residents and proportion of households in at least one dimension of deprivation, across all London wards, a moderate positive correlation was observed. However, when the analysis was restricted to Camden wards only, the correlation strength more than doubled to a strong positive association (r = 0.66, p = 0.002). This suggests that the relationship between these variables is considerably stronger in Camden than the wider London context, indicating that local factors may be amplifying the link within the borough. This model does not adjust for any other factors such as demographic composition, socioeconomic status, housing characteristics, or service provision, which could plausibly account for part of the observed association. Consequently, while the findings highlight an important borough-specific pattern, they should be interpreted with caution and considered exploratory until further multivariable analyses are conducted.

Figure 14: Correlation between VAWG rates and households in one dimension of deprivation

Victim/Survivor and suspect profiles

The following section will examine the protected characteristics (as in the Equality Act 2010 with the addition of care experience in line with Camden Council’s policy) of victim/survivors and suspects, aiming to uncover the risks for each group.

MPS has provided the protected characteristic details of victim/survivors of VAWG offences within Camden from 2019 to 2024. For clarity, this section will focus only on victim/survivor profiles from 2024. Further data has also been collected from Victim Support, from the MOPAC.

Other sources of victim/survivor and suspect profiles have been sourced from CSN, Housing Points panel, and ASC Safeguarding. For child victim/survivors, demographic details have been sourced from CSSW and EH.

There are limitations due completeness and consistency; Within the MPS, suspect characteristics are, of course, only available where there is a suspect. Due to limited data availability, it was not possible to synchronise the full details of offences to the different victim/survivor and suspect profiles. This means that the following analysis is presented by crime grouping, instead of by specific VAWG flag. Despite this, the cohort is still based on those who have experienced VAWG offences. In addition, data collected by internal services does not always include demographic details, either because these questions haven’t been asked or because records haven’t been updated.

Victim/Survivor demographics

The CSEW estimates that at least one in twelve women are a victim/survivors of a VAWG offence every year.[129] The latest CSEW, published in 2025, found that around one in eight women were victim/survivors of sexual assault, DVA or stalking in the last year.

Protected characteristics

Whilst the Equality Act 2010 does not include care experience as a protected characteristic, Camden Council recognised it as a protected characteristic in 2024. Therefore, care experience is included within this section of the needs assessment.

Age

In 2024, MPS data for Camden shows that the majority of victim/survivors of VAWG-related crimes are aged between 18 and 34 years old, accounting for around half of all recorded victims. This highlights the disproportionate impact on younger adults. Representation declines sharply after the mid-30s, though there is a slight increase among those aged 60 and over.

There are distinct age patterns between different offence types; younger adults (18 to 29 years old) are more prevalent in sexual offences, public order offences, and violence against the person. Middle-aged adults (30 to 44) tend to be the primary victims of burglary, robbery, and arson. Older adults (60+) have higher representation in arson and theft.

When looking at victim/survivors details within CSN, there is a more balanced distribution from ages 18 to 44 years old, each five-year age banding representing around 12% to 15% of all referrals. However, middle-aged and adolescent individuals are under-represented.

Despite being a prevalent age group among victim/survivors, those aged 18 to 24 are 1.95 times less likely to be progressed onwards from the referral stage compared to all other age groups combined (odds ratio = 0.51, p < 0.01). In 2024, for all referrals for 18 to 24 year olds, 23.6% were provided with safety advice, 23.0% were unable to be contacted, and 22.3% the client declined services, This may help explain, at least in part, why cases are less likely to progress.

There is a great underrepresentation within 60+ age group. One reason for the underrepresentation of victim/survivors aged 60 and over is issues around mental capacity. Where a victim/survivors lacks capacity or has additional care and support needs, CSN is unable to carry out an accurate risk assessment, and the available safety options are often unsuitable. In these situations, ASC takes the lead, with CSN providing consultation to the professionals involved. This is particularly common in cases where either the victim/survivors or the person causing harm has dementia. A second factor is the nature of adult child-to-parent abuse, where parents are often reluctant to seek support for themselves. These cases frequently involve alleged perpetrators with substance misuse issues, mental health concerns, or homelessness, and parents usually prioritise getting help for their child rather than for their own safety.

Figure 15: Age profile of CSN referrals in 2024 compared with the age-banded female population of Camden

As a direct reflection of this, within ASC Safeguarding of VAWG linked offences, those that draw on care aged 60 and over make up 50% of all referrals within 2024.

For applications to the housing register, shows that DVA points are most prominent among applicants aged 25 to 44, with the highest proportion in the 40 to 44 group where over 41% of applicants are DVA cases. Applicants aged 25–29 also stand out, with more than a third affected. While the largest number of overall applicants falls within the 30 to 34 age group, the share of DVA cases is lower than in the 25 to 29 and 40 to 44 ranges. From age 45 onwards, the proportion of DVA applicants declines to around one quarter, and in the 60+ category DVA is rare, making up just 3.4% of applications despite relatively high overall demand. This pattern suggests that DVA-related housing need is concentrated among younger and middle-aged adults, while older applicants are far less likely to cite DVA as the reason for seeking housing support.

Externally, Victim Support also records ages; within the fiscal year 2024/25, 25 to 44 years make up over half the population supported. Middle ages - 45 to 64 years old - are less represented, making up 23.27%, and over 65s are 3.31%.

Comparing the demographic profiles of victim/survivor cohorts with that of the female resident population in Camden helps to identify whether certain groups are overrepresented. This does not assume that the distribution of victim/survivors should mirror the general population exactly, as different groups may face varying levels of risk or barriers to reporting. However, identifying disproportionality can help highlight were further investigation, prevention, or tailored support may be needed. When looking at age of victim/survivors within MPS data, there is a statistically significant overrepresentation of ages 15-17, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and 40-44. There is a smaller but still statistically significant overrepresentation of ages 40-49.

The routes to referral within CSN inherently change based on age group; Children and Young Person Services skew towards middle adulthood, whilst DVA services are more likely to refer young adults (18 to 24), and health referrals are more common for those aged 50 to 54, MARAC referrals to CSN are more common for 15 to 17 year olds, Police referrals are more likely for 25 to 29 year olds, and self-referrals those aged 60+ are less likely.

Looking at age and abuse type recorded, and comparing to those across all age categories, victim/survivors aged 60+ are strongly over-represented in family-related DVA (4.56 more likely) but are very unlikely to appear in ex-partner DVA (5.07 times less likely), suggesting older cases often involve adult children, siblings, or elder abuse rather than romantic partners.

Those aged 18 to 24 years old are also over-represented in family DVA (1.93 times more likely) yet under-represented in intimate partner violence (1.57 times less likely), indicating that younger adults’ DVA cases may more often involve family members.

Survivors aged 30 to 34 are slightly more likely to be referred for ex-partner DVA (1.50 times more likely) and less likely to have uncompleted referrals (2.08 times less likely), pointing to stronger follow-through and partner-based case profiles in this age range.

In contrast, middle-aged adults (35 to 44 yrs old) are under-represented in family DVA (2.20 to 3.17 times less likely), suggesting different case contexts or classification patterns in these ages. Overall, the findings suggest a U-shaped relationship for family DVA, with the youngest and oldest adults most represented, and a shift from family-based to partner-based DVA across the age spectrum.

Figure 16: Age profile of MPS VAWG Victims in 2024 compared with the age-banded female population of Camden

Disability

In 2024, 7.5% of clients referred to CSN were marked as having a disability. As disability status is often not recorded (CSN has a non-recording rate of 56.8%), it is difficult to say whether this is an accurate representation of disability within the referred population. The 2021 ONS census showed that 16.3% of Camden’s female population identified as having a disability, indicating that residents with a disability may be underrepresented within CSN. There is no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of disability within CSN referrals when compared to the Camden female population.

Within CSN workflows, those with a recorded disability are more likely to be referred due to DVA within an intimate partner relationship than those without a recorded disability (odds ratio is 1.77 times more likely, p < 0.05).

When comparing conversion likelihood between disabled and non-disabled referrals, the odds ratio was 1.183 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.721 to 1.941 and a Fisher’s Exact Test p-value of 0.525. This means there is no statistically significant difference in conversion rates by disability status within CSN referrals.

Figure 17: Age profile of ASC Safeguarding referrals in 2024 compared with the age-banded female population of Camden

In ASC Safeguarding, 268 women identified as having experienced VAWG in 2024 had a learning disability recorded as their primary support need, representing 4.72% of all females receiving ASC Safeguarding support.

In comparison, there are 188 women with a learning disability recorded within safeguarding cases not related to VAWG. However, the odds ratio indicates no significant difference in the prevalence of learning disability between women flagged for VAWG and those in safeguarding for other reasons.

Within MARAC in 2024, disabled victims from Camden were a higher proportion than that of UK Wide, and MPS.

Gender Reassignment

Within the CSN referrals, 92.38% identified as women and 0.21% as non-binary. When asked if their gender was different from assigned at birth, 98.92% said it was the same, reducing to 81.79% for all workflows (irrespective of if they had the question completed).

For comparison, from the 2021 census, 91.18% of female respondents said they had the same gender identity as sex registered at birth. The data from CSN is too small to extract statistical significance.

It should be noted that the provided MPS data used does not differentiate between gender, gender reassignment, and sex.

Marriage and civil partnership

Women who are separated or divorced are at heightened risk of VAWG, experiencing post-separation abuse from their ex-partner.[130]

For the year ending March 2024, the CSEW found that people aged 16 and over who were separated or divorced were significantly more likely to have experienced DVA in the past year than those who were married or in a civil partnership, cohabiting, single, or widowed.[131]

In CSN data in 2024, 10.2% of those referred to the service were married. However, 63.1% did not have marital status recorded. When recording abuse type, CSN differentiates between current intimate partner abuse and ex-partner. In 2024, 20.9% of referrals were for intimate partner abuse (n=441), whilst 15.2% were for ex-partner (n=322). The trends within CSN workflows are unsurprising; those that are married are more likely to referred for intimate partner violence, whilst divorced clients are more likely to be referred for DVA within the family.

Pregnancy and maternity

Pregnancy is a known risk factor for escalating DVA, with perpetrators often weaponising children and child contact to abuse victim/survivors.[132] This includes forms of coercive control, and using the family court system, with direct harassment or physical abuse at child contact times.

Of all CSN referrals, 7% involved individuals who were pregnant at the time of referral, while 33.7% involved cases where children were directly affected.

Within CSN workflows, when children are involved, the outcome for a referral being a DVA client is more likely if children are involved, not involved and pregnant, and when children are involved, there is 2.84 times more likely to have a safety plan. When children are involved, there are 2.94 times more likely to be referred for ex-partner violence, and as are those that are pregnant, they are 2.80 more likely to be referred for current partner DVA. Conversely, there the risks are assessed as being standard risk CSN is most likely to provide information and advice rather than open a DVA case.

It is also worth noting that that majority of FGM recorded by the NHS occur when the victim/survivor attends midwifery services or are pregnant.

Ethnicity

For year ending March 2024, differences between any DVA estimates across different ethnic groups from the CSEW were found not to be significant.

White victim/survivors make up the greatest proportion when compared to other ethnicities in all services with 43.4% in MPS data and 39.1% in CSN referrals. When looking at applications made by women who were flagged for DVA to the housing register in 2024, 30.4% had ‘Other’ listed as their ethnicity, followed by White at 14.4% and Black as 9.2%. However, 27.2% had no ethnicity listed.

When comparing the distribution of ethnicities, within CSN referrals, to the wider Camden female population, individuals from Black, Black British, Caribbean or African background are significantly overrepresented. In contrast, White individuals are significantly underrepresented. All other groups have no statistically significant differences.

Figure 18: Ethnicity profile of MPS AWG Victim/survivors in 2024 compared with the age-banded female population of Camden

Figure 19: Ethnicity profile of CSN referrals in 2024 compared with the age-banded female population of Camden

Within the MPS VAWG victim/survivors, Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean, or African individuals once again displayed a statistically significant overrepresentation. Other ethnic groups and Asian, Asian British, or Asian Welsh individuals were also significantly underrepresented. White individuals showed a slight but statistically significant overrepresentation.

Within CSN workflows, Clients with ‘Other Ethnic Backgrounds’ recorded are 2.73 time more likely to self-refer when compared to all other ethnicities, 1.99 times more likely to be recorded as a DVA client, and 1.89 times more likely to be converted onwards into a case, but 3.66 times less likely to have the outcome “unable to make safe contact” and 1.89 times less likely to appear in the “Not Converted” group.

Asian or Asian British clients are 2.11 times more likely to be referred to another service but 1.50 times less likely to have an intimate ex-partner DVA reason. The former is likely due to there being some local and well established by and for services for Asian or British Asian women, which offers crucial resources to immigration support and financial support. Black or Black British clients are 1.62 times more likely to be referred for family DVA.

Camden’s MARAC cases consistently involve a higher proportion of Black, Asian and racially minoritised victim/survivors compared with the UK average, though broadly comparable to the Metropolitan Police. By 2024, 37.3% of cases involved such groups in Camden, compared with 15.6% nationally. Camden’s local Black, Asian and racially minoritised population (around 64.6% in 2024) aligns with this overrepresentation.

Figure 20: Line graph of MARAC Black, Asian and racial minorities cases since 2019

Religion or belief

Within MPS data, religion was not provided. Within CSN, non-reporting also hampers assessment; in 2024, 41.9% of cases had no religion recorded.

When comparing to the Camden female population, there is statistically significant under-representation of Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist, although this is a direct impact from the poor data quality. There is over-representation, bar that of the not stated. There are some statistically significant differences in CSN workflows by religious belief, but they do not indicate any meaningful or interpretable trends.

Whilst the Equality Act 2010 includes philosophical beliefs within the protected characteristic of religion or belief, the data available for this needs assessment did not include non-religious beliefs.

Sexual orientation

Within CSN, 67.2% of individuals referred into the service are recorded as heterosexual, whilst 30.2% have no sexuality recorded and 8.70% would prefer not to say. Just 2.7% identify as LGBTQ+. Comparing to the Camden female population, bisexual and heterosexual or straight individuals were significantly underrepresented. In contrast, gay or lesbian individuals or those in other sexual orientation were proportionally represented.

Less than 8% of applicants to the housing register made by women in 2024 and had DVA flagged were from LGBTQ+. However, this is around 2 percentage points more than those not flagged for DVA.

MARAC cases within Camden show that in 2024, Camden’s LGBTQ+ case proportion was roughly equal to the Most Similar Force Group and slightly below the Metropolitan Police average.

Figure 21: Line graph of proportion of MARAC LGBTQ+ Cases since 2019

Care experienced

In CSSW and EH assessments, 4.3% of girls and young women with VAWG-related cases were identified as looked after children, with Camden acting as the corporate parent. This compares to a lower proportion of 2.5% among girls and young women without VAWG. This doesn’t consider other authorities who act as a corporate parent. When widening to all children with VAWG, we see a similar proportion of Children Looked After.

At risk populations

The following outlines populations that are at increased risk of experiencing VAWG, though this list is not exhaustive and may not include all at-risk groups.

Homelessness and temporary accommodation

According to the Housing Act 1996, anyone experiencing or at risk of DVA is considered legally homeless. More details on the prevalence of VAWG in homelessness applications to Camden is provided in the internal services section.

Within CSN, from the 270 DVA clients, 68.9% reported they were no longer living with the Accused Perpetrator (APTR), or had separated. 45.6% said the APTR sill had access to the client’s address. One in four wanted to flee home.

Children and young people

In MARAC data, children in the households of MARAC cases has been increasing from 2019, where just 280 were recorded, to 395 in 2024, representing a 41.1% increase. As a proportion, 44.5% of cases had children in the household in 2024, in line with the London total at 47.6% and lower than the national value which is 52.2%.

Figure 22: Age profile of non-VAWG to VAWG cases in 2024 from CSSW and EH

Figure 23: Line-graph showing percentage of MARAC cases with children in the household since 2019

Figure 24: Line graph of percentage of MARAC cases with victims aged 16 to 17 since 2019

Girls and young women

When looking at the demographics of girls and young women referred into Children’s services with a VAWG risk in either EH or CSSW front door or assessments; age is equally distributed between five-year age bands between 0 to 19 years, with roughly 25% in each, with the majority of victim/survivors being in the 15 to 19 year old age bracket (28.4%). When comparing to the entire female CSSW and EH population, there is an under-representation of ages 5 to 9, with an over representation of ages 15 to 19.

The predominance of girls and young women referred in for VAWG are white, at 30.1%, followed by Asian or Asian British and then Mixed (22.2%, 16.7%). When comparing to the rest of the EH and CSSW population, there is an overrepresentation of Asian or Asian British CYP, and an underrepresentation of Black or Black British. These results are statistically significant, whilst the remaining have a proportional reflection.

The unknown rate for religion is high, at 53.8% for VAWG girls and young women. This is then followed by Muslim, at 25.2% and then Christian at 15.9%. These are all proportional to the entire CSSW and EH female population.

Within VAWG cases, one in ten are flagged as disabled. This is proportional to that of the rest of the CSSW and EH girl and young person population. However, there is a high non-recording rate, at 89.1%. 5.4% are flagged as having a physical disability, and 6.8% have a learning disability. These figures are both proportional to the rest of the entire EH and CSSW population. The other protected characteristics are not applicable to this group.

All children

When widening VAWG workflows to include all children, from cases flagged for a VAWG offence, 48.1% were flagged as female, and 49.8% as male. Age is predominantly concentrated within the ages 15 to 19, with 30.6% of VAWG cases in this category. This tapers off for younger ages, as seen in Figure 26. Looking at ethnic groups, the majority are White, at 29.5%, followed by Asian or Asian British, and Black or Black British. However, when compared to non-VAWG CYP, there is an under representation of Black or black British, and an overrepresentation of Asian or Asian British and Mixed ethnicities. Religion once again has high rates of non-disclosure. Around 13.6% are flagged as disabled.

The analysis of VAWG-related workflows shows a clear difference in service engagement across different pathways. For workflows flagged for VAWG, there were more likely to have a child in need visit, strategy discussion or a child in need plan developed when compared to all other workflows in CSSW and EH.

Within the CSN risk assessment, elements about children’s involvement in cases are asked. From the 611 forms completed in 2024, 7.5% of cases said children had been, whilst 24.2% said they hadn’t. From the 1,115 workflows in 2024, 35.0% had children.

Employment status

The CSEW showed that a lower percentage of those who were employed (4.6%) experienced DVA in the last year compared with those who had a long-term or temporary illness (12.9%), students (9.9%) and those who were looking after their family and home (8.4%).

However, those who were retired experienced a lower proportion of DVA in the last year compared with those who were employed. It is likely that differences seen by occupation type are also linked to age.[133]

Within CSN data, employment status can be collected at the intake form or contact form. Within 2024, from the 1,115 workflows with a contact form completed, 796 answered questions around employment status. The highest proportion of respondents reported being unemployed, which was 29.0% for those who answered, and 20.7% of all eligible forms. This was followed by ‘Don’t Know’, at 42.0% or respondents, or 30.0% of all forms. Only 12.8% reported being in full time employment, 5.3% in part time, and self-employed was just 1.1%. When going onto become a client, in the client intake form, unemployment is accounted at 35.7% of respondents whilst full-time employment increases to 20.6%.

For applications to the housing register from women flagged for DVA in 2024, 25.2% were not working because of long term sickness, 21.6% had other, and 21.6% were registered as unemployed. 18.0% were employed (n=252), compared to 23.4% employed for those applying not with DVA flagged.

Mental health

For cases that were active in 2024 within CSN (n=1,402), 15.9% had diagnosed mental health, and a further 3.9% had mental health conditions which were undiagnosed. However, there are high rates of non-recording for this too. When focusing on cases with a MH status, 41.8% are DVA cases, and 57.6% are repeat workflows. When comparing to those without mental health, unknown or not recorded, the re-referral rate is lower at 37.0%, and DVA workflows are 26.6% (total n=914). This equates to those with diagnosed mental health diagnosed being 2.6 times more likely to be a repeat referral and are 2.2 times more likely to become a DVA client.

From the 612 risk indicator checklists completed in 2024, 32.2% felt depressed, 36.3% feel they have a low mood and 5.4% were suicidal.

Drugs and alcohol use

Within CSN in 2024, from the 1,115 workflows with a contact form, around 6.9% had use of either drugs or alcohol or both recorded. However, once again, the non-recording rate is high, at 52.1%, reducing the robustness of any conclusions in difference of outcome. When looking at disparities in outcomes for those with drugs and alcohol use, those with drug use recorded are more likely to be unable to make safe contact with, more likely to be a repeat referral (2.31 times for alcohol use, and 3.7 times for drugs and alcohol).

The MPS are developing a Drug Harm and Vulnerability Assessment which uses the ONS Crime Severity Score to attribute offending and victimisation scores for drugs users across London. A high number of women and girls feature in the victim cohort, where levels of violence, DVA and sexual offences feature disproportionately. Once the assessment is formally launched it will enable partners to work together to support those identified. Changes in scored harm, at individual and local levels, will then be reviewed at regular intervals to demonstrate the impact of this joint working.

Suspect characteristics

The MPS data team have highlighted that interpreting suspect data is challenging, as suspects are not the same as confirmed accused individuals. In many cases, multiple suspects may be linked to a single crime until one is confirmed as the accused, or there may be no suspects at all due to a lack of evidence. Nationally, it is estimated that one in twenty adults in England and Wales will be a perpetrator of VAWG.[134]

Perpetrator characteristics in MPS data

In 2024, 2,636 suspects were identified as suspects of VAWG offences in Camden. While the dataset did not include unique crime reference numbers, a proxy crime ID was created by combining details such as date, location, and offence type. This method estimated approximately 2,305 distinct crimes, with around 275 involving multiple suspects. Assuming all perpetrators are unique individuals, and filtering to just male suspects, this equates to a rate of 18.89 per 1,000 male residents in Camden - though this also assumes all suspects are Camden residents.

Overall, suspects of VAWG offences were predominantly comprised by young to middle aged males, with a concentration in the 18 to 34 year old bracket. Male suspects made up over 72% of suspects, whilst females accounted for just under 20%. It should be noted that MPS data does not distinguish between sex, gender reassignment, and gender.

Black and White North European suspects appear the most frequently, although there is high non-disclosure or recording, around 18%.

When looking within crime types, sexual offences skew towards younger adult male suspects, with the age bracket 18 to 34 yrs old accounting for over 37% of this group. There is a relatively high unknown or not recorded demographic characteristic in age and ethnicity.

Violence against the person is the most demographically diverse group, with a spread of suspects across all age bands. However, those aged 18 to 39 still dominate, representing over 45% of suspects. Male suspects account for 70%, with a small but notable 21% female share. Over 76% of suspects were known to the victim, highlighting that violence in these cases is frequently interpersonal. There is also a relatively more complete ethnic and self-defined ethnicity profile in this group compared to others, although “Not Recorded” still accounts for a majority.

Public order offences stand out for having the highest proportion of suspects not known to the victim (57%). The age distribution is broadly spread but peaks between 35 to 44. Gender is more balanced here than other subgroups, with 28% female suspects, one of the highest female representations across offence types. The ethnic appearance data shows the widest spread too, indicating that public order offences draw from a more varied demographic pool. The remaining crime categories had minute suspects identified, all amounting to counts under 60.

Perpetrator characteristics in Camden Safety Net

CSN also collects data on alleged perpetrators (APTR). In 2024, 922 forms included responses to questions related to APTRs, accounting for 19.8% of all completed forms. However, completion of these fields is not mandatory, so the absence of APTR data does not imply a lack of attention to this area. In many cases, relevant information is instead captured within case notes.

When looking at these forms, 68.1% didn’t live together, with 24.6% living together. 18.1% of APTRs had been arrested, yet it’s unclear if it was for the referral offence or for historic offences. 43.1% had access to the client’s address. 8.7% had a recorded mental health issue that impact their ability to function, and a further 9.1% had substance use disorder. 35.4% were an intimate ex-partner, whilst 15.6% were an intimate partner, and 10.9% were a family member. 4.7% considered themselves disabled. In 9.1% of cases there were multiple APTRs.

Service demand and referral pathways

Internal services

The London Borough of Camden provides a range of services that directly or implicitly support those affected by VAWG offences, with abuse types often overlapping with their cohort. While the Chapter 4 on the local offering outlines the scope and performance of each service, this chapter focuses on understanding demand, how referrals are made and what workflows look like for survivors.

Camden Safety Net

In 2024, there were 1,115 referrals recorded, of which 1,047 were for women. These were across 883 unique people. This amounts to a referral rate of 7.50 per 1,000 female residents. 48.3% were new referrals, whilst 41.8% were repeats. The most common referrer category was children and young person services, self-referral and followed by adult safeguarding (22.9%, 19.7%, 16.1%). 36.1% of all referrals were due to DVA from an ex or current partner.

For those that had a contact form completed (n=1,115), the different abuse types recorded are shown in Table 3. Overall, 85.1% have a form of DVA recorded.

Figure 25: Proportion of abuse types for CSN cases in 2024

Table 3: Distribution of abuse types recorded in CSN Contact Form within 2024

Abuse Type	Count of Abuse Type	Percentage of Abuse Type
DVA	949	85.1
DVA - Intimate ex-partner	441	39.6
DVA - Intimate partner violence	325	29.2
DVA - Family (incl. child v parent, brother v sister)	201	18.0
DVA – Honour Based Violence	Redacted
DVA - Forced Marriage	Redacted
Non-DVA	40	3.6
Non-DVA - Sexual Exploitation	Redacted
Non-DVA - Stalking & Harassment	13	1.2
Non-DVA - Rape / Sexual assault	27	2.4

Figure 26: Sankey chart showing referral source to referral outcome of CSN clients in 2024

From referrals within the year, 22.9% went on to become cases. For those that had a risk assessment, this increases to 52.6%. For these cases (n=462), the most common outcome from a referral was becoming a DVA client, meaning they are continued as a client. This occurred 237 times and accounted for 51.3% of all outcomes. This was followed by safety advice being provided, with 109 occurrences, representing 23.6% of the total. The third most common outcome was referred to another service, recorded 41 times and making up 8.9% of all cases.

Across all referrals, irrespective of whether a risk assessment was completed, the most common outcome was classification as a DVA client, recorded 238 times. This was followed by clients declining services (215), the provision of safety advice and information (215), and cases where safe contact could not be established (202).

For those that go onto case work (n=237), interventions can also occur. Within 2024, the three most common interventions recorded in response to cases were referrals to MARAC, which accounted for 70 cases or 12.6% of the total. This was closely followed by referrals to counselling services, representing 68 cases (12.6%). The third most frequent intervention was clients moving to a safe address within the borough, with 61 instances recorded, making up 5.9% of all interventions during the period.

Looking back from 2019, referrals have dropped by 51.8%. The key driver of this change is the introduction of GDPR, and an impact on working practices, such as colocation. CSN Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) were co-located with police, receiving relevant cases daily. Since GDPR, the police no longer share cases in the same way, instead only completing referrals for cases with a safeguarding concern. Moreover, cases are more oftens sent to other services, such as Victim Support or other organisations within the Voluntary and Charity Sector (VCS). Despite this change, the service continues to operate at capacity.

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

Camden’s prevalence of MARAC cases, measures by cases per 10,000 adult female population, have remained fairly stable, with minute changes since 2019 to 2024. In 2019, there were 42 cases per 10,000, then peaking at 56 in 2023 and 2023 before falling slightly to 48 in 2024.

Figure 27: Line graph showing MARAC cases per 10,000 adult female residents since 2019

Camden is above the UK wide average, which increased from 40 to 48 cases per 10,000 over the same time frame, and is broadly in line with the Metropolitan Police Area. The repeat rate of cases within Camden has also shown variation, from 36% in 2019 to 29.9% in 2024.

This is consistently higher than the national average, but similar to patterns within London.

Referrals from police have declined, falling to 23.4% in 2024 from 38.6% in 2019. In contrast, non-police referrals have risen, reaching 76.6% in 2024. This exceeds both national and MPS values. Referrals from probation, VCS, and secondary care also show some increases. Primary care and Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) referrals remain low.

Looking at outcomes and support provided, IDVAs involvement for cases within Camden has been higher than national and similar force group benchmarks, although this fell from 45.4% in 2019 to around 28.9% in 2024. The proportion of cases involving children in the household shows a stark rise in 2024 (44.5%), aligning more with the levels seen in comparator areas.

Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work (CSSW) and Early Help

Within CSSW, VAWG risks can be raised at either the MASH Contact and Referral stage, which is completed at the point of referral, and then depending on circumstances and a threshold decision, a CSSW assessment or Early Help (EH) assessment is completed. Within these assessments VAWG risks can also be raised.

To extract relevant workflows, cases were filtered based on the following criteria: assessments and forms completed in 2024, flagged with any of the risks listed in Appendix 6g: i) where the subject of the assessment was identified as a girl (as a population of focus for VAWG) and ii) for all children, to include boys. This broader scope acknowledges that all children in families experiencing violence at home are affected and helps us consider the overall scale of support children may need, particularly around mental health and preventative interventions. It also reflects the dynamics of abuse in which mothers are frequently victims in their own right. Cases marked as an Early Help Brief Closure were excluded from the analysis.

Before reviewing the data, it’s important to note the different ways cases are counted. One method counts each Workflow ID, which may include multiple children. The other counts individual children by using unique person–workflow ID combinations, this could include repeat contact for the CYP, which will be discussed later, though this doesn’t account for repeat contacts with the same child. Both methods are used in the analysis and clearly indicated where applicable.

Within 2024, 41.2% of girls and young women who had who had either a MASH Contact and Referral stage form, CSSW assessment or EH assessment were identified as having a VAWG abuse type flagged as an assessment factor. This corresponds to 1,207 individual CYP, across 963 workflows. Based on unique counts of workflow IDs combined with People IDs, one in three cases for girls and young women are VAWG related (34.7%). Looking across all workflows, girls and young women with VAWG offences make up one in five workflows (20.6%). Where boys are included, one in three children were identified as having a VAWG abuse type flagged as an assessment factor (31.2%).

Looking within the assessment stages, 31.2% of girls and young women referred into MASH have a VAWG risk identified. Overall, 28.7% of all children referred into MASH have VAWG risk identified. Following MASH, the majority of VAWG cases progress to a CSSW Assessment, where 65.2% of cases for girls involved VAWG, and 60.1% of all cases were linked to a VAWG abuse type (including boys). Early Help accounts for a smaller proportion, with VAWG identified in 19.5% of cases for girls and young women, and a similar amount when boys are included.

Looking for the abuse types identified within the VAWG cases for girls and young women, at referral stage, the predominance of VAWG referrals had DVA identified, occurring within 56.3% of VAWG workflows, and 17.3% of all referrals for girls. When expanding to include boys, 57.6% of all workflows had DVA included, followed by abuse or neglect, the sexual exploitation.

Within CSSW assessment, 62.4% have DVA identified with 62.7% for all children, comprising 40.6% of all workflows for girls, and making it the highest abuse type identified. Finally, in EH assessments, 60.0% of VAWG workflows have DVA, and reducing to 12.2% for all workflows for girls. Details on outcomes of steps are detailed in the earlier section of this chapter about at risk populations.

Within 2024, the rereferral rate of cases with a VAWG risk flagged, for all children, was 7.2%. In contrast, for non-VAWG cases this was 21.9%. This difference is statistically significant, suggesting there is a systemic difference in addressing VAWG cases that is reducing rereferrals.

Beyond the scope of children who have directly interacted with Camden Council services for a VAWG risk, a Camden Council report from early 2024 examined common households between year 5 and year 6 pupils attending Camden schools, and the addresses referred into Camden services for DVA, from CSSW, CSN and Landlords Work Portal.[135] There was found to be 11.8% of pupils living in addresses that had been linked DVA in either CSN or CSSW. This conclusion does not come without limitations; there is temporal discontinuation between the School Census, and the populations of CSC and CSN. Moreover, there are issues with address linkages, due to a lack of, or poor-quality addresses provided from all data sources.

Table 4: Table displaying unique counts of person IDs for CSSW and EH assessment stages, with the proportion being raised for VAWG abuse types for all children

	Unique count of Person IDs for all Children
Assessment Type	Total	VAWG	Percent
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	1,894	1,231	65.0%
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	698	135	19.3%
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	6,011	2,173	36.2%
Total	6,292	2,509	39.9%

Table 5: Table displaying unique counts of workflow IDs for CSSW and EH assessment stages, with the proportion being raised for VAWG abuse types for all children

	Unique count of Workflow IDs for all Children
Assessment Type	Total	VAWG	Percent
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	2,030	1,301	64.1%
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	706	135	19.1%
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	8,297	2,467	29.7%
Total	8,780	2,902	33.1%

Table 6: Table displaying unique counts of workflow IDs combined with person IDs for CSSW and EH assessment stages, with the proportion being raised for VAWG abuse types for all children

	Unique count of Combination of Workflow and Person IDs for all Children
Assessment Type	Total	VAWG	Percent
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	1,136	686	60.4%
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	393	79	20.1%
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	4,761	1,368	28.7%
Total	5,026	1,598	31.8%

Table 7: Table displaying unique counts of person IDs for CSSW and EH assessment stages, with the proportion of girl and young women being raised for VAWG abuse types for girls and young women

	Unique count of Person IDs
Assessment Type	Total Girls and Young People	VAWG Person	Percent
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	919	605	65.8%
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	336	66	19.6%
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	2,790	1,041	37.3%
Total	2,927	1,207	41.2%

Table 8: Table displaying unique counts of workflow IDs for CSSW and EH assessment stages, with the proportion of girl and young women being raised for VAWG abuse types for girls and young women

	Unique count of Workflow IDs
Assessment Type	Total Girls and Young Women	VAWG	Percentage
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	725	466	64.28
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	252	52	20.63
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	2878	880	30.58
Total	3,037	1,035	34.1%

Table 9: Table displaying unique counts of workflow IDs combined with person IDs for CSSW and EH assessment stages, with the proportion of girl and young women being raised for VAWG abuse types for girls and young women

	Unique count of Combination of Workflow and Person IDs for Girls and Young Women
Assessment Type	Total for Girls and Young Women	VAWG	Percentage
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	973	634	65.16
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	338	66	19.53
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	3803	1188	31.24
Total	4,020	1,396	34.7%

Figure 28: Bar graph showing the distribution of VAWG abuse types, based on all recorded cases in the MASH contact and referral stage in 2024. Each case may involve multiple types of abuse.

Figure 29: Bar graph showing the distribution of VAWG abuse types, based on all recorded cases in the CSSW assessment stage. Each case may involve multiple types of abuse.

Figure 30: Bar graph showing the distribution of VAWG abuse types, based on all recorded cases in the EH assessment stage. Each case may involve multiple types of abuse.

Housing

DVA is intertwined with housing, being a significant contributor and consequence of homelessness among women.[136] Within Camden, there are three key housing pathways; application to join the housing register made under Part 6, Housing Act 1996, a homeless application made under part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, or via a non-statutory pathway, such as Camden’s Adult Pathway which includes refuge provision.

Housing register applications

For the first of these, applying to the housing register, in 2024, from the 592 applications 26.68% of applicants have received points for DVA. This has increased over time, as in 2019, 11.37% of applicants received DVA points, which rose steadily to 28.15% in 2023.

Homelessness applications

The identification of DVA within homelessness applications has widened; formerly DVA was only identified when recorded as the main reason for loss of last settled address. Now, DVA can also be identified in the support needs, if they are a victim/survivor of DVA or if they have already engaged with support. Since widening the identification of DVA, there have been 42.37% further cases identified since 2024.

In 2024, with the original identification method, around one in eleven cases had DVA as the main reason for application. However, using the new case flags, nearly one in five cases in 2025 are DVA-linked. Within 2024, there were around 2,400 total homeless applications, with 859 of these from women. From these, 8.2% were listed as a DVA victim/survivor as the main reason for loss of last settled address. 21.7% had experienced or was at risk of DVA and 27.6% had DVA involved in their case.

With the new flag, 252 of 859 of women had a DVA flag. From these, 60.0% had DVA as their main reason for loss of last settled address, followed by ‘Other’, or ‘family no longer willing or able to accommodate’ (11.6%, 11.2%) The majority, 60.8% were single people households, with the remainder being families with one or more children. Roughly 35% had one or more dependent children. 66.8% were already homeless.

Figure 31: Line graph with proportional DVA flags for housing register applications since 2019

Figure 32: Line graph with proportional DVA flags for homeless applications since 2019

Current Camden Council tenants

Data about DVA is also collected in Landlords Work Portal, which is a system used by housing officers. Within this, they can flag if DVA is a presenting or contextual risk within a household. In 2024, there were 320 cases where DVA was a recorded concern, amounting to 1.65% of all cases in the system; from these, 140 were new cases. However, this system is primarily used to log various tenancy and housing management concerns, of which DVA is just one.

When looking at referrals made to other Camden services, analysis revealed that Camden Council tenants are not only more likely be referred for safeguarding support but are disproportionately likely to have a housing issue that constitutes a safeguarding concern. For example, analysis of CSSA and ASC data for financial year 2024/25 found that half (47.8%) of the families referred to CSSW that had a recorded housing issue were Camden Council tenants. One in four (23%) referrals to Camden’s EH team listed housing as a presenting issue; 46% of these were Camden tenants. 35% of people referred to CSN were Council tenants, yet only 5% of referrals came from Housing teams.

Moreover, in July 2025, cross-sectional research to understand the lived experiences of homeless women in Camden’s Adult Pathway. This work found that homeless women experience some of the highest levels of VAWG in Camden, yet the majority of survivors have never accessed specialist support. For example:

• 80% of women were currently experiencing VAWG or had done so in the last three years. An increase of 12% from when the research was last completed in 2022.

• 82% of women were reported to have experienced VAWG in their life, with this figure rising to 94% for women who were also currently experiencing VAWG.

• 52% were experiencing 5 or more types of abuse; a 17% increase from 2022. 34 women (28%) were experiencing more than 7 forms of abuse.

• The research found that homeless and multiply disadvantaged are not accessing VAWG support:

• Only 40 out of 125 women that have experienced VAWG in their lifetime have accessed specialist VAWG support, and the majority of women were not accessing ongoing support.

• Of these women, 18 (14%) had accessed support from a specialist VAWG and multiple-disadvantage team, 11 (8%) had accessed support from CSN.

• Victim/survivors working VAWG and multiple disadvantage teams, such as the DVA Navigators, experienced the highest prevalence against multiple abuse categories: experiencing on average 7.1 types of abuse.

Adult Social Care

Within ASC Safeguarding VAWG abuses can be raised within safeguarding concerns or enquiries. Within this, multiple primary and secondary abuse types can be flagged within assessment. The appropriate abuse types have been aggregated to create an overall VAWG flag, which aligns to the VAWG definition. These are available in Appendix 6h.

There are four stages when undertaking a Section 42 enquiry[137]:

1. When a concern is raised about an adult with care and support needs who may be experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, the Local Authority must first assess the individual’s immediate safety and conduct initial enquiries (Section 42.1 in Camden) to determine whether the statutory criteria for a Safeguarding Enquiry are met.

2. If so, a formal enquiry (Section 42.2) is undertaken to identify what actions are necessary to prevent or stop the abuse or neglect.

3. A safeguarding plan is then developed, outlining specific actions, responsible parties, and agreed timescales, followed by a review to evaluate its effectiveness.

4. The enquiry may be closed at any stage, but the adult should be informed of who to contact if further concerns arise, and the decision to close must be clearly documented, including the adult’s views.

Overall, from the 1,365 female safeguarding cases within 2024, 518 were marked with a VAWG abuse type, comprising 37.9% of cases. The most common flagged cases were for DVA (13.6%), followed by economic abuse (11.4%) and violent cases (7.8%).

The majority of these came from healthcare settings, such as emergency services or NHS staff in primary or community settings, making up around half of safeguarding referrer agencies for VAWG case. Almost half of DVA referrals come from emergency services.

When looking at the context of the VAWG abuse, in 14% of VAWG cases the perpetrator was known, with a third of these being a relative of family carer. This is statistically significantly higher than the overall ASC safeguarding population. Within DVA this rises to over half. However, there are high levels of non-recording, with 80% of cases having no value recorded. One in ten of VAWG cases were reported as occurring within the home, highlighting the hidden nature of abuse. However, 80% had no location reported.

Beyond referral, the most common outcome for VAWG safeguarding cases is ‘no further action,’ occurring in three out of four cases. This rate is 7% higher than for safeguarding cases overall, a difference that is statistically significant. For the majority of no further action cases, the adult at risk is signposted to an alternative service, or the allegation being screen out (such as a referral is not considered a safeguarding case), so no action is required (48.4%, 15.8% respectively). Half of DVA victim/survivors are signposted to an alternative service, as are two in five victim/survivors of emotional abuse.

Another outcome of referral can be an enquiry, which occurs for one in five for all VAWG cases. This is lower than the entire safeguarding cases for women, within which one in four goes to an enquiry. For economic abuse, one in four go on to an enquiry.

Over time, the proportion of cases linked to VAWG has remained steady, with an average of 36% since 2019. DVA and economic abuse have consistently been among the most reported risk factors, with proportions generally increasing between 2019 and 2022 before steadying or slightly declining. Notably, physical or sexual abuse and violent VAWG cases have shown a gradual rise, while emotional or other abuse has declined since its peak in 2020. Cases linked to controlling or coercion remain relatively low but have increased modestly since 2019.

Domestic Abuse Navigators

The Domestic Abuse Navigator service provides concentrated support for victim/survivors experiencing multiple disadvantages, who would usually struggle to access services. They support a small cohort of no more than 20 victim/survivors at any given time, providing relational-based wrap-around support such as guiding them through appointments with other services, supporting them to access their benefits, housing options and other available options. The 2023/24 annual report provides a holistic overview of their small cohort. In 2023, their first year, they worked with 20 survivors through 282 meetings and 259 external appointments. They held 391 professional meetings on behalf of victim/survivors.

It’s worth noting that the small population means that the following is not representative of Camden’s population. Most clients supported by the Domestic Abuse Navigator service were under 40 years old. All the victim/survivors have at least one mental health issue, and the majority have some form of disability and substance use issues.

External services

Victim Support, Mayors Office of Policing and Crime

MOPAC’s Victim Support provides specialist support for victim/survivors of DVA and provide quarterly updates on a borough level.[138] It should be noted that the aggregate data refers to all crimes supported and isn’t distinguished between those within the VAWG categorisation.

In the financial year 24/25, Victim Support data, there were 533 cases from Camden, equating to a rate of 4.5 per 1,000 female residents. The predominance of cases come from Police, sitting at 82.2%. This is then followed by other agencies, at 9.6% and the remainder being self-referrals, and colocations in hospitals. The most common crime category is ‘Violence without Injury’, with 186 cases amounting to 34.9%. This is then followed by ‘Stalking and Harassment’ at 21.0% and ‘Other Crime’, comprising 13.1% of cases.

When looking at demographics of victim/survivors supported, the majority are younger, with 29.3% in aged between 25 to 34. Only 3.00% are listed as disabled. Ethnicity has high levels of non-disclosure, at 70.5%, followed by ‘Other’ ethnicities, White and Asian (17.5%, 5.1% and 2.8% respectively). Victim/survivors are primarily female, making up 74.1% of cases. Religion also has high levels of non-recording, as does sexual orientation.

When looking at differences between Camden and the rest of London, in the first quarter of the fiscal 24/25 year, a greater proportion of cases in Camden were reported by the police than in the rest of London (70.6%, 60.6% respectively). Camden also had higher incidences of crimes classified as ‘Violence without Injury’, at 54.1% of cases. This is 43.9% for the rest of London. When looking at demographics of victim/survivors, Camden has increased representation of victim/survivors with from other ethnic groups (8.9%, compared to 4.3%). The proportion of Muslim individuals was notably higher in Camden (7.5%, 2.8%), as was the proportion of individuals identifying as lesbian (2.1%, 0.2%). All these differences are statistically significant.

Future demand

As the MPS dataset is rich, it is possible to use statistical modelling to estimate future changes in VAWG offences. It should be noted that the model was built on data from 2020 to March of 2024, as this is before the CONNECT system was introduced. This model also took COVID-19 lockdowns into account.

The forecasting model worked well across all London boroughs, with small average errors and a good overall fit. For Camden, the model was slightly more accurate and closely matched the real data. When looking to the future, the model predicts that the rate of VAWG in Camden could rise by about 7.8% between February 2024 and December 2028, going from 2.78 to 2.99 incidents per 1,000 female residents. However, there’s some uncertainty: the real change could be a small decrease of 2.9% or a larger increase of up to 17.3%, indicating considerable uncertainty around the direction and magnitude of change. While the projection suggests a modest upward trend, the wide confidence bounds reflect that VAWG rates could remain stable or even decline. These results should be interpreted cautiously, as many external factors can influence observed rates.

Figure 33: Forecasted VAWG rate per 1,000 female residents by borough

Outcomes

The MPS mark a positive result if there is a criminal justice outcome, including formal charges, cautions, community resolutions, and penalties.

Across London, MPS are taking steps to better outcomes for victims of VAWG. In the previous 12 months, they published figures that the number or rape charges have increased from 665 to 780, raising the positive outcome rate from 7.4% to 7.9%. For DVA, there were 4,360 more positive outcomes, though the overall rate slightly declined from 9.2% to 8.5%. In total, the MPS recorded 6,002 new positive outcomes across all VAWG offence types, but the year-on-year outcome rate has decreased.[139] Conversely, The Times reported in 2025 that just four of ten crimes in London are reported to police, and for those that make a report, four of ten victim/survivors go on to withdraw from the justice process.[140] This increases for victim/survivors of DVA, with six out of ten withdrawing, and for rape offences related to DVA the withdraw rate rose to 74%.

Looking at 2024 data for Camden, there is a positive outcome rate for VAWG crimes with a known outcome of 7.8%. This figure ranks Camden 7^th highest out of all London boroughs. Across London, the positive outcome rate is 7.2%. There is no statistically significant difference between the positive rate in Camden when compared to the rest of London (Figure 36).

The positive outcome rate in Camden is above average when compared to the rest of London Boroughs for sexual violence, DVA, violent or threatening behaviour, honour based violence, stalking and harassment and physical and sexual abuse. However, no one of these are statistically significant.

Figure 34: Bar graph comparing the positive outcome rate for Camden to London in 2024

Across London, over 2020 to 2024, only one in ten cases of DVA had a positive outcome.[141] When compared to all VAWG offences within Camden, there is a slightly higher significant odds of a positive outcomes for DVA (two times) and sexual violence (three times), and lower odds for stalking and harassment - the odds of a positive outcome were less than half those of cases without this flag (odds ratio = 0.5). These are the same trends seen across London.

Looking within the positive outcomes, which are minute in comparison to negative outcomes, the most common is charged, making up 74.9% of positive outcomes, but equating to just 155 in raw counts. This is followed by charged under alternate offence. This is the same distribution across different VAWG offences.

From the 2,616 VAWG offences within Camden in 2024 with no positive outcome, the most common category was the victim/survivor withdrawing support, despite a name suspect being identified (37.2%). This figure amounts to around four in ten victim/survivors withdrawing support, in line with figures reported by the Times. This outcome was followed by no suspect identified, at 34.4% of cases. This is followed by evidential difficulties despite victim/survivor cooperation at 15.5% of cases. For DVA, the rate of withdrawal increases to 68.4%, and to 62.2% in controlling or coercive behaviour cases. For sexual violence, stalking and harassment, physical or sexual abuse, violence or threatening behaviour the most common reason is no suspect identified.

Summary of quantitative data findings

This section used quantitative data to build a picture of VAWG in Camden, focusing on prevalence, victim/survivor and suspect characteristics, service demand, and outcomes. The findings are summarised below.

Scale and trends

• Between 2020 to 2024, Camden recorded 18,856 VAWG related offences, amounting to a rate of 29.05 per 1,000 female residents in 2024. This is significantly above the London rate, which is 26.50 per 1,000, making Camden’s rate 9.8% higher. This finding applies to most VAWG abuse types.

• From 2020 to 2023, offences rose by 8.2%, compared with a 6.4% rise across London.

• Recorded offences fell in 2024 compared to previous years, likely linked to the introduction of the CONNECT system. However, within 2024, offences rose steadily from March to December.

• The prevalence of VAWG within Camden places 11^th highest across London boroughs.

VAWG abuses

• The most common VAWG crimes recorded in 2024 were DVA, stalking and harassment, and sexual violence.

• Camden’s rates of sexual violence, stalking and harassment, physical or sexual abuse and violent or threatening behaviour were all significantly higher than London.

• Camden ranks 2^nd highest in London for sexual violence and 5^th for stalking and harassment.

• Controlling or coercive behaviour has doubled as a share of violent offences since 2019.

• Economic abuse is poorly captured in police data but appears in up to 14.6% of ASC safeguarding cases.

• Psychological or emotional abuse has declined in ASC data, despite national evidence of high prevalence.

Geographical variation

• Camden Town is a key hotspot for VAWG, ranking among the highest across London for overall VAWG, sexual violence, stalking and harassment, physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, and controlling or coercive behaviour.

• Other wards also stand out – Kilburn (domestic violence/abuse, 3rd for stalking), Regent’s Park (sexual exploitation and coercive control), Holborn and Covent Garden (sexual violence), and Camden borough overall (4^th for stalking and harassment).

• South Camden forms a cluster of high-risk wards, showing concentrated need.

• When looking at the relationship between deprivation and VAWG offences, the correlation strength for Camden wards more than doubled when compared to all other London wards.

Demographics of victim/survivors

• Women in their 30s and 40s are most likely to report offences to police or access Camden Safety Net. It is unclear whether this reflects higher prevalence in these groups or unmet need among younger and older women.

• Younger women (18 to 24 years old) are the single largest victim/survivor group in Camden, especially for sexual offences, yet they are less likely to progress through referral pathways in CSN.

• Black and racially minoritised women are consistently overrepresented across police, MARAC, and service datasets, pointing to disproportionate risk and/or targeted need.

• Disabled women are under-recorded in services but more likely to be referred for intimate partner abuse, but poor data masks the true scale of need.

• Pregnancy and children feature heavily in cases (7% pregnant; one-third with children), and these cases are more likely to escalate to safety planning, showing heightened risk.

• High unemployment among victim/survivors in Camden Safety Net (between 30–36%) highlights links between economic disadvantage and VAWG vulnerability.

• Building profiles of victim/survivors and suspects using crime and service data was challenging due to a lack of completeness of data. Improving data on key protected characteristics and risk factors including ethnicity and disability are essential to identify and address unmet need.

Service demand

• Across CSSW and EH, two in five workflows for girls related to VAWG, making up one in five of all workflows across the services.

• When looking at all children, a third of workflows are linked to a VAWG abuse type.

• One in six referrals are for DVA between parents.

• Re-referral rates for VAWG are lower than for other case types, suggesting intervention may be working, but also that some cases may not re-enter when needed.

• Referrals from the police to Camden Safety Net have fallen since GDPR restrictions, potentially preventing some women from receiving support. Despite this, the service continues to operate at capacity.

• Within CSN, whilst 85% of cases are for DVA, only one in five referrals progress to case work. This can be due to several reasons, such as risk threshold or if a victim is ready to accept support.

• DVA is increasingly driving homelessness demand: DVA-related housing register points awarded have risen from 11% (2019) to 27% (2024).

• One in five homelessness applications by women now include DVA as a factor.

• 38% of safeguarding cases for women involve VAWG - mainly DVA and economic abuse.

• Although ASC Safeguarding engages with older women victims of VAWG, case progression is low, with only one in four cases moving forward. For those that have no further action, around half are signposted to another service. As a result, a large proportion of this vulnerable population could be receiving little or no further support

• Camden’s MARAC caseload is higher than national averages, stable over time, with a growing proportion of cases involving children (44.5% in 2024).

Outcomes

• In 2024, only 7.8% of crimes had a positive outcome (including formal charges, cautions, community resolutions or penalties).

• Victim/survivor withdrawal is the single biggest barrier: in Camden, 37% of all VAWG cases with no positive outcome ended because victim/survivors withdrew support despite a named suspect (4 in 10 cases).

• This rises to 68% in DVA cases and 62% in coercive control cases.

• No suspect identified accounts for a further 34% of negative outcomes.

• Stalking and harassment cases are especially unlikely to reach positive outcomes (odds of success less than half that of other VAWG cases).

CHAPTER 4: LOCAL RESPONSE

Context

This chapter summarises the different services, interventions, policies, and ways of working that are currently in place and work to prevent and address VAWG in Camden. Given the breadth of VAWG-related work across the council and with partners, this section has been organised into the following subsections:

• Introduction to current programmes of work

• Governance

• Related partnerships, strategies and policies (including safety in the public realm, housing, safeguarding, policies and strategies, multi-agency arrangements, related practices and frameworks)

• VAWG services (and those that offer VAWG related services)

• Prevention and earlier identification/intervention initiatives (including school-based offers)

• Training

• Communications

Under these sub-sections, this chapter summarises the current work to date, services and data available and known at the time of writing. Owing to the complex nature of VAWG and the breadth of roles and responsibilities across the council, together with the varying points of contact with those affected, every effort has been made to reflect the work undertaken within the local authority. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, there may be omissions, inaccuracies, or changes over time and it is acknowledged that this account may not encompass the full range of contributions made by all colleagues.

We recognise that additional services and data may exist, and some may have changed or will change. Services that we know provide services in Camden and/or to Camden residents but were unable to obtain any data for at the time of writing are included at the end of the relevant sections below.

Current VAWG programme of work

Over the past five years, Camden has significantly strengthened its work to prevent and respond to VAWG, with progress accelerated by the pandemic.

Alongside Camden’s important and ‘life-saving’ VAWG related services, such as the in-house DVA service, Camden Safety Net (CSN) - which are set out in more detail below in the ‘services’ section - achievements include the introduction of a Domestic Abuse Policy (2020), work towards Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) Accreditation[142] and trauma-informed practice in schools, the creation of the VAWG Board (2022) with a dedicated budget following Camden Women’s Forum recommendations, and embedding victim/survivor voices at the heart of service design.

Achievements also include an ongoing programme of work looking at women’s safety in the public realm which has a working group and action plan (more details below). The organisation’s workforce is supported through a comprehensive HR domestic abuse policy, enhanced leave, financial assistance, and specialist signposting, and Camden was the first London local authority to sign the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant. Service improvements include Domestic Abuse Navigators, a dedicated Perpetrator Team, enhanced housing support for people fleeing abuse, and education programmes for young people on healthy relationships and challenging toxic masculinity.

Building on the progress achieved through Camden’s original six pillars of VAWG work (a cross-Council programme): Raising awareness; Early identification; Tackling offender behaviour and its enabling conditions; Supporting those affected; Addressing sexual harassment; and Strengthening partnerships, Camden are now reframing the approach through a public health lens. This shift emphasises both prevention and response, while identifying the enabling factors required to deliver sustained impact. The refreshed framework is organised around four pillars:

1. Prevention

2. Identification and early intervention by system/professionals

3. Prompt and holistic response to VAWG victim/survivors

4. Action against perpetrators and behaviour change programmes

This life-course, holistic model recognises wider risk and protective factors, aligns with national and GLA strategies, and provides a structured, comprehensive approach that builds on previous successes while identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Governance

The VAWG Board was established in March 2022 as the result of Camden Women’s Forum recommendation agreed by Cabinet in December 2021. It is chaired by the Cabinet Member for Safer Communities. Council representation consists of core members from the following teams: corporate services, adult and children’s social care, HR department, VAWG service, strategy, housing, public health, and the Centre for Relational Practice. External partners include police, health, Camden Women’s Forum, Camden Voices Against Abuse (survivor group), Solace, Hopscotch, and the Somali Cultural Centre.

Internal council governance includes a VAWG Directors’ Board established following agreement by Camden Council’s Cabinet in January 2023[143] to create a distributed leadership model and theory of change. Until Spring 2025 this had been chaired by the corporate management team sponsor, and is currently chaired by the Executive Director of the Children and Learning directorate. The directors’ board has overall strategic leadership on the Council’s co-ordinated work on VAWG, and partnership engagement, overall accountability to Councillors on VAWG work, oversight of the VAWG Board, and how the Council builds successful partnerships.

The VAWG Operational Group was established in May 2024, superseding a DVA Leads group that started in 2020, with the aim of driving internal change programme and building operational capacity to deliver strategic priorities for VAWG, with Terms of Reference and membership being reviewed at time of writing.

A Head of Service for (Preventing) Violence Against Women and Girls role was established in April 2025. Within this portfolio sits Camden Safet Net, the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference co-ordinator, and the Domestic Abuse Navigator team. The newly developed perpetrator programme will also sit under this portfolio.

Related partnerships, strategies and policies

Women’s Safety in the Public Realm

The Women’s Safety in the Public Realm working group is a cross-service team that meets monthly to coordinate practical action to improve women’s safety across the borough. It brings together representatives from key Camden Council services such as Community Safety, Public Health and Licensing alongside the Metropolitan Police. The group works collaboratively to share information, plan joint initiatives and respond to emerging safety concerns affecting women and girls in Camden.

The Women’s Safety in the Public Realm Action Plan has three priorities:

• Priority 1: Public Spaces - Improved public space management

• Priority 2: Public Venues - Licensing and evening and night-time economy

• Priority 3: Tackling Offending Behaviour

Key initiatives include:

• The Camden Safety Bus was launched under this programme of work which provides a range of support including supporting people to get to their destination safely, signposting to other support services and first aid (see services section below). In addition to the regular weekend service the Bus also provides awareness raising during special events.

• Community reassurance patrols in the evening and night time economy have been taking place and recorded across Camden since 2023/24. Some of these patrols are specifically focused on targeting perpetrators of VAWG and tackling antisocial behaviour.

• Women’s safety walkabouts and community conversations: Walkabouts take place every two months which allow the Council and the police to engage directly with residents and local groups, and the Council ran their first Women’s Safety Community Conversation event in November 2024 involving 70 participants from community organisations, universities, the private sector, police and Camden services. The event allowed partners to discuss a range of important questions, including how the Council and police could better consider women’s safety issues across different demographics; what role men can play in tackling offending behaviour, being part of the conversation and part of the solution; and what factors might encourage people to report or safely intervene when they witness or experience sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour in public spaces. The aim is to hold this event annually.

• A Women’s Safety Survey was carried out in July and October 2024, surveying 272 respondents on their perception of safety, personal experiences, and views on what could be improved. Findings are reported in Chapter 5.

• Welfare & Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Training is offered free of charge to Camden licensed premises and other businesses, and includes guidance on the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme. The programme aims to reach 60% of licensed premises in Camden - approximately 1,020 venues - by the end of 2028. By the close of 2024, the annual target of training 140 venues was successfully met, and from 2025 through to 2028 the plan is to deliver training to 220 venues each year.

The Women’s Safety in the Public Realm working group and action plan supports the Council’s VAWG programme of work, and reports into the Community Safety Partnership Board.

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs)

A DHR is a review of the circumstances in which the death, including by suicide, of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse, or neglect by:

• a person to whom they were related,

• a person with whom they were, or had been, in an intimate personal relationship, or

• a member of the same household.

The Community Safety Partnership Board (CSPB) has the overall responsibility for the governance of DHRs in Camden. When a DHR is commissioned by the CSP, a DHR Panel will be convened, with an independent chair, to conduct the review. Panel members will usually include statutory agencies, agencies that had contact with the victim/perpetrator, and any other person(s) that could add value to the review.

A DHR is an opportunity for local and national agencies, local communities, and policymakers to recognise each victim’s experience and work towards ensuring that every such death is treated as preventable – it is held with a view to identifying the lessons to be learnt from the death. Furthermore, the purpose of a DHR is to:

• Understand lessons from DVA-related deaths and to identify and implement local and national learning to better safeguard victims of DVA.

• Identify lessons on how local professionals, agencies, and the wider community work together to safeguard victims, while also drawing on insights from families, friends, neighbours, and colleagues to highlight barriers to support, gaps in services, and opportunities to strengthen local responses to DVA.

• Highlight issues requiring national action, ensuring key recommendations are directed to relevant bodies such as Government departments, NHS England, and the College of Policing.

• Ensure a victim-centred, trauma-informed approach by engaging family, friends, colleagues and communities to understand the victim’s reality; to identify any barriers the victim faced and missed opportunities for intervention.

The review process also ensures that agencies are responding effectively to victims of DVA by implementing appropriate support mechanisms, policies and interventions to prevent future DVA-related deaths, including deaths by suicide. The review will also assess whether agencies have sufficient and robust procedures and protocols in place, ensuring they are understood and applied by professionals.

Camden seeks to embed the learning and recommendations from DHRs. Urgent early learnings from the death would have been recorded and acted upon swiftly at the Scoping Review stage by agencies and disseminated to the relevant statutory boards and operational panels, but wider learning and specific recommendations from the DHR will be implemented through a formulated action plan. Camden will be further strengthening its monitoring and governance of DHRs and subsequent action plans with the establishment of a DHR Oversight Panel in due course, as per a recommendation from a recent Camden DHR.

Housing/Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance Accreditation

Camden’s Housing and Property Management service is working to achieve Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance Accreditation (DAHA). The DAHA framework sets the UK benchmark for how housing providers should respond to DVA. it is recognised as best practice (Domestic Abuse Act Statutory Guidance 2021[144]) and endorsed by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner (England & Wales). By adopting DAHA’s framework, Camden is embedding robust systems for early intervention, prioritising safety, and championing a survivor-led approach.

Work delivered to date as part of Camden’s work to achieve accreditation includes:

• Launching a co-designed DVA Housing Policy and Survivors’ and accompanying ‘Know your Rights’ handbook.

• Launching specialist DVA procedures for Camden’s Housing Solutions (homelessness), Neighbourhoods (council tenants), and property management teams.

• Integrating DVA expertise into key decision-making processes, such as via the Council’s DVA Points Assessment Panel for applications made for DVA points under our Allocation Scheme.

• Large-scale DVA training rollouts to all staff in housing and property management, including specialist enhanced training to case holding staff.

• Launching a ‘DVA Early Detectors’ network for repairs, caretaking and property management staff.

• Embedding perpetrator accountability programmes, such as Drive, Restart and the Cranstoun accommodation pathway.

• Expanding the provision of women-only and VAWG specialist provision in our homelessness pathways.

Safeguarding

Other important council partnerships and boards include the Camden Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board and the Camden Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Board. Camden’s safeguarding work is underpinned by two statutory multi-agency boards: The Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (SAPB), which coordinates partners to protect adults at risk, develop strategic plans, publish annual reports, and conduct safeguarding adults reviews; and the Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP), led by three equal safeguarding partners who ensure agencies work effectively together, monitor quality, and address emerging risks. Both boards promote a collaborative, zero-tolerance approach to abuse, aiming to ensure all adults, children, and young people in Camden are safe, supported, and heard.

Policies & strategies

Camden Council and its partners have a comprehensive set of policies and strategies to address violence against women and girls (VAWG) and support those affected.

• The Camden Community Safety Partnership Action Plan (2024–27) identifies women’s safety as a priority, with objectives to tackle offending, enhance safety in public spaces, and create a safer evening and night time environment.

• The DVA Housing Policy sets a trauma-informed, rights-based approach to housing support for victim/survivors, accompanied by a “Know Your Rights” handbook. Both documents were co-designed with people with lived experience of DVA and homelessness. Procedures and training ensure consistent implementation across neighbourhood teams, homelessness services, and frontline staff.

• Camden Domestic Abuse Statement commits the Council to preventing DVA, supporting victims/survivors, disrupting perpetrators, and improving service coordination.

• The Staff Domestic Abuse Policy provides practical support for employees, including additional leave, interest-free loans, and guidance for managers. Camden is the first London local authority to sign the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant.

• The Camden Adult Social Care Policy contains targeted information and referral pathways for diverse needs, including elderly, deaf, migrant, and high-risk victim/survivors, supported by practitioner guidance.

• Children’s Services policies ensure social workers can identify and respond to DVA, supported by a safeguarding hub with tools, risk assessments, and guidance on related issues such as child exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour.

• The Model Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for schools and colleges sets statutory safeguarding standards and addresses VAWG-related risks including FGM, online safety, exploitation, and sexual harassment.

• The Vulnerable Adolescents Tackling Risk & Exploitation Strategy (2023–25) uses a five-pillar approach - Prevent, Identify, Support, Disrupt, Enforce - to address harmful sexual behaviour, exploitation, and modern slavery.

• Multi-Agency Guidance on Extra-Familial Harm and Child Exploitation 2021 provides a coordinated framework for tackling child exploitation and related VAWG behaviours, including trafficking and online harm.

• The Women’s Night Safety Charter promotes safety in public spaces and the night time economy as part of London’s wider VAWG strategy.

National Children’s Social Care Reforms

At the time of writing, as part of the National Reform work taking place, there are plans to test new ways of integrated working. Through small-scale prototypes, Camden Council will explore new ways to strengthen relationships across the system, tackle disproportionality for global majority families, use resources more effectively, and help more children stay safely at home. In response to a deep dive on DVA during the scoping work for the reforms, one of the prototypes will include placing an Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate (IDSVA) in multidisciplinary Family Help Teams. This prototype will feature one new role - Lead Child Protection Practitioner - and bring together, alongside the aforementioned IDSVAs, social workers, Early Help practitioners, and youth workers within a single team.

Other council strategies and programmes

Other in progress and recently published Camden Council strategies and reports which have some overlap with the VAWG programme of work include (but are not limited to):

• Camden Sexual Wellbeing and Reproductive Health System Review and Work Programme 2025-2030

• The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 [Currently out for consultation]

• Camden and Islington Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2027

Partnerships & multi-agency arrangements

Camden has or is involved in a range of partnerships and multi-agency arrangements, including boards, panels, and forums, that work to reduce and address VAWG and support those affected.

The Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) is coordinated by Camden Council’s in-house MARAC Coordinator and chaired by the Metropolitan Police Central North Basic Command Unit (BCU). It meets fortnightly to address high-risk DVA cases where there is a risk of murder or serious harm. Representatives from statutory and non-statutory agencies - including adult and children’s social care, housing teams, NHS, mental health services, and commissioned homelessness teams - share information to co-develop risk-reduction strategies.

The Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Panel (DAPP), coordinated by Camden Council in partnership with the police, meets monthly to manage the most complex and high-risk DVA perpetrators. Agencies involved include the police, Drive, Camden Safety Net, probation, drug and alcohol services, housing, mental health, children’s social care, family help, adult safeguarding, and health services. The panel aims to stop DVA through direct interventions such as behaviour change programmes and indirect measures that disrupt offending.

The Community MARAC (CMARAC), run by Camden Council’s Community Safety Team, focuses on complex or high-risk anti-social behaviour cases involving vulnerable victims/survivors and perpetrators. Participants include community safety, NHS, social care, housing, DVA navigators, and perpetrator specialists. The panel develops collective risk assessments, safety plans, and behaviour management strategies, with a focus on safeguarding victims/survivors and witnesses. Between March 2024 and March 2025, CMARAC heard 28 cases, with DVA identified as a factor in 32%.

The Domestic Abuse Points Assessment Panel is an internal Camden Council process chaired by the Allocations and Lettings Service with input from Camden Safety Net and the neighbourhood services. It reviews housing applications for ‘Violence and Harassment’ points made based on DVA under the Allocations Scheme, integrating DVA expertise to improve the accuracy of risk assessments. Between October 2023 and April 2025, the panel heard 247 cases, awarding points in 89% of them, with 40% of successful applicants rehoused.

The Domestic Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team (DVA MDT) is an internal weekly panel involving neighbourhood services, Camden Safety Net, perpetrator programmes, and lettings and allocations. It provides a structured forum for frontline officers to discuss new or complex DVA cases, reflect on systemic barriers to support, and develop improved procedures. From 2021 to September 2025, the MDT has heard 214 cases.

The Integrated Offender Management (IOM) programme, led by the National Probation Service, coordinates partner agencies to manage high-risk offenders.

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) involve agencies working together to manage the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders in the community.

The Women’s Homelessness Forum, convened by Camden Council, brings together local services such as Housing, Adult Social Care, VAWG teams, and organisations including St Mungo’s, Single Homeless Project, and New Horizons Youth Centre. It works to improve understanding of women’s homelessness, test and coordinate new approaches, and promote gender- and trauma-informed responses locally and beyond.

Related practices and frameworks

Camden Centre for Relational Practice

The Camden Centre for Relational Practice focuses on strengthening institutional capacity to work with people rather than doing things to them. Its mission is to embed relationships at the heart of public service practice and workplace environments, moving beyond staff training to include the design of systems, policies, and processes that foster relational cultures.

The Centre supports modern public services to address contemporary challenges through reciprocity, recognition, and respect. This involves deliberately designing relationships into organisational culture and practice.

Key areas of support include:

• Relational practice: based on the Camden relational practice framework

• Relational infrastructure: developing policies, processes, and services that sustain relationship-based work

• Relational leadership: helping leaders champion and model relational cultures

• Collaboration and participation: enabling services to work with residents to address issues collectively

Embedding relational practice in public services is particularly important in the context of DVA, as it fosters trust, recognition, and respectful collaboration, creating safer environments where survivors feel heard and supported.

Systemic family therapy

Recent developments have included the establishment of an in-house Systemic Family Therapy service that covers statutory and non-statutory requirements and links a therapist to each service area. At time of writing the team consists of 4 therapists, and they are helping to embed a more relational and systemic culture across Children and Learning teams and services, working with both practitioners (for workforce development) and families.

Services

The following tables summarise the VAWG-related services available in Camden for VAWG victim/survivors (both adults and children), perpetrators, and prevention. Where possible, data has been provided. The services are grouped according to if they are provided directly by Camden Council (i.e. “in-house”), commissioned by Camden Council, or community-based services that are not commissioned by Camden Council.

Due to the nature of this work the number of residents who engage with these services are relatively small, and therefore, data that can be shared in detail is limited. In line with best practice and for the protection of the people who engage with these services, numbers of less than 5, and percentages based on counts of less than 5, have been suppressed. In some cases, this means all data available has had to be removed.

Where details were not available about the service the name of the service is listed at the end of the relevant section to acknowledge the support they offer Camden residents. There is an additional list of related, but not VAWG specific, services in Appendix 2.

Council in-house services – victim/survivors

Camden Council provides a number of services to support the victim/survivors of DVA and VAWG. The two main services offered are Camden Safety Net and the Domestic Violence Navigators. These services are included in the tables below, and more detailed data from these services has been incorporated into the Chapter 3.

Service Name	Camden Safety Net (CSN)
Description	CSN is Camden’s in-house independent domestic and sexual abuse/violence advice (IDSVA) service, and the flagship service in Camden. It is funded by Camden Council. CSN are a confidential and consent-based service, which provides: emotional and personal support advocacy and support to access other services such as housing and children’s services risk assessment and safety planning advice on what benefits you might be entitled to referral to mental health services support to apply for non-molestation or occupation orders support to access legal help and advice support to access education, training, and employment
Service User Eligibility	Service users are victim/survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Service users are required to meet the following criteria: Aged 16+ Lives, works, or studies in the Borough of Camden Assessed to be experiencing medium-high risk domestic or sexual abuse
Service User Summary (2024-2025 Fiscal Year)	For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the details of CSN referrals were: Total referrals: 1,174 referrals Sources of referrals: 19.4% children’s services, 18.1% self-referrals, 17.8% adult safeguarding Previous engagement: 49.6% were for people who had not engaged with CSN before, and 41.6% were for people who had previously been referred to CSN. Reasons for referral: 51.5% no referral reason selected, 21.1% DVA intimate partner, 14.5% non-intimate violence/abuse, and 9.5% DVA within the family. Of the 39.5% of referrals that have a risk assessment, 52.5% progress to become a CSN client and 42.8% of referrals have children involved.
Notes	The criteria for service users can be a significant barrier for homeless victim/survivors as they don’t meet the ‘local connection’ requirement. Unfortunately, due to the high demand on regional services (e.g. Victim Support) this group of victim/survivors are unable to access support, even if they are homeless due to separation from the perpetrator and therefore in a period of increased risk.

Service Name	DVA Navigator Service
Description	The DVA Navigator services provides long-term, relational support up to 20 survivors experiencing VAWG and multiple disadvantage. Navigators provide intensive, flexible and person-centred support, including daily outreach to build engagement with ‘hard to reach’ and marginalised survivors of VAWG. The team is made up of 4 navigators and 1 service lead. Caseloads are capped at 5 survivors per frontline navigator. The service is provided by Camden Council, and funded by Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) via their Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation (DASA) funding.
Service User Eligibility	Service users are women and non-binary people impacted by VAWG and/or gender-based abuse, who are experiencing multiple-disadvantage. Service users must meet the following criteria: Have experienced gender-based violence in the 3 months preceding the referral Are aged 16+ Live in or are connected to Camden Identify as a woman or non-binary Experience at least 3 or 4 multiple disadvantages from the provided list (below). The disadvantages referenced in the eligibility criteria are listed as follows on the referral form: “Multiple disadvantages includes, but is not limited to: mental health needs; physical health; substance (mis)use; homelessness; offending behaviour; migration needs; removal of children/care affected; English as a second language; involved in prostitution/safety sex; neurodiversity”
Service User Demographics (2023-2024)	The service provided support to 20 victim/survivors in 2023-2024. The demographics of the victim/survivors supported are: Age: All were under 50 years old. Gender: 100% were women. Sexuality: The majority were heterosexual. Disability: The majority have some form of disability, whether physical, cognitive or mental-health related. All the victim/survivors supported disclosed having a mental health need. Ethnicity: 50% identified as being Black, Black British, African or Caribbean; Irish travellers, or Asian/Asian British. Relationship Status: The majority were unmarried. Homelessness: 100% experienced homelessness in the past year or were currently impacted by homelessness. Contact with Criminal Justice System: 13 have had or were currently in contact with the criminal justice system.
Service Provision Data (2023-2024)	Direct support to victim/survivors 525 face-to-face meetings were scheduled with an average 54% attendance rate (282 meetings) equalling ~705 hours (not including phone calls, outreach, texts or travel time). Supported victim/survivors to attend 259 appointments with other services (including housing, probation etc). Attendance averaged 70%. Multi-disciplinary work The team attended or convened a total of 391 professional meetings on behalf of survivors. Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) 70% were referred to MARAC in Camden. Cases were heard 38 times overall with 9 cases heard more than once. 17 perpetrators were recorded at MARAC. More data is available in the service’s annual report
Notes	Bisexual women and women from Black, Asian or minoritised ethic groups are over-represented in service users compared to the borough’s census data. The support provided by the DVA Navigators has helped to increase the number of women experiencing VAWG and living in hostels within Camden presented at MARAC.

Service Name	Camden Safety Bus
Description	A stationary bus parked outside Camden Town tube station on Friday and Saturday nights (between 9:30pm and 2:30am) to provide a safe space for people who don’t feel safe. The trained staff on board can provide first aid, information about and signposting to services including the police, water, and enable people to charge their phones. The service is funded and provided by Camden Council.
Service User Demographics (2023 – 2025)	The majority of people supported by the bus are female, however men are approximately a third of the people the bus supports.
Service Provision Data (2023 - 2025)	Since January 2023, the bus has supported over 500 people, with approximately 130 supported between 1 January and 30 June 2025. The bus team have also undertaken 2,700 engagement activities since January 2023 (e.g. outreach with members of the public and venues).

Service Name	Safe Homes
Description	The Safe Homes Scheme supports victim/survivors of DVA and hate crime to stay in their homes and feel safe by paying for improved security features such as strong door and window locks, reinforced glass panels and door viewers. This scheme is suitable for high risk/high harm cases of DVA. Under this scheme, an enhanced home security assessment is completed and works are recommended which are completed by Camden’s repairs team. This is a fully specified package of home security measures and can include installing a sanctuary (panic) room. The intention is to allow someone under extreme duress an extra 10 minutes to call the police for help.
Service User Eligibility	Victim/survivors of DVA, VAWG, and hate crimes

Service Name	Camden Early Help Services and Family Hubs
Description	Services provided by Early Help can support children and their family on a range of topics including relationship conflict, violence in the home, and concerns about your children’s health and development. This includes: Early Help Coordinators work at the ‘Early Help front door’ helping families to identify the best support available to them in the local community or linking them with services delivered by the council. Early Help Family support (for 12 weeks – 12+ months) - support from a family worker, who will work with victims/survivors and their support networks (family, friends and professionals to support identified needs). Youth Early Help (help and support for families with children over 11 years old). Family Hubs are a system-wide model of providing high-quality, joined-up, whole-family support services from conception, through a child’s early years until they reach the age of 19 or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. They provide a universal ‘front door’ to families offering a ‘one-stop shop’ of family support services across their social care, education, mental health and physical health needs, with a comprehensive Start for Life offer for parents and babies at its core. Family hubs have awareness-raising information around the hub about local services and the 24/7 DVA helpline, such as posters on toilet doors, or on notice boards, or discreet cards available to pick up Staff in the Family Hub have a good understanding of the support services available locally and can connect adult and child victim/survivors to specialist DVA services (including VCS organisations). Private spaces are available to allow victim (adult and/or child) to speak confidentially, to reduce risk associated with disclosing in front of perpetrators.
Service User Eligibility	Children and families who live in Camden
Service Data	Not available

Camden in-house services – perpetrator interventions

Service Name	Camden Council perpetrator programme (Insight)
Description	A new in-house perpetrator programme is being developed, to begin in late 2025, based on a tool and training from Respect. The programme will provide long-term (approx. 12 months) 1:1 behaviour change support to perpetrators who opt into the programme, and be delivered by 4 officers who can hold the equivalent of 8-10 full time cases (weekly meetings for 12 months). A support offer for victim/survivors will also be available through the intervention with the perpetrator, however this is an option for the victim/survivor and doesn’t determine the service provision offer for the perpetrator but is safest practice in cases where victim/survivors engage. Success will be measured through victim/survivor feedback and change in behaviour / perceptions of perpetrators. Post-intervention checks will also be conducted with service users, professionals, and victim/survivors at 3, 6, and 12 months to evidence long-term impact. In addition to Insight (age 16 +) Camden will be delivering 2 additional programs: 1. Respect Young Peoples Program. RYPP is a flagship intervention and recognized by the Youth Justice Board Effective Practice Unit. The RYPP is delivered in local authority, voluntary sector organisations and Police Crime Commissioner areas across England and Wales. The RYPP is a programme for families where children or young people aged between 8 and 18 are abusive or violent towards the people close to them, particularly their parents or carers. This abuse may be physical, verbal, financial or emotional and may include behaviour like hitting, making threats, coercive control or causing damage in the home. The RYPP uses a trauma informed approach and is targeted at reducing risk factors associated with later offending/aggressive behaviour such as: Early conduct disorder Poor attachment Poor academic attainment / school engagement Low empathy High entitlement Poor conflict resolution skills Poor emotional regulation Risk taking behaviours 2. Dating Detox: The Dating Detox Toolkit is a toolkit for practitioners to use with young people aged between 11 and 18 who are abusive or at risk of being abusive in intimate relationships. This abuse may be physical, verbal, financial, sexual, coercive, or emotional and may include behaviour like hitting, making threats or causing damage to property. The Dating Detox toolkit works towards the following outcomes: Reduce verbal aggression and violence in close relationships Provide a model for promoting healthy relationships Improve emotional well-being (coping with anxiety, anger, depression, emotional self-regulation) Improve communication, boundary setting and relationships Increase the young person’s insight to their own behaviour Improve the young person’s ability to manage conflict Help the young person develop positive self-talk and positive ideas about masculinity
Service User Eligibility	Programme participants can be identified by any service in the borough and be referred either directly via a professional or via the MARAC or DVA Perpetrator Panel if they meet the following criteria: Consent to participate The victim/survivor can be contacted and informed by a professional No open criminal investigation related to DVA offenses Not currently going through private family court proceedings Participation is open to perpetrators both with and without children.

Service Name	Caring Dads
Description	Caring Dads is a parenting programme that offers support to men who have harmful relationships with their children or the mothers of their children. It is not a DVA perpetrator behaviour change programme, but most of the men who attend have perpetrated DVA. The programme aims to support fathers to take responsibility as parents and recognise and address their behaviour that is harming their children. Examples include: Having physically or emotionally abused their children or children’s other parent Have an overbearing, controlling parenting style. Have separated from children’s mother but continue to be in frequent hostile conflict with them Involved but distant, inconsistent, poor parenting around boundaries, education and/or discipline   Some examples of what the programme covers: Child-centred fathering How men can connect and become fathers How to rebuild trust with children and plan for the future How men can strengthen their relationships with children Skills to manage stressful situations in healthy ways How men can improve their relationships with the mothers of their children   The group meet once a week for two hours. The sessions are facilitated by two specially trained council officers from the Complex Families Family Support Service and programme is delivered over 17 weeks.   Partners/ex-partners or anyone with caring responsibility for the child, such as Foster Carers, are provided support through a Women’s Support Officer who ensures their voice informs the ongoing risk assessment and evaluation of each father’s progress. The programme is delivered by Early Help staff from Camden Council who have been trained to deliver the programme. The intention is to deliver 2 cohorts per year.
Service User Eligibility	Fathers and male carers with children up to 16 years old who have displayed unhealthy or problematic behaviours towards children or children’s mothers. Referrals must come from a professional such as Probation Officer, Social Worker, Early Help Practitioners, or Designated Safeguarding Lead at child’s school or nursery.
Service Data	The 3 most recent cohorts ranged from 7-12 participants. Cohort 10 (Oct 2023 – Feb 2024): 17 consultations held 10 referrals received 7 participants - 5 successfully completed the programme Cohort 11 (Apr – Aug 2024): 23 consultations held 15 referrals received 12 participants - 6 successfully completed the programme Some participants transitioned to one to one support Cohort 12 (Mar – Jul 2025): 28 consultations held 15 referrals received 8 participants - fewer than 5 completed the programme successfully, although some of the participants without ‘successful completion’ had attended 11 or more sessions All participants reflected that they have benefited from hearing the experiences shared by others on the programme, in turn creating a shared sense of understanding and a new perspective on their own situations.
Notes	The completion data may be affected by two factors: Participants being allowed to miss fewer sessions to qualify for ‘successful completion’ of the programme. The programme has tried to be more inclusive and therefore some participants may present a higher risk to the children/partner, have more complex circumstances and needs, or their partner is pregnant. These factors all relate to higher rates of drop out.

Council commissioned/funded services or groups – victim/survivors
Services include part funded services

Service Name	Camden Community Law Centre (CCLC)
Description	The CCLC provide six consultation slots every week by telephone or face-to-face for victim/survivors to provide bespoke support including one-off advice/information, legal aid funding, and opening a legal help file. The legal support they can provide includes: Navigating immigration pathways Crisis intervention, information, advocacy and legal support Access to housing, benefits, and immigration advice Support to obtain suitable legal, civil and criminal remedies, housing, benefits, and family support Advise on rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies, making referrals, and coordinating provision of multi-agency support where necessary, and proactively advocating to minimise barriers to accessing support The service can support approximately 100-150 people/families in Camden.
Service User Eligibility	Referrals from Camden Safety Net are required to access the service.
Service User Demographics (April 2024 – April 2025)	Of the clients supported with housing issues the vast majority were females between 20 and 49 years old. Of the housing issue clients (94 total) between April 2024 and April 2025: Ethnicity: The most common ethnicity is White British (17 of 94) followed by White Other and White, however women from a total of 22 different ethnicities have been supported. 18 clients had no ethnicity data. Health / Disability: Only 13 clients reported a health condition, either mental or physical. 20 clients did not have disability/health data. Employment: 20 clients were in employment, 23 did not have employment data. Housing: The most common housing status for clients was either tenant (23) or temporary accommodation (19), however a range of status was supported including those who own their property. 16 clients had no housing status data.
Service Data (April 2024 – April 2025)	94 clients were supported with housing across 111 sessions. Since December 2024, fewer than 5 referrals were made for immigration issues, although this is not reflective of demand, rather what could be delivered as part of the grant.

Service Name	Camden Voices Against Abuse
Description	A victim/survivor group in Camden who work with the council to ensure victim/survivor voice is included in the design and delivery of services, policies, and research.
Service User Eligibility	DVA victim/survivor. Ideally members’ risk must be reduced, and they must be at a stage of recovery where they can participate meaningfully and safely without being triggered or retraumatised. The view of the victim/survivor is paramount here.
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
Description	Various services provided by Camden CAMHS can support children who are experiencing or have survived DVA, including: Play therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy for trauma Family therapy Parenting interventions Self-referrals can be accepted via the website.
Service User Eligibility	Children who live in Camden
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Camden Respite Rooms (CRR)
Description	CRR provides emergency off-the-streets short-term accommodation to women impacted by VAWG, multiple disadvantage and homelessness. CRR is a safe house, meaning the address is confidential. Residents have access to 16 bed spaces in private rooms, three shared kitchens, a communal lounge and garden. Accommodation is provided for 28-days, with the possibility of extension if required. The project is staffed with double cover 24 hours a day. There are eight permanent staff members employed. Residents are allocated a Specialist Complex Needs Worker to work with who will support them with resettlement and provide holistic, person-centred support. Camden’s Rough Sleeping Commissioner commissions Single Homeless Project (SHP) to deliver CRR. The project is funded via MOPAC DASA funding.
Service User Eligibility	Service users are women who are: Rough sleeping or experiencing statutory homelessness. Impacted by or at risk of VAWG, gender-based violence, or DVA May have multiple or co-occurring needs including substance use and mental health etc
Service User Demographics (April 2023 - March 2025)	Data collected from 99 service users between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025 is summarised as: Age at first entry to service: 18-24 years old – 33%, 25-34 years old – 22%, 35-44 years old – 21%, 45-54 years old – 11%, 55+ years old – 7% Top 5 ethnicities: White British – 24%, Black/Black British African – 19%, White Other – 13%, Any other ethnic group – 7%, Black/Black British Other – 7% Sexuality: Heterosexual – 59%, unknown – 29%, Bisexual, Gay/Lesbian or Pansexual – 11% Disability status: 11% reported a disability, 30% had unknown disability status Primary reasons for service use: DVA risk – 29%, rough sleeping – 19%, housing – 15%, mental health – 10%, Unknown – 8%, Alcohol misuse – 7%, Drug misuse – <7%, Young people at risk – <7% Income: All income from benefits – 46%, All income from employment – 6%, Income from employment and benefits – 12%, unknown income – 30% Employment status: Part time work – 8%; Job seeker – 7%; Not seeking work – 54%; Full time work, Retired, Long-term sick/disabled, or Full time student – 9% Domestic violence/abuse risk (if DVA routine enquiry completed): At risk in the past – 20%, Currently at risk – 49%, Currently experiencing DVA – 18%, Experienced DVA in the past – 53%, Perpetrator (current or historic) - 8%

Service Name	DVIP Children’s Therapy and Support Group
Description	The Domestic Violence Intervention Project provides a free, specialist 1:1 child therapy service for children and young people who have been affected by DVA. The offer is for weekly confidential play and creative arts therapy which runs from 12 to 36+ weeks depending on the need of the participant. While the service is not currently commissioned by Camden, it can be spot purchased by Children’s Services. Both professional referrals and self-referrals are accepted.
Service User Eligibility	Children affected by DVA aged between 3 and 17 years old. Participants must be living in a safe and stable environment, and not with the perpetrator. Any contact with the perpetrator must be deemed safe or supervised.
Service User Data	Not available

Service Name	Grace House
Description	LBC commissions Single Homeless Project to deliver Grace House. Grace House is a specialist supported accommodation project for women impacted by homelessness and multiple disadvantage. Grace House is a part of Camden’s Adult Pathway, it offers 24/7 staff support to 11 women.
Service User Eligibility	Service users are women impacted by homelessness and/or rough sleeping, who are 18 years old or over. Grace House works specifically with women impacted by multiple disadvantage, with co-occurring high support needs, this may include: drug or alcohol dependencies, mental health issues, offending background, and experience of VAWG. Women accessing Grace House have often been excluded from other services and present a high risk to themselves or others.
Service Data	Numbers too small to report

Service Name	Healing Together
Description	A six-week trauma-informed programme offering weekly one-to-one sessions for children who have survived DVA. The programme aims to ensure children can access early trauma-informed help, enabling children to learn about their feelings, senses, and strategies they can use to help their body and brain feel safe. Some schools in Camden are trained to deliver this programme, and parents should speak to their child’s school to discuss if the programme would be beneficial for them.
Service User Eligibility	Children between 6-16 years old
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Hopscotch One Stop Shop
Description	LBC provides a grant to Hopscotch to deliver a One Stop Shop co-located with partners to help survivors of DVA to access support from a range of partners in a timely way. Hopscotch are specialists in supporting women from black, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds, and helping women to ensure safety, and access the relevant support after leaving abusive relationships including financial support, housing support and health support. The One Stop Shop provides an opportunity to come to one place where there are wrap-around services with, DVA advocates, the Metropolitan Police, family law solicitors and welfare and benefits advisor/support with housing.
Service User Eligibility	Women who are aged 18 and over
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Panoramic Counselling and HOPE network (for VAWG service clients)
Description	Panoramic offers approximately eight one-to-one counselling sessions for women who have been impacted by DVA and who are clients of Camden Safety Net (CSN). It is grant funded by the Camden Council VAWG service and designed specifically around their clients’ needs. The service has a limited capacity of 15 monthly referrals and, when full, operates a waiting list which means CSN cannot make additional referrals. Panoramic also offers a peer network for CSN clients called Healing Our Past and Evolving (HOPE). This is grant funded through the Camden Council VAWG board.
Service User Eligibility	Please note that Panoramic and HOPE are available only to Camden’s VAWG service clients.

Service Name	Pause
Description	Pause is a national charity that works to improve the lives of women who have had – or are at risk of having – more than one child removed from their care, and the services and systems that affect them. Participants are provided with 18 months of intensive support tailored to their needs and goals, with the importance of assertive outreach and relationship-based practice underpinning the approach. Camden first commissioned the Pause programme as a 21-month pilot commencing in 2021. The pilot programme worked with six women who had had 16 children removed from their care. As a result, it was approved to extend the programme, for a direct award to the London Borough of Islington (the designated local delivery organisation) for the period April 2023 to September 2026. The programme is commissioned to work with up to 13 Camden women at any one time via two practitioners.
Service User Eligibility	Women who have had – or are at risk of having – more than one child removed from their care
Service User Demographics (since 2021)	Some of the women who took part in the pilot had experience of the criminal justice system, the care system, DVA currently or previously, drug or alcohol misuse, homelessness, learning needs, and mental health needs.
Service Data	The pilot worked with six women and demonstrated significantly positive outcomes including an increase in engagement with health and welfare services, participants changing their housing situation and accessing education, and social workers reported that participants were able to communicate with them more calmly and effectively. To date, nine women have graduated from the Pause Camden programme, ten are currently on the programme, and a further eight have engaged with the service but not taken up the full support offer.

Service Name	Safe Space
Description	Safe Space is a gender informed and trauma responsive approach to working with women experiencing multiple disadvantage living within any hostel in the Camden Adult Pathway. Safe space provides case co-ordination, coaching, training sessions alongside research, pilot projects and a flexible psychotherapy service. The service is able to provide support to 15 people at one time. The project/approach is co-developed by St Mungo’s and the London Borough of Camden. Camden Council have commissioned St Mungo’s the project across the Camden Adult pathway.
Service User Eligibility	Safe Space primarily provide second tier advice and case coordination to support to hostel staff and front-line practitioners who are engaging with women and non-binary people experiencing multiple disadvantage and homelessness. The vast majority of this client group are experiencing multiple forms of gender-based violence.
Service User Demographics	A snapshot report (across two weeks in July 2025) gathered data on 151 clients living in Camden’s Adult Pathway for single homeless people. This included cis and trans women, and non-binary clients. 80% of women in the pathway were currently experiencing VAWG or had done in the last three years. 82% of women in the Camden Adult pathway had experienced VAWG at some time in their life, with 94% of those currently experiencing VAWG having also experienced it historically. 119 out of 121 (98%) women were currently experiencing 2 or more types of abuse. Concerningly, 65 women (52%) were experiencing 5 or more types of abuse. Only 32% of residents have ever accessed specialist VAWG support – only 11 of the 125 survivors that have experienced VAWG were reported to have worked with Camden Safety Net. Of the survivors that had worked with support, those working with specialist VAWG and multiple-disadvantage teams, such as the DVA Navigator service, experienced the highest prevalence against multiple abuse categories: experiencing, on average, 7.1 types of abuse.
Service Provision Data	Between June 2024 and May 2025, 33 women were accessing psychotherapy via Safe Spaces

Service Name	SHAP Housing First
Description	Camden co-delivers a Housing First Programme in partnership with Single Homeless Project (SHP). The programme provides housing in secure council or housing association tenancies to homeless people impacted by multiple disadvantage. The programme has been developed to specifically work with couples where there is DVA – couples are allocated separate tenancies and provided with intensive DVA and perpetrator support. Funding for this programme was awarded to the London Borough of Camden by the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities and the Greater London Authority via the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP). SHAP delivers support to 30 residents living in their own accommodation up. Camden Council has allocated 20 council properties, and a partner housing association has provided 10.
Service User Eligibility	Single homeless adults with multiple disadvantage (and recourse) and no other housing options but where independent living with intensive, flexible support is possible and wanted. Two additional focuses on couples experiencing DVA and on support for perpetrators.
Service Provision Data	The scheme was launched in April 2025, and therefore unable to provide data at the time of writing.

Service Name

Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocates (IDSVA) in health settings

Description

Adult sexual health services Local adult integrated sexual health (ISH) services are commissioned in partnership with London Boroughs of Barnet, Islington and Haringey and delivered by Central and North West (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust. In response to CNWL’s reported increases in DVA and SV disclosures the 4 boroughs collaborated on commissioning an IDSVA service embedded within CNWL. The aims of this service are to: Deliver an inclusive, sensitive, non-judgmental and non-oppressive support service to victims/survivors of VAWG and domestic and sexual violence and abuse (DSVA) in North Central London boroughs of Islington, Camden, Barnet and Haringey Increase the safety of individuals, families and children who are affected by VAWG and domestic and sexual violence and abuse Reduce the occurrence of incidences and its harmful effects on victims/survivors and their children Provide support to victims/survivors and their children (via appropriate referral / joint working) at all risk levels within the wider local VAWG and DSVA infrastructure in all 4 boroughs Promote a greater independence for all users through practical assistance, emotional support and employment/skills training Raise awareness and build skills within communities and ISH services to support better identification and response to VAWG and DSVA Deliver VAWG and DSVA services embedded within ISH services which contribute to local implementation of relevant national, regional and local strategies Other health services Although not commissioned, Camden Safety Net co-locates IDVAs in two healthcare settings, one at UCLH and a virtual co-location with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). An IDVA also works with the GP lead for safeguarding, delivering training to front line workers in primary care.

Name/Title

Drug and alcohol services and other sexual health services

Description

The need to identify and support people in relation to DVA is included in all adult drug, alcohol and sexual health service specifications. Some services have a Women’s Lead and some have policies in place covering VAWG. Collective Voice, the national charity working to improve England’s drug and alcohol treatment and recovery system, have a women’s treatment working group who have recently developed a Womanifesto which is intended to encourage colleagues working in member organisations (which include both of Camden’s adult Drug & Alcohol providers) to develop services to be more responsive to women’s treatment needs, this includes reference to VAWG.

Service Name	West Hampstead Women’s Centre (WHWC)
Description	WHWC provides support and advocacy to women in Camden through social groups, classes and volunteering opportunities, including culturally specific groups for Asian, Somali and Irish women who face multiple problems and disadvantages. The offer also includes signposting to specialist DVA support. The project is funded via the We Make Camden Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Community Partnership Investment - £52,000 PA via (core/unrestricted) Community Partnership Fund. They are also funded as part of the Camden Advice Network.
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Women’s Recovery Service
Description	A specialist accommodation-based support service (24/7) that is trauma and gender-informed for 22 women who have experienced multiple disadvantage.
Service User Eligibility	Vulnerable and homeless or rough sleepers with a combination of high support needs, often been excluded from other services and present a high risk to themselves or others. Service users may have drug or alcohol dependencies, mental health issues, offending background, and experience of VAWG.
Service Data	Not available

Council commissioned / funded services – perpetrator interventions
Services are listed according to the risk assessment of the perpetrator from standard to increased risk.

Service Name	Restart
Description	Restart is an earlier intervention programme for perpetrators causing harm in families delivered by the charity Cranstoun. Restart works with core professionals, such as children’s services and housing, to prevent continued abuse. Restart originated as a response to the first lockdown during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), The Drive Partnership, Cranstoun, and Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA). It has grown from a trial with 24 families in 2020-2021 to a 3-year pilot intervention across 5 London boroughs including Camden. The Restart programme includes the following elements: Earlier intervention case management and assessment for those causing harm Accommodation support pathways Integrated support for adult victim/survivors Preparation for full length structured behaviour change support Social care and housing teams can refer directly into Restart. To be accepted, the case must be open to a social worker or Early Help worker. The duration of the programme is approximately 4-8-weeks and suitable for perpetrators (service users) presenting standard-medium level of risk. A case manager works 1:1 with the perpetrator and a partner support worker who offers telephone support to the victim/survivor. This is a category of short-term perpetrator intervention that aims to develop a person’s motivation to change and acts as a potential pathway into Cranstoun’s longer-term behaviour change group – Men and Masculinities. Restart includes an optional accommodation pathway where the perpetrator can be provided support to leave the home. This is typically a short-term hotel accommodation alongside support from an accommodation support worker to help explore longer-term housing options. The idea is to shift the accountability to the person who is causing harm, allowing the survivor and children to remain in the home. Restart is entering its fourth year of operation in Camden. Funding been agreed up-until April 2026, with the cost split between MOPAC and the six Restart boroughs. Camden has committed £38,000 in match-funding for the 2025/26 financial year. This covers the Restart intervention and accommodation pathway, the Safe & Together training and part-time Safe & Together Implementation Lead role.
Service User Eligibility	DVA perpetrators with children who are assessed to be perpetrating ‘standard/medium risk’ abuse
Service User Demographics (Apr-Jun 2024)	Data was not available for Camden only
Service Provision Data	Between April and June 2024, Camden made 10 referrals to Restart. Between November 2021 and December 2024 Camden made 91 referrals, of which 16 included a referral to the perpetrator accommodation pathway. Service data was only available across all six boroughs that Restart works in. Between November 2021 to June 2024 the following interventions were delivered: 354 service users referred to service 321 victim/survivors were referred to the service 688 children were known to the service 55 service users or victim/survivors accessed housing pathway support The most common support needs for service users were: children, family, or parenting – 55%, mental health – 32%, housing, 26%, employment or education – 23%, substance misuse – 18%, finance – 18%. (Needs under 10% - physical health, social community and identity support, purposeful activity, and immigration) Between April to June 2024, 6 cases accessed the accommodation pathway.

Service Name	Drive
Description	Drive is a behaviour change and intensive case management intervention targeted at the perpetrators in Camden who are causing the most harm. The intervention is delivered by the charity Rise Mutual. Referrals can only come from MARAC or the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Panel (DAPP). Once a case is accepted, a Case Manager is allocated. The intervention is individually tailored and can be composed of support work, behaviour change intervention, and disruption actions. Drive does not require consent to take a case, though for a direct intervention to be offered the victim/survivor needs to be engaging with support from an IDVA or another DVA specialist. Drive have an integrated IDVA service which is provided by Victim Support. A significant proportion of Drive’s work is non-direct, focusing on information gathering and coordinating with police and other agencies to divert the perpetrator and disrupt their ability to offend. Only when it is assessed as safe to do so will a 1:1 behaviour change intervention be offered to the perpetrator. Drive operates in almost all London boroughs and is in its second year in Camden. Drive is a partnership of organisations that includes the charity’s Respect and Safe-Lives. It is funded by MOPAC and launched in the Camden in November 2023. MOPAC funding is confirmed until April 2026. In Camden the intervention is delivered by the charity Rise Mutual.
Service User Eligibility	People perpetrating high-risk and high-harm DVA. Drive can work with people of any gender aged seventeen and over who are perpetrating abuse against an intermate partner, an ex-partner, or family member.
Service User Demographics (Oct 2023-Dec 2024)	Data has been redacted due to small numbers.
Service Provision Data (Nov 2023-Jan 2025)	Referrals between November 2023 and January 2025 A total of 22 Camden referrals were made to Drive A total of 44 children were linked to referrals 81% of interventions between October and December 2024 were disrupt only.
Notes	Perpetrators referred to Drive are often resistant to change, and serial offenders who are deemed to cause the most harm. Often the perpetrators in Drive cases are experiencing multiple disadvantage The University of Bristol undertook an independent, three-year, evaluation of The Drive Project during its first phase of delivery (2016-2019). This was prior to the project launching in Camden. The evaluation concluded that The Drive Project reduces abuse and the risk perpetrators pose. Key findings include: Reduction in abuse: The number of Drive service users using each type of DVA behaviour reduced substantially: physical abuse reduced by 82%; sexual abuse reduced by 88%, harassment and stalking behaviours reduced by 75%; and jealous and controlling behaviours reduced by 73%. Reduction of risk: For the duration of the intervention, IDVAs reported the risk to the victim/survivor reduced either moderately or significantly in 82% of cases. Reduction in repeat and serial perpetrator cases heard at MARAC: MARAC data showed that Drive helped to reduce high-risk perpetration including by serial and repeat perpetrators. Drive repeat and serial cases appeared less often at MARAC than the control group, the difference was statistically significant and was sustained for a year after the case was closed. Reduction in police involvement: Police data shows a 30% reduction in number of criminal DVA incidents for Drive service users in 6 months after the intervention compared to 6 months before. By comparison, there was no change for control group perpetrators for the same period.

Community / Voluntary sector provided services - not council funded

Services are listed alphabetically

Service Name	Maia and Lift Project for Girls
Description	Delivered by Advance, this pioneering programme provides vital support for young women and girls who have experienced or are at risk of DVA by intervening at the earliest opportunity. The programme is delivered in partnership with Chance UK, Working Chance, and Woman’s Trust. They offer one-to-one support, mentoring, and group work in order to build trust, self-identity, and confidence alongside skills and ability to recognise when and where to access support. Toolkits are also available for educators, youth workers, universities and colleges, and parents/carers. Maia Service This service supports young women and girls aged 13 to 25 years old with mentoring and support via group and one-to-one sessions. Where appropriate participants will be able to get employment support and advice as well as mental health support from partners. Lift Programme This programme supports young women and girls aged 9 to 25 years old to develop social and emotional skills via mentoring in one-to-one sessions with professional youth workers and group work. The service works in Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Camden, Islington, and Westminster Referrals are made via case consultation request forms on their website. This project is funded by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).
Service User Eligibility	Young women and girls who are: Living in the boroughs where the service works Aged 9-25 years old At risk of DVA or showing signs of being affected by unhealthy relationships Displaying risks of being involved in the criminal justice system At risk of being out of education, employment or training due to exclusion or low school attendance Requiring career and employment support (for over 18 years old) Impacted by violence and abuse in the home and/or other adverse childhood experiences
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	WISER
Description	The WISER Project is a partnership of eight specialist charities working with women impacted by/or experiencing abuse and multiple disadvantage. The project provides outreach, and flexible 1-1 and group support to help victim/survivors to: Access safe housing & benefits Stay safe and improve health Engage in other support services Build self-esteem and confidence Access work, education and training Become financially independent They currently provide support in English, Turkish, Bengali and Sylethi. The lead organisation is Solace Women’s Aid and the project is funded by MOPAC using Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Safe Accommodation funding.
Service User Eligibility	This service is open to women and girls over 16 years old who: Live in Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Barnet, and Tower Hamlets Are experiencing violence or abuse and are affected by severe and multiple disadvantages, including: Homelessness Substance misuse Mental health Physical health Insecure or uncertain immigration status Affected by or at risk of prostitution History of offending behaviour History of children being removed from her care and/or at risk of further removals In total 12 Advocates (since November 2022), across 7 frontline delivery services within the partnership, supported women accessing the project. The service also provides peer mentors.
Service User Demographics (2022-2023)	During year 5 (2022-2023) of the project 7 new service users were engaged. Data captured on 6 completed new entry forms show that of the service users: The majority identified as White British/Irish, heterosexual, experiencing mental health, currently experiencing domestic or sexual abuse, live with at least one form of disability and/or had their child(ren) removed from their care Some participants disclosed alcohol or substance use, were experiencing homelessness, and/or were currently or had previously engaged in offending behaviour During year 5, 8 women exited the service.
Service Provision Data (2022-2023)	In year 5, the project maintained a caseload of approximately 50 women per quarter (as below) Quarter 1 - 53 women Quarter 2 - 52 women Quarter 3 - 53 women Quarter 4 – Referrals were stopped due to funding uncertainty and some cases were redistributed within the team due to staffing issues Quarter 5 - 49 women Collectively advocated supported women to attend over 400 appointments with services, during year 5. The support provided is usually regarding housing, mental health, substance/alcohol misuse, support in relation to experiencing VAWG and physical ill-health. Service users identified the following themes for their initial short-term goals: Housing / Safe housing (50%) Alcohol / Substance misuse (36%) Immigration (36%) Education, Training, and Employment (36%) Mental health and wellbeing (29%) When considering long-term goals service users selected the following themes: Education, Training, and Employment (43%) Contact / Living with children (36%) Housing / Safe housing (36%) Alcohol / Substance misuse (21%) Mental health and wellbeing (21%) More data is available in the project’s year 5 evaluation report on the Solace website
Notes	The year 5 evaluation report notes that the challenges the service has faced include: Inconsistency in advocates that service users work, in part due to the funding cycles and funding uncertainty leading to advocates finding alternative employment Effective partnership working with other agencies can be challenging due to a lack of flexibility in approach or a lack of understanding from other services Referrals into mental health can be hard and therefore, a lot of that work is held within the project

Service Name	Women at the Well (WATW)
Description	WATW is a support service for women based in the King’s Cross area. They provide practical support and advocacy to women facing multiple disadvantage, and have a specialism in working with women whose lives have been affected by transactional sex, prostitution, and/or sexual exploitation. The support provided includes: A drop-in centre (Monday – Thursday) where women can access advice and necessities, such as food, hot showers, laundry, and clean clothes A support and advocacy service, providing bespoke one-to-one support and advocacy An outreach service that identifies women that are rough sleeping, precariously housed, and/or experiencing hidden homelessness Structured activities and groups The service is mostly focused on middle aged women. Those who are under 25 years old are referred on to young adult specialist services. Women at The Well is predominantly privately/third sector funded (i.e. from trusts and foundations which fund registered charities). They are also in receipt of Camden Resilience Fund (2024) and We Love Camden (2025) funding.
Service User Eligibility	Women who are affected by or at risk of sexual exploitation
Service User Demographics (2024)	Most of the women supported by WATW have multiple disadvantages including: Homelessness and housing insecurity, related to affordability and safety (100% of current service users) Mental and/or physical health problems (40% of current service users) Addictions Histories of VAWG and traumatic childhoods Ongoing relationships with abusive and exploitative partners and others Destitution and/or debt Migration status issues Of the women who have done assessments and undertaken 1:1 advocacy with specialist support workers, 80% report that they have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse. An assessment of 222 active case files as of 5 November 2024 found the following demographics: Age: 36-45 years old - 31.3%, 46-55 years old - 25.7%, 25-35 years old - 22.52%, 56-65 years old - 11.3%, under 24 years old - 4.5%, over 65 years old - 4.5% Ethnicity: White British - 29.3%, White Other - 15.8%, Other - 13.6%, Black British (African) - 11.3%, Mixed Race - 7.2%, Black British (Other) - 6.3%, Black British (Caribbean) - 5%, British Asian - 4%, unknown - 4%, White Irish - 3.6% Disability Status: 15% disclosed a disability, 24.8% had an unknown disability status
Service Provision Data (2024)	Over the year, the drop-in centre operated for 50 weeks, providing essential services and recording 1,692 visits, with growth in both returning and first-time users. In-house support reached over 500 women, with around 200 receiving intensive, tailored help, including safety planning, healthcare access, and emergency housing. The outreach team completed 128 shifts in high-risk areas, engaging 682 women, maintaining follow-up contact, and supporting nearly 300 with housing, welfare, and addiction referrals. They also accompanied police on visits to suspected brothels to offer independent advice to women found there.
Notes	WATW have noted that their data input is not well set up for how equality characteristics interact with nationality and citizenship status and they are taking actions to improve data collection.

London-Wide / National services available in Camden

Services are listed alphabetically

Service Name	Domestic Abuse Recovering Together (DART)
Description	The DART intervention is a group work programme for mothers and children who have experienced DVA. The programme includes individual sessions for mothers and children (age 7-14), and joint sessions that work on the mother–child relationship. This approach is unique because it includes joint mother and child sessions, with a primary focus of the programme being to enhance the mother–child relationship, in addition to supporting other aspects of their recovery. The programme runs several cohorts each year, each lasting 10 weeks, with weekly sessions lasting between two hours to two and a half hours. Each cohort is targeted at a specific age range for the children – e.g. one group will be for 7-11 years and another might be 12-14 years). For half of the sessions, mothers and children are in their separate peer groups. In the other sessions, mothers and children work on activities together, which aim to help them share their experience of the abuse and to acknowledge their related feelings and concerns while supporting one another. The approach used is based on Humphreys et al’s (2006) research, Talking To My Mum, which found that outcomes for children who experience DVA are improved when the non-abusive parent is involved in supporting their recovery. The DART programme is a pan-London programme delivered by NSPCC.
Service User Eligibility	Mothers and children (7-14 years old) who are victim/survivors of DVA.
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Galop
Description	The UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, Galop works with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence. They specialise in supporting victim/survivors of DVA, sexual violence, hate crime, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, so-called ’conversion therapies, and other forms of interpersonal abuse. They provide four national support helplines: (1) DVA; (2) hate crime; (3) rape and sexual abuse; and (4) so-called ‘conversion therapy’. They also provide longer-term support via their advocacy services.
Service Data	Between April 2024 and March 2025, Galop received 58 new referrals from Camden residents to the advocacy and support services they provide.

Service Name	Solace Women’s Aid
Description	Solace works to prevent VAWG and provides services to meet the needs of victim/survivors, particularly women and children, trans women and non-binary people. The services they provide include accommodation (including refugees for those with complex needs and/or multiple disadvantages), advice and support, rape crisis support, support for young people, therapeutic services, and training.
Service User Eligibility	Women, trans women, non-binary people, and children
Service Data	Not available

Service Name	Victim Support
Description	Victim Support provides a Pan-London Victims and Witness Service, with specific provision for DVA/VAWG victim/survivors. It is used as the key offer for people in Camden who are considered to be at ‘standard risk’. At the time of this needs assessment, an interim service was in operation until September 2025. Referrals only accepted via the Centralised Referral Mechanism - police, hospital co-location, and self-referral only. Will not accept agency or MARAC referral. Waiting list in place for clients without immediate risk Maximum of 12 weeks support – Exceptions to be agreed on individual basis (needs based) Annual cap for Camden is: High risk annual cap: 85 cases Standard risk annual cap: 140 cases The types of support provided are: Independent Victim Advocates (IVA) for non-high risk cases IDVAs for high risk cases “By and For” IDVAs (provided via partners) Co-location of London Victim and Witness Service IDVAs at 13 London Hospitals and 1 BCU Specialist IDVAs for Black and minoritised communities, male victims/survivors, disabilities, and CYP MOPAC commissions Victim Support to provide this service. It is a pan-London service and does not receive any funding from the London Borough of Camden.
Service User Demographics Q1 2024-2025	Total Camden referrals – 146 Total cases supported – 34
Notes	Data provided at the VAWG Coordinators Extraordinary Meeting in September 2024, suggests that work may be necessary to improve use of the provision as the number of people supported is lower than the quarterly cap for the borough (High risk – 11 people supported, cap of 21; Standard risk – 23 supported, cap of 35). A new contract is due to go live in Autumn 2025 with services starting in early 2026.

Service Name	Victim Support Safer Spaces for Children
Description	Safer Space+ is a free specialist, confidential support service for children and young people affected by DVA, that provides various forms of weekly support for eight weeks. Advocacy One-to-one emotional support Practical support Safety planning Support through the court process Confidence building Exploration of healthy and unhealthy relationships Information regarding the criminal justice system Mentoring (via Chance UK) Workshops Where appropriate and where need is required, respite from DVA trauma and additional activities to support building existing relationships within families may be provided. Referrals are made by professional agencies / services who work with children and young people who are affected by DVA.
Service User Eligibility	Children and young people affected by DVA who are: Aged 5-18 years old Live or are educated in London For mentoring, both the child and the child’s carer must consent, and children should not have a significant learning need or neurodevelopmental difference that would prevent them from fully engaging in the intervention programme.
Service Data	Not available

Prevention and earlier identification/intervention

School prevention programmes

Several schools-based prevention programmes are delivered by a range of partners in Camden. The programmes range from in-school theatre productions to training for staff.

For primary school children, Face Front deliver “Whisper Me Happy Ever After”, an in-house theatre production that explores the impact of DVA on the mental health of the children who witness it. The children are able to talk through the play and how they would have reacted or asked for help, as well an opportunity to speak to a counsellor after the performance. In the Spring term of 2025, over 700 people participated across 10 Camden schools – the highest number of schools of any borough the programme runs in.

There are three programmes available in Camden secondary schools to prevent and raise awareness of VAWG:

• RESet – Healthy Relationships: A 2 day fully-funded programme about DVA for up to 30 pupils. 9 Camden schools have taken up the offer of training to date. This programme is delivered by Tender, a company that works with children and young people to prevent them from becoming victims or perpetrators of DVA.

• Loudmouth Programme: Schools can choose from three programmes for a full day of activities which look at misogyny, sexual harassment, and assault (“Calling It Out”); mental health issues (“Talking Heads”); and child exploitation and misogyny (“Working for Marcus”). The programme is delivered by Loudmouth, an education and training theatre company. The programme is funded for all secondary schools in Camden, it has been delivered in one school at the time of writing, but more schools are scheduled.

• Positive Masculinity Project: Year 10 students at Haverstock School have been involved in the “Positive Masculinity Project”, led by Hopscotch. This pilot program, designed at Haverstock for selected students, provides a safe and supportive space to challenge gender stereotypes and explore healthy perspectives on identity.

In addition to the student programmes, Tender provides training for school staff and governors on gender-based violence and DVA. Due to the success of the training to date (across 9 secondary schools, 2 primary schools, and 2 Special Educational Needs & Disability settings) additional training dates have been scheduled.

Camden Educational Psychology Service (ESP)

A DVA Pilot Project has been developed in response to recurring presentations of DVA within the Primary Inclusion Forum (PIF). Analysis of PIF data from summer 2025 identified 22 pupils across 18 schools, with the majority either receiving advice or placements in alternative provision. This highlighted the need for targeted, preventative support within schools most frequently represented, as well as in specialist settings to which pupils transition.

Two settings have been identified for the pilot, with agreement in principle from their leadership teams and support from the Educational Psychology Service (EPS). The pilot will begin in autumn 2025 and will involve a needs analysis consultation with key stakeholders to inform a personalised DVA support package. This may include training for school leaders, Video Interaction Guidance cycles, professional development opportunities, and consultation or supervision spaces. Participating schools will complete pre- and post-measures to support evaluation of the project’s impact.

Training

Camden Council provides a number of VAWG-related training for staff. Its in-house offer includes a mandatory e-learning module for all staff about DVA alongside more detailed training for staff who work with residents. The more detailed training offers include:

• Camden Safety Net Domestic Violence and Abuse Awareness

• Tiered DVA Training (Levels 1–3) for Housing Services: Delivered in house

• Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Training for venue staff

• Confidence in complexity multi-agency training

• Housing training

• VAWG training

• Transactional sex and women’s homelessness

Over 5,000 members of staff have completed the mandatory training (96% of staff as of February 2025), and 134 staff members across a number of departments and teams completed both the mandatory training and the Camden Safety Net training between 1 April 2023 and 30 September 2025.

Plans are in place to incorporate insights from the VAWG Needs Assessment and Youth Assembly to inform future offers, as well as aligning with the new alcohol strategy and sexual wellbeing programme to develop new resources and training. Work is also underway to expand trauma-informed training across services, including Housing and Health and piloting service-specific modules and explore a champion model for sustainability. MECC training is also being reviewed to include DVA identification.

Safe & Together

In addition to the in-house training, Camden Council contributes funding to the Safe & Together™ training which is delivered by Respect, and co-funded by MOPAC and local authorities. The training is a suite of tools and approaches for children’s social workers and their partners to help these professionals improve their awareness and understanding of DVA.

In Camden, specifically, the training is offered to social workers and Early Help teams by a member of the Respect team who is dedicated to Camden Council part-time, and is co-located at the Camden Council offices.

The model is based on three key principles:

• Keeping children safe and together with their non-abusive parent, ensuring safety, healing from trauma, stability, and nurturance

• Partnering with the non-abusive parent as a default position ensuring efficient, effective, and child-centred practice

• Intervening with the perpetrator to reduce the risk and harm to the child through engagement, accountability, and criminal justice

Based on data from November 2021 to September 2025, the programme has received positive impact and feedback from both training and consultations with the Respect team member (over 175 consultations), trained nearly 400 members of staff (either 4-day CORE training or overview training), and has resulted in the development a champions network.

Communications

Three communications campaigns have been delivered by Camden council in 2024 and 2025, and a housing sub-campaign was launched in 2025.

The “In Camden We Call It Out” campaign was supported by the Metropolitan Police and was intended to raise awareness about sexual harassment and the law. It was developed based on experiences of women in Camden. The campaign includes a call to action to report unacceptable behaviour and intervene if it is safe to do so. The campaign highlights the wide range of work being delivered by the Council and in partnership with the police, schools, community groups, and businesses. In May 2025 a drink spiking awareness campaign was also launched initially focussing on Camden’s universities and student population, with posters and signposting information.

The “Know You’re Not Alone” campaign was launched on White Ribbon Day, highlighting different forms of DVA such as controlling or coercive behaviour, psychological and emotional abuse, financial abuse, and physical abuse. It shows how the different types of abuse take place in different types of relationships including partners and family members.

In March 2025 the Housing and Domestic Abuse ‘Know Your Rights’ Survivors’ Handbook was launched, alongside a resident-facing Housing and Domestic Abuse Policy and translated overview documents. Both documents were co-designed with people with lived experience of DVA and VAWG, homelessness, and housing insecurity. This work took place in two key phases:

• Phase one entailed 40 hours of consultation and semi-structured interviews with people with lived experience(s) and specialist services. This was focused on reaching structurally marginalised victim/survivors, specifically women impacted by multiple disadvantage.

• In Phase two participants from the consultation were recruited to join a Policy Development steering group. Over several months, this group helped to develop, write, edit and design the policy and handbook.

The handbook aims to embed a rights-based approach by providing clear and reassuring information on the different options available to victim/survivors with a housing need.

The handbook and Housing and Domestic Abuse policy were launched alongside ‘No place for abuse’, which is the housing sub-campaign of the Council’s wider DVA campaign, ‘Know You’re Not Alone’. The campaign aimed to promote the housing and DVA support available to key housing stakeholders, including 23,000 tenants, 9000+ leaseholders and frontline housing staff, via a multi-channel social media campaign and through housing channels. This included a DVA leaflet that was inserted into quarterly rent statements.

Below are examples of the campaigns described above

Figure 35: Examples of communication campaigns

CHAPTER 5: STAKEHOLDER VIEWS

Methods

To inform this needs assessment, we gathered information on a range of issues related to VAWG from a variety of sources. This included experts by lived experience, professionals working in the field, and individuals who may encounter victim/survivors in the course of their work, even if their role is not specifically focused on DVA.

We held a number of in-person engagement and insight workshops, and commissioned Solace and Hopscotch to run sessions with specific population groups. We also partnered with the Woman’s Trust to co-facilitate a session that had a large focus on mental health and DVA. These organisations’ involvement ensured a safe, neutral space, drawing on specialist expertise and an independent perspective - separate from the Council - which helped foster openness. These organisations are skilled at building trust with women and girls, and their culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach enabled open, honest conversations with women from diverse community backgrounds about their views and experiences. Verbal consent was acquired before discussions commenced, and all information was anonymised. For the council run sessions personal data was not collected. Notes were shared with participants afterwards to check for accuracy and opportunity to amend, clarify or retract.

During these sessions, participants were asked about their awareness and experience of available services, perceived barriers to access, the effectiveness of services, and suggestions for addressing local challenges.

In addition, to help address gaps, we have drawn on insights from existing reports and recent, related engagement activities to supplement the primary data collected. Some of these are Camden specific for example, the reports by the Camden Women’s Forum (CWF) 2020 and The Winch 2022 on causes, manifestations, and systemic nature of violence against women and girls of colour in Camden. Where there is paucity of Camden specific data, relevant regional or national insights such as specialist service GALOP 2023 insight report on LGBT+ DVA survivors’ access to support, or health sector professionals insights gathered and reported by Crossing Pathways 2025.

Table 10: Qualitative insights and engagement completed for Camden VAWG needs assessment 2025

New insight sessions/focus groups
Victim/Survivor and community group insights: Listening session with Camden Voices Against Abuse (CVAA) co facilitated with the Woman’s Trust 3 x focus groups with Solace service user groups 2 generic refuges in Camden borough 1 multiple disadvantage refuges in Camden borough 4 x consultations with women from the following communities or using the following services Hopscotch Women’s Centre: Bangladeshi Older Women’s Group Kings Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association (KCBNA): Somali Women’s Group London Irish Centre Women at the Well Professionals’ and practitioner insights: Camden Safety Net practitioners’ insight session DVA Navigators practitioners’ insight sessions Grace House – Women’s homelessness and multiple disadvantage supported accommodation – insights workshop 2 x insight workshops for Council, NHS and VCSE professionals on DA and mental health 1 x insight discussion with Children and Learning practitioners Reform Discovery findings (as part of Children and Learning National Reform deep dives) GPs’ focus group Money Advice Team insight session Drive, Restart and Team Manager of Camden Perpetrator Programme – practitioners’ insights sessions
Existing Camden specific insights
Camden Women’s Forum report 2020 Women’s Safety Survey 2024 The Winch report 2022: Qualitative research on VAWG and Women and Girls of Colour Youth Assembly findings 2024 Women’s Homeless Forum
Existing insights - regional or national
Crossing Pathways 2025 – Health sector professionals Galop 2023 report: LGBT+ domestic abuse survivors’ access to support

Further insight and engagement opportunities

It was not possible to engage all relevant stakeholder groups during this initial version of the needs assessment due to timelines and resource constraints. As such, further engagement and insight gathering will occur iteratively and be added to the Council’s repository of insights. Several stakeholder groups are planned as an update to this needs assessment and/or for inclusion as part of strategy development to ensure their voices are represented. This includes (but not limited to):

• An online staff engagement survey with questions on knowledge and skills, awareness of services, perceived gaps and barriers, enablers, and the common beliefs or attitudes encountered in their work.

• Engagement with health visitors and maternity colleagues

• Camden LGBTQ community and groups

Limitations

Whilst we made efforts to carry out engagement and use existing insights that represented a wide range of voices, we acknowledge that for this version of the needs assessment some perspectives and experiences may not be fully reflected. Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that the insights gathered are mainly related to DVA rather than other aspects of VAWG.

While participants highlighted examples of effective practice and dedicated professionals, the nature of focus group discussions means that people are often more inclined to speak about challenges, gaps, or areas of concern. The findings presented here therefore reflect that emphasis and should be considered alongside the positive experiences that were also shared, even if they are less prominent in this summary.

Summary of qualitative findings

The insights begin with a summary of key themes across all stakeholder discussions, followed by a thematic analysis of each session for this needs assessment, and then insights from other sources.

Cross-cutting themes from all new stakeholder engagement

While each stakeholder group offers distinct and tailored perspectives, the following themes emerge as the most prominent across the stakeholder insights.

1. Prevention and a public health approach to addressing VAWG
   Stakeholders called for stronger prevention and earlier identification and intervention by the system/professionals, including school-based education on healthy relationships, early identification of DVA in health and housing settings, and perpetrator rehabilitation programmes.

2. Gaps in support for victim/survivors who don’t meet certain service criteria
   Survivors whose cases do not meet certain criteria e.g. high-risk thresholds for DVA often face limited or no ongoing support once immediate danger has passed or post-separation abuse. This gap leaves many without help during the crucial recovery phase, when trauma and practical challenges may intensify. There are gaps in identification and support for other, often hidden forms of VAWG such as ‘honour-based’ abuse.

3. Mental health
   All groups identified a shortage of DVA-informed mental health provision, especially for victim/survivors with complex trauma or dual diagnoses. Services are often short-term, generic, and difficult to access, with long waits and high thresholds. Victim/survivors stressed the need for sustained, relationship-based, trauma-informed care.

4. Support for children
   Stakeholders repeatedly called for consistent recognition of children as direct victim/survivors of DVA, with expanded access to therapeutic services and school-based interventions. Intergenerational trauma and the use of children by perpetrators as a form of control were key concerns.

5. System-induced trauma
   Victim/survivors and professionals reported mistrust of, and harm caused by fragmented services, repeated retelling of their story, punitive housing environments, and inconsistent or unsafe interventions. These experiences compounded trauma and, in some cases, undermined recovery.

6. Housing and benefits
   A lack of safe, suitable, and local housing options is a persistent barrier. Forced relocations disrupt support networks, particularly for women with children. Hostel environments are often unsuitable and not trauma-informed. Housing First models, where available, were praised but are rare. When Universal Credit is paid directly into claimants’ bank accounts, it can increase the risk of financial control in cases of DVA, or lead to rent arrears where claimants face multiple disadvantages and associated poor spending habits.

7. Equity and intersectionality
   Cultural stigma, institutional bias, and lack of cultural competence can hinder access to support - particularly for migrant women, women experiencing multiple disadvantage, with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), disabilities, neurodivergence, or language needs. Many services remain inaccessible or unwelcoming for marginalised groups, including those experiencing homelessness, those with dual diagnoses and other disadvantage.

8. Training and skills
   There is strong demand for mandatory, trauma-informed, culturally competent DVA training for all frontline professionals, particularly in policing, housing, healthcare, and education. Training should go beyond basic safeguarding to address disclosure, trauma impacts, and victim-blaming attitudes.

9. Service navigation & information access
   Victim/survivors and professionals need clear, up-to-date service maps, referral pathways and service criteria. A centralised directory, accessible in multiple languages and formats, was widely recommended to reduce missed opportunities and victim/survivor burden.

10. Accountability, justice and perpetrator programmes
    Low prosecution rates, premature case closures, and minimal perpetrator consequences undermine trust in the justice system. Victim/survivors often feel judged or dismissed by police and CPS. Perpetrator programmes play an important role in challenging harmful behaviours and attitudes, holding perpetrators accountable, and breaking cycles of abuse alongside other protective measures for victim/survivors.

11. Funding & workforce stability
    Short-term contracts, low staffing capacity, and insecure employment for specialist VAWG roles reduce continuity of care and service effectiveness. Responding to and supporting those with direct trauma can impact staff wellbeing, which can be addressed by clinical supervision and reflective practice.

12. Multi-agency coordination
    Poor communication and unclear referral processes across sectors and geographies can lead to gaps, duplication, and missed opportunities. Stakeholders called for joint case-sharing meetings, embedded specialists, and system-wide accountability.

Whilst the finding presented here placed greater emphasis on difficulties - the nature of focus group discussions meant that people were more inclined to focus on challenges, gaps or areas of concern - it is important to note that positive experiences where also shared. Where those with lived experience and professionals reflected on what has enabled prevention and response VAWG and DVA, several enabling factors were highlighted:

• Trusted and supportive relationships with professionals and institutions – Where victim/survivors have felt safe, respected, and believed by frontline services and practitioners they were more likely to seek and have a positive experience of support. Services such as Camden Safety Net and Domestic Violence and Abuse Navigators, and services giving appropriate mental health support, were described as life-saving.

• Safe accommodation options – Access to hostels, refuges, and other forms of temporary housing can be life-saving, providing immediate safety and space to rebuild.

• Effective multi-agency collaboration – Where there has been coordinated responses between police, health services, housing, schools, and specialist organisations ensure victim/survivors do not fall through gaps in the system.

• Youth engagement and positive role models – Youth workers and community mentors play a crucial role in prevention by offering alternatives, support, and guidance to young people.

• Skilled and trauma-informed staff – Practitioners trained to identify vulnerability, understand intersectionality, and respond appropriately can intervene earlier and more effectively.

• A culture of safety and awareness – Proactive approaches in schools, workplaces, and communities help challenge harmful norms and increase understanding of rights, consent, and healthy relationships.

• Positive male allies – Men acting as role models and active allies to women can challenge harmful behaviours, promote equality, and shift community attitudes.

Victim/Survivor and community group insights

Camden Voices Against Abuse (CVAA) listening & engagement session

As part of the Domestic Abuse and Mental Health deep dive, the Council worked with the Women’s Trust to listen to people who are experts by experience from the Camden Voices Against Abuse (CVAA) network to understand issues surrounding mental health and DVA, particularly in relation to support needed and access to support.

Participants requested a less formal session than a focus group, with limitations placed on collection of demographic data of those present. The session took place in April 2025. There were seven women with lived experience, all of whom had received support from Camden Safety Net. An additional participant submitted a written statement that was read out.

Summary of key themes

Role of GPs and other gatekeepers Victim/survivors reported that when GPs recognised DVA and referred to specialist services, the impact was transformative, but such recognition was inconsistent. Missed opportunities, over-medicalisation, and variable follow-up were common. Gaps in mental health services Access to DVA-informed mental health support was limited, with long waits, generic approaches, and a lack of specialist practitioners. Survivors stressed the need for sustained, trauma-informed care to address complex, ongoing trauma. System-induced trauma Poor, siloed service responses worsened victim/survivors’ mental health and safety. Repeatedly retelling traumatic experiences, unsafe interventions, and a lack of understanding of post-separation abuse compounded harm. Children’s mental health and safeguarding Children need to be seen as victims of DVA, yet specialist support felt inconsistent. The impact on children’s mental health and intergenerational transmission of risk, behaviour or trauma was a key concern. It was perceived that professionals often failed to recognise how perpetrators use children to exert control, placing undue responsibility on non-abusive parents. Cultural and structural barriers Cultural stigma, institutional misogyny, and lack of cultural competence made it harder for survivors - particularly those from marginalised groups - to access appropriate support. Power of specialist and peer support Specialist services and survivor-led peer networks provided validation, safety, and essential guidance through complex systems, often described as “lifesaving”. Need for long-term, holistic, person-centred support Victim/survivors emphasised that DVA has lasting effects beyond separation, requiring integrated mental, physical, and emotional support, alongside access to holistic therapies and prevention-focused approaches.

Discussion findings (summarised)

Role of GPs and other gatekeepers: Victim/survivors who took part in the focus group described a landscape of support for DVA victim/survivors that is both life-changing at its best and inadequate at its worst. When GPs or other professionals recognised the signs of DVA and made referrals to services such as Camden Safety Net (CSN), women described the impact as “transformative” and “lifesaving.” However, this experience was inconsistent. It was felt that often abuse went unnoticed - both by victim/survivors themselves, who may not recognise controlling behaviour as abuse, and by professionals, who failed to ask the right questions. In these cases, health problems were treated in isolation e.g. anxiety, depression, and sleep issues were met with antidepressants rather than targeted DVA support. In some cases, trauma responses were misdiagnosed as mental illness, further delaying appropriate care.

Follow-up after initial disclosure was equally variable. Some victim/survivors experienced regular, compassionate check-ins; others felt abandoned once they left the GP’s office. Opportunities to connect women with specialist support were often missed due to professionals’ lack of knowledge about available services.

Gaps in mental health provision: The picture given for mental health services highlighted gaps. Victim/survivors described a scarcity of DVA-specialist provision, long waiting lists of six months to three years, and a reliance on generic, non-trauma-informed approaches. Experienced practitioners were hard to access; victim/survivors were more likely to be assigned to trainees with limited understanding of DVA. Short-term, crisis-focused interventions left many women without the sustained support they needed to recover from complex, ongoing trauma. For some, key memories of abuse only began to surface two years after leaving the relationship, by which point the formal support had long ended.

System induced trauma: Participants spoke of “system-induced trauma” - harm caused not by the perpetrator, but by the very systems meant to help. Services worked in silos, with little information sharing. Survivors were forced to retell their experiences repeatedly, sometimes to staff who lacked DVA awareness, leading to unsafe or retraumatising responses. Post-separation abuse was poorly understood, and child safeguarding often placed the burden on the non-abusive parent while ignoring the ongoing risk posed by the perpetrator.

Children’s mental health and safeguarding: Children’s mental health emerged as a central concern. Participants stressed that children are not passive witnesses to abuse but victim/survivors themselves, with trauma akin to that experienced by soldiers. Yet specialist support for children was rare and inconsistent, and professionals often failed to recognise how perpetrators use children as tools of coercion and control. Intergenerational transmission of trauma, risk or behaviour was a concern.

Cultural and structural barriers: Cultural stigma, lack of cultural competence, and institutional misogyny compounded the barriers to safety and recovery. Marginalised women - including those without children, women with disabilities, and non-native English speakers - were especially at risk of being overlooked by services.

Power of specialist and peer support: Despite these challenges, victim/survivors highlighted the transformative power of the right support. Camden Safety Net, Panoramic counselling, and peer-led groups like Healing Our Past and Evolving (HOPE) Survivors Group provided validation, understanding, and a roadmap through the maze of services and legal processes. Peer networks, in particular, offered not just emotional solidarity but practical advice that could make the difference between safety and continued harm.

Long term holistic care: Above all, victim/survivors called for long-term, holistic, person-centred care. They stressed that the impact of abuse does not end with leaving the perpetrator, and that both mental and physical health are affected in interconnected ways. Chronic stress and trauma can lead to serious physical illnesses, adding to the cost - both personal and systemic - of inadequate support. Holistic interventions, from Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to yoga and mindfulness, can play an important role, but are inconsistently available.

Participant recommendations

• Embed victim/survivor voice into policy and service design.

• Develop individualised, tiered DVA support across the risk spectrum and survivor’s journey.

• Improve inter-agency communication and address system-induced trauma.

• Provide mandatory DVA trauma-informed training for all frontline professionals.

• Ensure family-centred approaches in cases involving children. This means that support engages and supports the victim/survivor, holds the person causing harm (DVA perpetrator) to account, and protects and supports any children in the family.

• Prioritise prevention, early intervention, and long-term care.

Solace refuges survivor-led insights and needs

(Summarised from their full report)

Solace were commissioned by Camden Council to gather insights from victim/survivors to inform the needs assessment. They undertook 3 focus groups across their 2 generic refuges and 1 multiple disadvantage refuges in Camden borough in June 2025. The structure of these focus groups was reviewed and designed by Solace’s advisory group to ensure victim/survivor engagement throughout this research process. There was a total of 19 participants, and demographic breakdown of participants can be found in the full report.

Summary of key themes

Insights, opinions, and feedback on experiences, unmet needs and desired support Meaningful and trusted support Unmet needs and missed opportunities Identifying barriers and gaps in existing services, interventions, and support mechanisms Systemic barriers to access Service fragmentation and inconsistency Distrust Exploring sensitive topics related to VAWG, such as mental and physical health, and the needs of children and families Mental health and trauma recovery Impact on children and parenting Supportive vs harmful responses

Discussion findings (summarised)

Meaningful and trusted support: Victim/survivors emphasised the value of compassionate, person-centred, trauma-informed support. Solace services were frequently described as a “lifeline,” especially when staff were empathetic and consistent. Emotional awareness workshops (e.g., ARISE counselling), yoga in refuge, gardening schemes, and in-house counselling were seen as validating and stabilising.

“Solace just knew what I needed. They gave me pyjamas when I had nothing.”
“I didn’t feel like a case number. I felt like a person.”

Participants valued a single point of contact, such as a key worker or GP, and praised safety measures like GP record protections and social worker safety plans.

Unmet needs and missed opportunities: Many expressed frustration over unclear processes, excessive signposting, and not recognising abuse until it became physical. A lack of proactive identification and support at early stages was repeatedly noted.

“I had no idea I was being abused until it got physical.”
“[The council] gave me a list of numbers but no help.”

Missed opportunities were cited in schools, GP visits, and police interactions, with calls for teacher training to spot signs such as behavioural changes or absences.

Systemic barriers to access: Barriers included immigration status, no recourse to public funds, and language issues. Women on temporary or spousal visas were denied refuge or legal aid, and some were told to pay for hotels. Lack of interpreters, family support, or digital literacy further isolated survivors.

Service fragmentation and inconsistency: Victim/survivors reported poor coordination between services, boroughs, police teams, and housing, leading to repeated retelling of trauma and lost cases. Lack of standardised training and handovers created emotional harm. Positive experiences with responsive services (e.g. Barnet SASS, GP flagging) contrasted with Camden.

Distrust: Some felt judged, blamed, or dismissed by professionals, facing disbelief from police and social workers. Victim/survivors described the emotional toll of repeated questioning, lack of perpetrator accountability, and perceived institutional gaslighting.

Mental health and trauma recovery: Victim/survivors wanted longer-term, specialist mental health support. While Solace therapy and ARISE programmes were praised, NHS access was often severely delayed. Some were misdiagnosed or dismissed. Mental health impacts on survivors with complex needs or neurodiversity often went unaddressed.

Impact on children and parenting: Abuse’s impact on children was a major concern. Gaps included limited therapy access (e.g., play therapy only for under-3s) and lack of parenting programmes. Forced borough moves disrupted schooling, especially for children with additional needs.

Supportive vs harmful responses: The difference between empathetic, responsive professionals and dismissive or judgmental ones was stark, reinforcing the need for trauma-informed training across all services.

Recommendations

Improve training and accountability

• Mandatory trauma-informed VAWG training for police, social workers, housing, and healthcare staff

• Stronger accountability and consistent case handling across boroughs

Create accessible and centralised information

• Service directory for all Council departments

• ‘Personal passport’ to reduce retelling trauma

• More out-of-hours/weekend support for emergency housing

• Emergency funding for fleeing victim/survivors

• Multi-language resources on Camden Council’s website

Housing and move-on support

• Increase housing priority for refuge referrals

• Address triggering aspects of move-on accommodation

• Provide mental health checks during transition

Strengthen child and family support

• Fund play therapy and support for all ages

• Parenting programmes in refuges

• Emotional coaching for mothers

• Consistent Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and school-based mental health support

• Peer mentorship for newly single parents

Address structural exclusion

• Ensure services are inclusive for women with NRPF, language needs, disabilities, neurodivergence, and children of abuse

System navigation and advocacy support

• Improve inter-borough communication and case handovers

• Increase housing points for Solace referrals

Additional safety measures

• Enable GP record protections to safeguard victim/survivor addresses

Hopscotch victim/survivor engagement

(Summarised from their full report)

Hopscotch was commissioned by Camden Council to conduct a community consultation about VAWG in Camden from May to July 2025. Approximately 40 women were consulted across four sessions, from members of Hopscotch Women’s Centre Bangladeshi Older Women’s Group, King’s Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association Somali Women’s Group, the London Irish Centre, and Women at the Well.

Summary of key themes

Community understandings of abuse focus on physical, financial, emotional, sexual abuse, and coercion, highlighting varied awareness, cultural justifications, and challenges in recognition and discussion. Subtle forms of abuse include in-law control and mistreatment, as well as emotional harm from infidelity and polygamy, often normalized within families and communities. Hidden abuse includes honour-based violence, FGM, institutional neglect, harassment, stalking, and reproductive coercion, often normalized or silenced due to cultural stigma and fear. Perceived exacerbators of DVA include jealousy, financial stress, and cultural differences, often seen as causes rather than symptoms of abuse. Awareness of support services varies, with distrust in services/police common and community-based services preferred by some groups over formal VAWG organisations. Barriers to support: Survivors face numerous practical, emotional, and cultural barriers that hinder their ability to access timely, confidential, and culturally sensitive support for abuse.

Discussion findings (summarised)

Community understanding of abuse:

Physical abuse was one of the most widely known forms of VAWG, including threats of physical violence. It was noted by one participant that physical violence might be justified by perpetrators as a form of discipline, and another noted that physical abuse is more likely to be recognised when it leaves visible injuries or is repeated.

Financial abuse was frequently raised by the participants although the views on how finances are implicated in abuse patterns varied, with some participants referring to finances as an exacerbator of other types of abuse rather than a source of abuse itself. Some participants noted that traditional gender roles and expectations can make financial control acceptable to some people. In addition, participants across cultural groups raised financial abuse as an intergenerational issue in different types of relationships (e.g. elderly family members abused by younger family members), including being combined with other abuse types (e.g. isolation under the guise of protecting the victim).

Psychological/Emotional abuse and control/coercion was recognised across the groups with participants giving various examples and noting that this type of abuse can be hidden or considered “normal problems of marriage” by some. Participants also discussed how faith and religion can be weaponised within a relationship. The Somali Women’s Group participants all agreed that some level of abusive/controlling behaviour by a husband towards a wife was normal and acceptable, even if they as women “take no notice” or think the behaviour doesn’t reflect the intention.

Sexual abuse was discussed, albeit less openly than other forms of abuse. Two groups did not mention sexual abuse at all during the sessions. The subject of marital rape was raised in one group, and participants noted that sexual consent within marriage is rarely discussed, and culturally sex may be seen as the “wife’s duty”. It was also noted that sex can be used as a way of controlling, punishing, and engendering fear.

Subtle forms of abuse: The Somali Women’s Group was the only group that touched on forced marriage, explaining that is it most evident when the female in the marriage is “too young” or they show resistance.

In the Bangladeshi Older Women’s Group and Somali Women’s Group there was a discussion about relationships with daughters-in-law, and how abuse can be perpetrated by in-laws. One participant suggested that some mothers-in-law may enact abusive behaviours in order to feel control because they feel powerless. Some members of the group felt this is an issue which is improving within the community, and there was disagreement as to if intergenerational households exacerbates or prevents the issue. It was also noted that for some “family interference in marriage is seen as normal”.

Some participants viewed infidelity and polygamous practices as abuse due to the impact it has on women. Some gave examples of emotional infidelity or second wives which have been kept secret and explained that the sense of betrayal is experienced as both emotional and material harm. Others noted feeling neglected when their husband is more focused on their second family or their extended family “back home”.

Participants in some groups spoke about the need to preserve family reputation and avoid shame by having some control over their children’s marriages, but participants did not see this as linked to honour based abuse.

Hidden abuse: In the Somali Women’s Group, female genital mutilation (FGM) was raised as a potential topic of discussion by the facilitator but the group refused to speak about it.

Institutional abuse was not mentioned during the sessions, although it was noted by a support worker at the London Irish Centre that it is an issue that is discussed within the community, including the abuse and trauma that Irish women suffered in mother and baby homes.

Harassment was only mentioned briefly by one participant, in the context of online harassment.

Perceived ‘exacerbators’ of abuse: When asked what they perceived to be the causes and exacerbators of abuse within families and relationships, three key themes were identified

• Jealousy

• Finances and financial pressures

• Differences between partners (e.g. different cultural backgrounds, values, norms, or traditions)

[Note: the term ‘exacerbate’ can feel inappropriate when discussing DVA, as it may unintentionally suggest that external factors cause or worsen the abuse itself, rather than acknowledging abuse as a choice made by the perpetrator – however understanding these situations can be important for addressing the context in which abuse occurs.]

Awareness of support services: Awareness of and willingness to engage with support services was mixed. There was considerable distrust in the police due to women not being taken seriously when disclosing VAWG, a lack of trauma-informed approaches, and police officers not being able to manage their emotions appropriately when responding to DVA situations.

Participants from Women at the Well and the London Irish Centre had a relatively good understanding of support services, being able to mention some by name. Participants from the Bangladeshi and Somali groups were less aware of VAWG-specific services and suggested more community-based sources of support as the first port of call. These two groups were aware of the support provided by the Council but were reluctant to engage with it.

Barriers to accessing support:

Practical barriers mentioned include:

• Long waiting lists / not receiving support quickly

• Digital literacy – not being able to get through on the phone or not aware of how to self-refer online

• Language barriers result in difficulties advocating for themselves and receiving the support they’re entitled to

• Access to information (e.g. lack of awareness that you can call 999 and then 555 to trigger emergency services to attend your location)

• Lack of stable income and housing means leaving an abusive situation can feel too difficult

• Lack of support networks can make it hard to seek help or leave an abusive situation

• Substance use can be a barrier to accessing support and leaving an abusive relationship, especially if the victim/survivor is dependent on the perpetrator for the provision of substances

Emotional barriers mentioned include:

• Fear that the perpetrator could find out about disclosures and abuse could escalate

• A lack of trust in services being fully confidential, that they will be believed, or that they might be seen accessing services

• A lack of adequate and accessible support for people whose mental health is impacted by VAWG

• A lack of confidence and self-belief in their ability to move beyond the abuse

• The risk of re-traumatisation or experiencing trauma responses when accessing services

Cultural / Social barriers mentioned include:

• Victim-blaming, and the onus on the victim/survivor to provide evidence of VAWG

• Concern about wider consequences such as social services removing their children

• Fear of harm to self can stop people from intervening

• Cultural norms mean abuse may not be recognised or is dismissed

• Family modelling and upbringing can normalise abusive behaviours

• Gender roles

• Stigma from speaking out and how it can affect your status/reputation in the family or community

• Lack of trust in the system resulting in a reluctance to seek support from VAWG services as it may not be worth the risk or they don’t believe they’d receive the right support

Recommendations from community members

Community: Participants at the London Irish Centre emphasised that women are more likely to turn to community members than professionals for support. They recommended increased funding for community activities and safe, trauma-informed spaces where women can build trust and access help, with better awareness of VAWG issues among facilitators.

Preventative education for young people: There was strong support for teaching young people about their rights in relationships, recognising abuse, and promoting respect. Such education helps them develop healthier relationships and better identify abuse in families. Hopscotch runs a school-based program in Camden, but participants stressed the need for wider implementation.

Better holistic support services: Across all groups, participants highlighted the need for more holistic support addressing intersecting issues like mental health, disabilities, housing, poverty, and financial challenges. These factors increase vulnerability to abuse, and current systems often fail to provide adequate support.

Rehabilitation: A participant suggested increased funding for rehabilitation programs for perpetrators, including those in prison.

Additional recommendation from Hopscotch Women’s Centre

Many participants felt uncomfortable seeking professional support, especially from the police. Somali and Bangladeshi women feared involving police due to family shame, while women at Women at the Well felt let down by systems and lacked trust in receiving proper help.

Enhancing community outreach through trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approaches can help build trust. Participants appreciated outreach that meets them in safe, familiar spaces where their concerns are heard. Outreach must be flexible and tailored to each community’s needs to create environments where people feel safe to open up.

Professionals and practitioner insights

Camden Safety Net staff

An informal focus group with Camden Safety Net (CSN) staff was conducted to gather insights based on their work with victim/survivors. The session was attended by 10 staff members in June 2025

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Summary of key themes

Mental health (MH) support gaps Existing mental health services are insufficiently equipped to provide the long-term, complex support survivors need, often leaving community services to fill the gap. Housing and accommodation Limited and inappropriate housing options, especially following local hostel closures and for those with complex needs or NRPF status, disrupt access to essential services and support. Immigration and legal barriers Immigration status significantly complicates access to DVA support, with many victim/survivors facing complex legal challenges and limited eligibility for services. Barriers to effective professional support Service thresholds and eligibility criteria leave many victim/survivors without ongoing practical and therapeutic support, particularly those with lower risk or complex needs like adult children abusing parents.

Discussion findings

Participants identified a range of systemic and practical barriers faced by victim/survivors of DVA in Camden, alongside the challenges experienced by professionals in delivering effective support.

Mental health support emerged as one of the most significant gaps. While there is access to a contracted counselling service, it offers only eight phone-based sessions, which are often too light-touch and unsuitable for victim/survivors with complex or long-standing needs such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many of these individuals require face-to-face, long-term therapeutic support, yet local mental health services are frequently inaccessible. As a result, CSN caseworkers often find themselves providing ongoing emotional and mental health support well beyond their intended remit, keeping cases open far longer than necessary in the absence of follow-on services. The situation has been exacerbated by the apparent scaling back of services such as Victim Support, which no longer provides consistent post-crisis casework except in limited circumstances, often linked to police referrals.

Housing instability was another major concern. The closure of the local family hostel at England’s Lane has meant that many families are now placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough. This relocation disrupts victim/survivors’ ability to maintain connections to local networks and services, complicates practical arrangements such as getting children to school, and can hinder access to referrals, particularly for mental health support. Housing options for victim/survivors with additional needs, such as substance misuse issues or mental health conditions, are extremely limited. In many cases, funding constraints prevent access to suitable accommodation - for example, there is no funding provision for single women without children, and hotel accommodation is often unsuitable for those with mental health needs. Some specialist refuges cannot be accessed by Camden clients due to location restrictions, and respite room placements can take a long time to arrange.

Immigration and legal barriers were described as another acute challenge, particularly for victim/survivors with NRPF, work visas, or overstayed visas. While victim/survivors on spousal visas may be able to access some DVA provision, those without spousal visas or children face significant obstacles. Immigration cases are often highly complex, resource-intensive, and stressful for both clients and professionals. Solicitors willing to take on these cases are difficult to find, and voluntary sector funding options are limited and often conditional on strict eligibility criteria, such as the requirement for an imminent change in immigration status.

Professionals reported that balancing resources between high- and lower-risk cases can leave victim/survivors with less immediate risk without adequate support. Services with the capacity to provide ongoing assistance - such as the Asian Women’s Resource Centre or the Ascent Pan-London Floating Support Service - often have restrictive eligibility criteria, meaning that victim/survivors in hostels, temporary accommodation, or unsafe housing are excluded. Without a dedicated long-term pathway, victim/survivors can be left without help once the immediate risk is reduced, even though trauma symptoms and practical difficulties often surface or intensify at this stage.

Suggested service improvements

Housing

• Increase safe accommodation options within Camden and Central London to preserve survivors’ social networks and reduce disruption

• Broaden criteria for housing access (e.g., for survivors with substance misuse or complex mental health needs)

Mental health and long-term support

• Develop long-term, community-based MH support accessible to all victim/survivors, regardless of immigration or housing status

• Introduce ongoing floating support to help victim/survivors sustain independence (e.g., life skills, cost-of-living management)

• Create a structured post-crisis pathway that bridges the gap between emergency intervention and long-term recovery

Support for children and families

• Expand therapeutic services for children affected by DVA

• Increase interventions for adult child–to–parent abuse, which can be severe and often linked to intergenerational trauma

Financial and practical assistance

• Provide flexible funds to cover essential resettlement costs (e.g., carpets, appliances) that are currently unmet by statutory or charity provision

• Provide some kind of floating support to assist with day-to-day tasks (e.g. filling in forms) that are more challenging or no longer possible due to impact of the DVA

Early intervention and prevention opportunities

• Strengthen proactive responses from community safety/police in cases affecting neighbours or local safety, especially where victim/survivors are unwilling to press charges (for example, where adult children are perpetrators). This helps remove the onus on the victim/survivor to address the issue.

• Address intergenerational DVA through targeted family interventions and mental health support - staff reported that parents experiencing abuse from adult children, often previously experienced abuse from their partner

• Identify underlying abuse when clients present to services for other reasons (e.g. mental health crises, unexplained injuries)

• Reduce risk of survivors returning to perpetrators by offering stability, safe housing, and emotional/mental health support immediately after leaving

Team support needs

• Access to regular clinical supervision to support staff dealing with high-stress, complex cases.

Camden Domestic Violence and Abuse Navigators staff

An insight gathering session was conducted in July 2025 with a four DVA Navigators who support victim/survivors of VAWG and DVA in Camden, reflecting their own experiences and experiences of clients with multiple and complex needs.

Summary of key themes

Inadequate and destabilising housing pathways Hostel accommodation, while sometimes life-saving, is often unsuitable due to poor facilities, lack of trauma-informed practices, and punitive environments. Housing First models, though limited locally, are seen as more effective. Forced relocations disrupt support networks, particularly harming women with children. Systemic barriers to support The benefits system presents complex obstacles for vulnerable individuals, including universal credit monies for rent being paid directly in to individual’s bank accounts rather than directly to landlord, cumbersome verification, lack of online access, and distressing phone queues. Short-term prison stays lead to loss of benefits and accommodation. Lack of mental health support Mental health support is insufficient, especially for those with dual diagnoses. Injustice and lack of faith in the legal system Victim/survivors frequently feel judged or dismissed by police and prosecutors. Cases are often dropped prematurely despite evidence, and perpetrators face minimal consequences. Long-term impact of DVA Emotional regulation difficulties and trauma-related symptoms, such as acquired brain injuries, affect victim/survivors’ ability to engage with services. Missed appointments are often misunderstood as personal failings rather than trauma responses.

Discussion findings (summarised)

Participants highlighted that housing options for victim/survivors remain limited and frequently unsuitable. Hostel accommodation often lacks basic facilities such as cooking areas and maintenance is slow, creating punitive atmospheres. Moreover, many hostels do not operate with trauma-informed staff or approaches, exacerbating distress. Housing First models, which provide secure tenancy alongside wraparound support, were praised as significantly more effective but remain scarce locally. The forced relocation of victim/survivors outside the borough further disrupts established support relationships and community ties, with particularly adverse impacts on women with children.

Systemic barriers in the benefits system were noted as substantial. Complex verification requirements such as postcode matching, the absence of online Personal Independence Payment (PIP) access, and long phone queues pose major challenges for vulnerable individuals. Additionally, short-term prison stays exceeding thirteen weeks result in the automatic loss of benefits and accommodation, worsening victim/survivors’ instability.

Participants were concerned about rent arrears and the issue of universal credit being paid directly to the claimant. It was noted that having it paid directly to a landlord instead of going into claimants’ bank accounts could prevent poor spending habits from quickly leading to rent arrears.

Participants also emphasised the critical lack of mental health provision tailored to the needs of victim/survivors, especially those facing multiple disadvantages or dual diagnoses involving substance use and mental health issues.

Concerns around the legal system were a recurrent theme. Victim/survivors reported feeling dismissed or judged by police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Cases are frequently closed prematurely without contact or despite clear evidence, and perpetrators often receive minimal consequences even in public and violent incidents.

The long-term impacts of DVA, such as difficulties with emotional regulation, were also discussed. Several participants reported that many victim/survivors suffer from acquired brain injuries related to strangulation or head trauma, leading to further dysregulation, memory problems, and presentations that can be misinterpreted as personality disorders. Missed appointments were commonly viewed as symptoms of trauma rather than personal failings, indicating a need for trauma-informed approaches in service delivery.

The Navigators also reflected on their specialist service provision in Camden, identifying the following strengths:

• DV Navigators and Wiser teams provide deep, trauma-informed, long-term support
  These teams are recognised for their specialised knowledge and sensitive approach, which helps build trust and enables victim/survivors to engage more fully with support services over extended periods. Their expertise in trauma-informed care is a crucial asset in addressing complex and enduring needs.

• Low caseloads enable tailored engagement
  With fewer clients to manage, staff are able to dedicate more time and attention to each individual, allowing for personalised interventions that are responsive to the unique circumstances and challenges faced by each victim/survivor. This approach fosters stronger relationships and more effective support outcomes.

• Strong formal networks and multi-agency collaboration
  Effective partnerships between local services, including health, housing, legal, and community organisations, enhance coordination and information-sharing. This collaborative environment helps to ensure victim/survivors receive holistic support that addresses multiple facets of their experiences and reduces service gaps or duplication.

Participants identified several significant challenges and risks within the current service landscape:

• Short-term funding cycles create instability for both staff and clients
  Frequent uncertainty around funding undermines service continuity and staff retention, disrupting support for victim/survivors. This instability contributes to a sense of ‘othering’ where survivors experience fragmented care and feel further marginalised.

• Limited staffing capacity restricts the level of support available
  With fewer workers than needed, services struggle to meet demand, resulting in reduced engagement time and fewer opportunities for tailored interventions. This limits the potential impact of programmes designed to support complex and high-risk cases.

• Insecure employment conditions compared to equivalent roles
  Despite carrying high-risk responsibilities, often including lone working and managing complex cases, staff in these roles face less job security than peers in comparable positions (such as CSN IDSVA roles). This precariousness can affect morale, continuity, and the ability to build long-term relationships with clients.

• Critical lack of outreach-style VAWG services for women experiencing multiple disadvantages
  Women facing overlapping challenges such as substance use, homelessness, mental health issues, and immigration status often remain underserved. The absence of proactive, outreach-based support limits access for some of the most vulnerable victim/survivors.

Suggested system improvements

Housing

• Expand Housing First programmes with secure tenancy and wraparound support to promote long-term stability

• Improve hostel environments by ensuring trauma-informed staff, adequate facilities, and timely maintenance

• Minimise forced relocations to preserve victim/survivors’ community ties and support networks

Benefits and systemic support

• Simplify benefits verification processes and introduce accessible online application options

• Provide automatic direct debit payments to prevent arrears and evictions

• Address the impact of short-term prison stays on benefit retention and housing stability

Mental health and trauma-informed care

• Develop tailored mental health services recognising the dual diagnoses common among victim/survivors

• Integrate awareness of DVA-related brain injuries into support pathways, following pilots such as Brainkind

• Promote sustained, relationship-based support with manageable caseloads to build trust over time

Legal and justice system

• Enhance training for police and CPS staff to reduce judgement and dismissal of victim/survivors’ cases

• Ensure greater accountability for perpetrators through more consistent prosecution and sentencing

Grace House – Women’s supported accommodation staff group

An informal focus group with staff from Grace House, a specialist supported accommodation project for women impacted by homelessness and multiple disadvantage, was conducted to gather insights based on their work with victim/survivors. The session was attended by five staff members in August 2025.

Summary of key themes

Systemic distrust of the criminal justice system Victim/survivors face deep mistrust of the criminal justice system, often rooted in prior negative experiences, stigmatisation and criminalisation. Poly-victimisation and multi-perpetrator abuse Multiply disadvantaged victim/survivors experience multiple forms of co-occurring VAWG and abuse, involving multiple perpetrators and wider networks of exploitation. DVA services are inaccessible Mainstream DVA and VAWG services, which focus on crisis-intervention and remote support, are not accessible to or accessed by multiply disadvantaged victim/survivors. VAWG is experienced throughout lifetime Women’s experiences of VAWG are ongoing and experienced through-out their life course, often first emerging in childhood. This is linked to inter-generational and familial abuse. Mental health gaps and gendered pathologisation Mental health support, including crisis support, is not accessible. Multiply disadvantaged victim/survivors experience gendered pathologisation. Perpetrator invisibility A lack of accountability mechanisms for perpetrators leads to repeated harm, with no meaningful consequences or interventions. A relational approach is not systemically enabled Large caseloads, low pay, limited progression opportunities, and vicariously traumatising work across the homelessness sector results in high staff turn-over that impedes relational work. Support is not integrated A siloed approach to support obstructs women with co-occurring needs from accessing support. This compounds VAWG risks.

Discussion findings (summarised)

Practitioners reported that mainstream DVA and VAWG services are unable to meet the needs of multiply disadvantaged and homeless victim/survivors. They noted that this is largely due to structural and resource limitations, such as the reliance on remote delivery. For residents who lack access to phones or who require more relational, face-to-face support, these models can be difficult to engage with. They expressed concern that limited adaptability within services can create challenges both for victim/survivors and for maintaining practitioner–resident relationships.

“When that IDSVA service does not have the flexibility to adapt to the resident’s needs, it can also impair our relationship with the resident - we are setting them to fail. The lack of flexibility and unfulfilled support is damaging.”

Additional barriers were identified within existing service models. Practitioners noted that the short-term, crisis-focused approach commonly used in DVA services does not always align with the ongoing needs of individuals facing multiple disadvantages, whose experiences often include long-term trauma and persistent forms of gender-based violence.

They observed that the predominant focus of DVA services on intimate partner violence does not always capture the wider range of experiences faced by multiply disadvantaged victim/survivors, including ongoing gender-based violence and trauma, as well as forms of abuse linked to substance use and criminal exploitation (for example, by drug dealers or pimps).

Practitioners also highlighted the challenges created by the lack of integrated provision across VAWG and substance use services. Survivors with overlapping needs often encounter barriers in accessing either type of support, reflecting broader issues of under-resourcing and fragmentation across service systems. These constraints make it difficult for services to fully address complex risk factors, despite the efforts of professionals working within them.

Services, such as the DVA Navigators, that can provide intensive, long-term and relational VAWG support were identified as essential, with one support worker sharing that “a number of our resident’s would have died if it was not for the Navigators”. Access to second tier advice and VAWG case consultation support, such as the support provided via the Safe Space model, was also identified as protective and strengthening factor.

Professionals noted that victim-blaming was pervasive and particularly pronounced for cases involving transactional sex and sexual violence, with victim/survivors often inappropriately accused of “putting themselves in harm’s way.”

Practitioners identified significant gaps in mental health support for multiply disadvantaged survivors, specifically for women with substance used needs, who are frequently told they must address their addiction needs until support can be provided. Practitioners noted that women often present with multiple, conflicting diagnosis, and saw this as suggestive of poor assessment and coordination. Practitioners highlighted that women were disproportionately likely to be diagnosed with personality disorders, such as emotionally unstable personality disorder, as opposed to a trauma-diagnosis, such as complex post-traumatic stress disorder. This was identified as gendered, and practitioners shared concerns that such diagnoses can lead to pathologisation, making services more reluctant to offer meaningful support.

Professionals noted that a fragmented mental health offer resulted in residents “falling through the gaps”. They highlighted that residents often struggle to access crisis and in-patient care, i.e., people experiencing suicidality, psychosis etc. Staff outlined the significant barriers that they experience when attempting to coordinate crisis support for residents, which can result in hostel support workers holding high-levels of risk in isolation. This absence of expert intervention leads to high levels of professional anxiety, with one staff noting that “sometimes we don’t know if we are harming or helping. We need professional input”.

A lack of accountability mechanisms for perpetrators and systemic barriers to accessing the criminal justice system were identified as key concerns. Practitioners outlined that this led to repeated harm, with no meaningful consequences or interventions for perpetrators of abuse.

Poor staff retention rates across the homeless sector were identified as a key operational risk and a barrier to delivering safe, contained services. Professionals highlighted the highly disruptive impact of this on resident’s – many of whom struggled to build secure, trusting attachments – and outlined how this undermined efforts to embed a relational approach. High staff turnover rates were linked to the need for improved working conditions within the homelessness sector, including the need to improve pay and leave entitlements – both of which are comparatively lower than equivalent Local Government roles – as well as opportunities for progression, and flexible working hours. Professionals felt that their labour was undervalued and under-renumerated, despite involving high levels of personal and professional risk and stress. Despite this, practitioners demonstrated a deep passion for their work and a commitment to the women that they support. Access to reflective practice, clinical supervision, and case-consultation support with expert practitioners were identified as protective and enabling factors.

Suggested system improvements

Housing

• Expand Housing First provision, specifically VAWG specialist projects

• Commission long-term housing support services, including long-stay accommodation and navigator support

• Expand the provision of gender-informed supported accommodation

DVA and VAWG provision

• Develop a full life-course VAWG and DVA offer

• Increase the capacity of VAWG and multiple-disadvantage services, such as the DVA Navigators, and shift from short-term crisis-intervention models to long-term, relational approaches

• Develop a universal VAWG offer for homeless women - “Every woman in the pathway should be allocated a long-term VAWG worker”

• Embed VAWG expertise into homelessness settings through co-location and assertive outreach

• Improve the capacity and capability of mainstream DVA and VAWG services to identify and respond to multiple disadvantage and homelessness

• Develop a VAWG offer that integrates addiction expertise and addresses abuse linked to substance use and criminal exploitation, i.e., gendered violence from drug dealers, moving beyond a narrow focus on ‘personally connected’ DVA.

Mental health and trauma-informed care

• Commission bespoke mental health services for victim/survivors impacted by multiple disadvantage and co-occurring conditions

• Improve access to secondary and tertiary mental health care and develop accessible pathways into crisis support

• Recognise the central role that gendered trauma plays in women’s mental health and wider needs

Perpetrator accountability

• Improve pathways into perpetrator behaviour change programmes and disruption programmes

• Strengthen the confidence and capability of professionals to embed the principles of perpetrator accountability into their work

• Embed perpetrator intervention specialist into homelessness services via in-reach and case consultative support

• Ensure greater accountability for perpetrators through more consistent prosecution and sentencing

Support for child-victims and family-focused work

• Commission support for child victim/survivors and an integrated support offer for families impacted by DVA and VAWG

• Address intergenerational DVA through targeted family interventions and mental health support

• Develop training and resources focused on supporting victim/survivors of intrafamilial abuse

Team support needs

• Access to regular clinical supervision and reflective practice to support staff responding to direct and vicarious trauma

• Improve staff retention cross-sectorally through improvements to pay and working conditions, progression opportunities, and recognition for frontline staff

• Reduced caseloads and an improve support worker to service user ratio, enabling more personalised, relational work

Domestic abuse deep dive – Children’s social care reform programme of work 

From January to May 2025 colleagues in Children and Learning commissioned a deep dive into DVA to support thinking in Children’s social care reforms. Colleagues held a workshop with 17 council officers working with children and families impacted by DVA. There were representatives from children’s services, Camden Safety Net, and other agencies delivering on DVA offer in Camden. 

Colleagues reflected on two real (but anonymised) case studies to guide discussions on challenges and opportunities. The insights are informing how the Council will shape our model of working with families, starting with testing out new ways of working through 2 prototypes.  

Summary of key themes

Need for stronger multi-agency coordination and shared responsibility.  Gaps between risk assessment and meaningful, timely intervention.  Harm from delays in acting, especially for children.  Importance of breaking cycles of intergenerational abuse.  Central role of empowering mothers and engaging fathers early.  Value of consistent relationships with trusted workers.  Benefits of reflective, multi-disciplinary approaches.  Recognising children as victims in their own right.  Family Hubs as safe, supportive spaces for victim/survivors.  Desire to move away from “revolving door” service responses.

Discussion findings

Challenges  

• Sometimes there is a lack of coordination between agencies and of multi-agency shared responsibility – and a lot the risk holding can fall on Social Workers’ shoulders   

• Risk assessment and risk identification does not necessarily translate into concrete action and transformative intervention – monitoring and tracking rather than doing an intervention   

• Sometimes, waiting for ‘the right time’ for intervention means leaving children to experience harm   

• Breaking the cycle of intergenerational abuse  

• Change in lead workers who were holding relationship has a strong impact   

• Risk of ‘chucking interventions in’ which are not necessarily purposive   

• Difficulty to work therapeutically with children when abuse is ongoing and if the mother is not empowered to change her situation, children will keep being affected   

Opportunities   

• More father engagement and intervention at an earlier stage  

• Have regular reflective spaces and regular updates between different agencies  

• Supporting mothers at the centre of the child’s recovery and repair   

• Multi-disciplinary teams with different perspectives, ownership and accountability   

• Acknowledge children as victim/survivors of DVA as per DVA act   

• Role of Family Hubs in Camden’s early intervention and prevention response to DVA and as a safe/welcoming space for survivors to build a support network   

• Real appetite to move away from revolving door of ‘step-down, step-up’ approach 

Camden Children and Learning staff group – Families and Early Help

An informal insight session was held with frontline staff in the Children and Learning department who often work with families affected by VAWG and DVA. Five participants attended on 20 August 2025. This included Family Workers a Family Service Manager, an Early Help Co-ordinator and a Family Systemic Psychotherapist.

Summary of key themes

Housing and safety Lack of safe accommodation remains a key barrier. Decisions about housing for perpetrators often leave victim/survivors at continued risk, with limited local contact centres compounding safety issues. Court and legal system challenges Victim/survivors often lack independent legal advice, while inconsistent understanding of DVA in the courts leaves them vulnerable. Advocacy in legal proceedings is seen as particularly effective where available. Perpetrator accountability and engagement Staff highlighted difficulties in engaging perpetrators in meaningful change programmes, particularly where they are excluded from services or lack access to mental health support. Recognising and Responding to Abuse Sometimes abuse may not be fully identified, particularly when disclosure is limited, time is constrained, or opportunities for deeper exploration are missed. In some cases, patterns such as coercive control or post-separation abuse may be described as “parental conflict,” which can reduce the focus on potential risks and limit the support provided. Mental health, trauma and systemic barriers Unmet mental health needs - for both victim/survivors and perpetrators - affect safety and recovery. Where creative trauma-informed practice is applied, staff report stronger engagement. Trust, culture and communication Victim/survivors frequently distrust services, fearing child removal or judgement. Cultural differences, language barriers, and limited interpreter access can result in disengagement. Children and young people Staff identified challenges in supporting children as well as opportunities to strengthen early intervention around healthy relationships. Schools, GPs, and early parenting resources are identified as highly effective early intervention spaces. Professional support and training Safe & Together is regarded as “brilliant” when used consistently. Access to reflective spaces and group supervision strengthens staff capacity and confidence. Staff stressed the need for ongoing supervision, reflexive spaces, and stronger practice models to guide work with DVA cases.

Discussion findings

Housing and accommodation were described as central to both safety and ongoing risk. Victim/survivors face long waits for suitable housing, while perpetrators may remain in the home or be left without alternative accommodation, increasing the risk of further abuse. Participants also raised concerns about the limited availability of supervised contact centres, particularly outside of formal court proceedings.

Participants reported that legal and court processes are a recurring source of harm. Victim/survivors can lack access to legal advice, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation by perpetrators during proceedings. Professionals described how courts may grant perpetrators contact with children without fully considering the context of ongoing abuse. Participants felt that judicial misunderstanding of DVA dynamics, especially coercive control, often undermines safety planning. Independent advocacy within court proceedings was seen as critical but limited.

Practitioners reflected that abuse could be missed within social care, largely due to high thresholds for intervention, lack of time and support to explore underlying issues and if professional curiosity isn’t utilised. Furthermore, victim/survivors were seen as sometimes reluctant to engage with services, either because they feel judged or because they do not trust the system. This means that, even where abuse may be considerable, it is not always visible - particularly when families are hesitant to disclose or where the abuse is persistent but less obvious. Adult child to parent abuse was also discussed in this context, where hesitance to disclose was higher because of the dynamics/relationship between parent and child.

Participants emphasised the importance of embedding curiosity into conversations with families, and ensuring professionals are equipped to recognise both immediate and historic signs of abuse. Suggestions included developing a more standardised process for practice, with clearer mandatory actions, so that responses are not left to individual judgements of need.

The group also highlighted the value of practitioners having more time and scope to work with cases. This would allow professionals to explain the support available, reassure families about concerns such as the risk of children being removed, and build a fuller understanding of family circumstances. Challenges around information sharing and different models of practice were noted — particularly when families move across boroughs, or where another borough does not have the family open to children’s services.

For children and young people, practitioners identified gaps in support, particularly around access to specialist DVA therapeutic input where children are exposed to or experiencing abuse. Participants recognised the prevalence of intergenerational patterns of trauma, risk and behaviours, and therefore the importance of models of support designed to mitigate or reduce this risk.

Prevention and early intervention were valued. Creative approaches - such as resources in pregnancy and early childhood, and school-based awareness - were seen as important, but participants felt more structured provision was needed to build resilience and foster understanding of healthy relationships.

Mental health and trauma were highlighted as underlying and compounding factors. Victim/survivors with a history of trauma often present with poor physical and mental health, yet high thresholds in adult social care can mean these needs can be overlooked. Staff described how professional curiosity, time, and sensitivity to historical trauma can build trust, particularly when victim/survivors are hesitant to engage due to fears of child removal.

Staff also raised issues of trust, culture and communication. Many victim/survivors are reluctant to disclose abuse due to fears of child removal or feeling judged. Cultural norms and language barriers complicate disclosures, and the absence of in-person interpreters in sensitive conversations can undermine understanding. Participants described the need to work respectfully with cultural difference while remaining clear about safeguarding.

Participants described frustration with the systemic mislabelling of ongoing abuse as “parental conflict.” Staff explained that this framing obscures coercive control, minimises victim/survivors experiences, and hinders access to specialist support. Victim/survivors’ coping strategies are sometimes misunderstood as negative parenting, further embedding stigma.

Another theme was lack of effective perpetrator engagement and accountability. Staff reported it could be difficult to encourage perpetrators to join programmes voluntarily. Where mental health needs exist but thresholds for perpetrator services are not met, gaps remain unaddressed. This leaves families trapped in cycles where victim/survivors cannot fully separate or recover.

Finally, staff discussed professional support needs. Safe & Together was widely praised for improving conversations and challenging system manipulation, but participants wanted it embedded more consistently across children’s social care. Group supervision, reflexive spaces, and a clear practice model for responding to DVA were requested to reduce reliance on individual judgement and strengthen confidence in managing complex risk.

What works

Despite the challenges, staff identified several approaches and practices that are working well in Camden and could be built upon:

• Safe & Together model – Highly valued for improving confidence, supporting clear conversations, and shifting accountability onto perpetrators.

• Trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practice – Curiosity, time, and skilled interpreters improve engagement and disclosure.

• Knowledge and skills across system pathways – When professionals in different sectors and agencies, from identification through to support, have the appropriate knowledge and skills, this enables early identification of concerns and better and effective connection of families to support.

• Reflective professional support – Group supervision and consultation that strengthens staff capacity to manage complex and emotionally demanding cases.

Recommendations

Early intervention and prevention

• Develop resources to support healthy relationships from early life stages

• Provide programmes for adult victim/survivors, child victim/survivors and perpetrators in parallel

• Create standardised processes to reduce reliance on subjective staff judgement when responding to abuse indicators

• Ensure those working in social care apply greater curiosity to hidden abuse indicators

Housing and safety

• Increase safe housing provision for both victim/survivors and perpetrators to reduce ongoing risk

• Expand access to supervised contact centres outside of court proceedings

Children and young people

• Provide dedicated therapeutic support for children affected by DVA

• Strengthen early education on healthy relationships in schools and youth settings

• Improve screening and support for neurodivergent children in affected families

Legal and systemic responses

• Expand access to independent advocacy for victim/survivors navigating court proceedings

• Improve judicial and system-wide understanding of coercive control and ongoing abuse, reducing reliance on the “parental conflict” framing

Mental health and trauma support

• Improve mental health provision for victim/survivors, perpetrators, and families affected by trauma

Perpetrator engagement

• Embed early referral pathways into perpetrator services alongside automatic CSN referrals

• Broaden eligibility for perpetrator services, particularly where mental health needs are a barrier

Professional support and practice development

• Embed Safe & Together consistently within children’s social care practice

• Introduce a clear practice-based model for social work responses to DVA

• Training on Adult Child to Parent Abuse (currently being planned at the Council)

• Expand access to group supervision and reflective practice spaces

Perpetrator service providers

Two informal discussions were held with the staff for the commissioned perpetrator services (one member of staff from each service – Drive and Restart) and the lead commissioner for these services, and an additional informal discussion was held with the manager for Camden’s in-house perpetrator service which is under development.

Summary of key themes

Importance of co-location and relationship-building among perpetrator services and partner agencies Holistic, trauma-informed support for victim/survivors as a core enabler Challenges due to limited awareness and unclear referral pathways among social workers Consent requirements delaying or preventing perpetrator engagement Service gaps in long-term interventions and culturally appropriate support Practitioner difficulties with fragmented systems and limited control over outcomes

Discussion findings

Strengths and enablers

• Co-location and relationship building
  Perpetrator services report that sharing physical spaces with partner agencies enables stronger professional relationships, better communication, and more coordinated responses.

• Holistic and trauma-informed victim/survivor support
  Integrating victim/survivor-focused services alongside perpetrator interventions ensures that victim/survivors’ safety and recovery remain central while holding perpetrators accountable.

• Inter-agency collaboration
  Regular contact and shared objectives between colleagues across services contribute to more consistent and timely support for both victim/survivors and perpetrators.

Systemic and awareness challenges

• Limited awareness among social workers
  Some practitioners are unfamiliar with the perpetrator services available, their scope, and referral procedures. This can result in missed opportunities for timely intervention.

• Referral uncertainty
  A lack of clear guidance on eligibility and referral pathways can deter practitioners from engaging with perpetrator services.

Consent requirement barrier

Both Council-commissioned perpetrator services require the perpetrator’s explicit consent to participate. While this supports voluntary engagement, it can delay or block intervention where risk is high, but consent is not forthcoming.

Service gaps

• Short-term focus
  Current provision is weighted toward short-term interventions, leaving limited options for sustained behavioural change work.

• Culturally appropriate provision
  There are insufficient targeted services for diverse cultural and linguistic communities, reducing accessibility and effectiveness for some groups.

Practitioner challenges

• Unclear pathways
  Practitioners report difficulty navigating a fragmented system with overlapping responsibilities and inconsistent referral routes.

• Limited influence over outcomes
  Once a referral is made, practitioners often have little oversight or input into the intervention process or its results.

• System fragmentation
  Lack of alignment between agencies and services can undermine trust and willingness to refer cases to perpetrator programmes.

Mental health and domestic abuse in Camden

Expert (by profession) insight group – Workshop 1

In February 2025 Camden’s Health and Wellbeing team brought together professionals from across Camden to explore how the borough currently responds to the mental health needs of DVA victim/survivors, and to identify where the system is working - and where it’s falling short. These included Council colleagues, NHS colleagues and those from VCS organisations. 33 people were in attendance.

Summary of key themes

Existing mental health and crisis services provide important support but lack DVA-specific resources and have long wait times Fragmented and complex service pathways make it difficult for victim/survivors and professionals to navigate and coordinate care Significant barriers to accessing mental health support, especially for high-risk and dual diagnosis cases Need for integrated approaches addressing needs of victim/survivors and children, including clearer pathways and better multi-agency collaboration Calls for improved training, service mapping, and embedding DVA expertise across health, education, and community settings Strong consensus on adopting a trauma-informed, system-wide response prioritising victim/survivor safety, perpetrator accountability, and children’s wellbeing

Discussion findings

Mapping of existing services: Camden offers a wide array of support for women in crisis, from specialist services like Drayton Park Women’s Crisis House and Camden Crisis Sanctuary, to advocacy and navigation through CSN, Hopscotch Women’s Centre, and the Women and Girls Network. General mental health services such as iCope and Complex Depression, Anxiety and Trauma (CDATT) are also available, though many participants noted long waiting lists and a lack of DVA-specific support.

Complexities of pathways and service landscape: Victim/survivors often access help through primary care, hospitals, mental health services, and community hubs like children’s centres and voluntary sector organisations. However, navigating this landscape can be overwhelming. The system is fragmented, with unclear referral pathways and inconsistent coordination between services. Many professionals expressed concern that victim/survivors are expected to take on too much responsibility for initiating support, often while in crisis.

Barriers to accessing mental health support: Long waits, lack of flexibility, and limited understanding of the complexities surrounding DVA and mental ill-health were cited frequently. Dual diagnosis and high-risk cases - such as those involving substance misuse or housing insecurity - are often excluded from core mental health services. While services like CGL and Solace Women’s Aid offer targeted support, there’s a sense that these resources are overstretched and under-recognised.

Addressing needs of perpetrators as a preventative measure: Participants also discussed the importance of addressing the needs of perpetrators whilst holding them accountable. There was broad agreement that this is a critical area for development. Ideas included linking perpetrator pathways to housing and criminal justice systems.

Children exposed to DVA: While schools, health visitors, and safeguarding teams play an important role, the current system lacks a clear and consistent pathway for therapeutic support. Professionals called for better training, improved case recording, and more integrated working across services to ensure children’s needs are not overlooked.

Service improvements

Throughout the workshop, there was a strong appetite for change. Participants questioned whether as a system we make full use of the support available and suggested greater collaboration with charities, social prescribers, and what was seen as underutilised teams like North London Foundation Trust’s (NFLT) Camden Core Team.

A recurring recommendation was the creation of a comprehensive service map to help professionals and victim/survivors alike navigate the system more effectively and others suggested embedding DVA specialists in health and education settings, and piloting interventions that promote early identification and prevention.

Ultimately, the workshop underscored the need for a system-wide approach - one that places services where people are and prioritises victim/survivors’ safety and wellbeing. In summary, participants called for a joined-up, trauma-informed response that empowers victim/survivors, holds perpetrators accountable, and supports children to heal and thrive.

Expert (by profession) insight group – workshop 2

In June 2025, Camden convened the second Expert Insight Group (EIG) workshop on DVA and mental health. Building on the foundational insights from Workshop 1, this session brought together professionals from NFLT, third sector organisations, and non-statutory services to explore practical, solution-focused approaches to improving mental health support for victim/survivors of DVA.

The workshop focused on four key questions, each designed to elicit actionable recommendations that could inform Camden’s evolving VAWG strategy and the borough’s wider mental health and DVA response.

Summary of key themes
Raising Awareness: Building a shared understanding of support Defining expectations: Embedding DVA awareness across services Tackling barriers: Reimagining access and engagement Designing ideal pathways: Meeting victim/survivors where they are

Discussion findings

Raising awareness – Building a shared understanding of support:

Participants consistently highlighted the need for professionals across the system to have access to clear, up-to-date information about available services and referral pathways. The current landscape is cluttered, inconsistent, and often inaccessible - particularly for those not already embedded in specialist networks.

A live, centralised directory of services - hosted by a designated stakeholder - was proposed as a foundational tool. This should be complemented by integration with existing platforms (e.g. Mental Health Camden, Waiting Room), proactive outreach into frontline teams, and the development of DVA champions and communities of practice to share knowledge and experience. Printed materials, QR codes in public settings, and adaptations to existing practice guides were also suggested to ensure information reaches professionals and victim/survivors alike.

Defining expectations – Embedding DVA awareness across services:

There was strong consensus that all professionals who may come into contact with victim/survivors - whether in healthcare, housing, education, or community settings - should have a baseline understanding of DVA and its mental health impacts. However, this must go beyond basic safeguarding to include training on trauma-informed language, managing disclosures (including from children), and avoiding victim-blaming attitudes.

Participants proposed the development of a specialist Making Every Contact Count (MECC) module focused on DVA and mental health. Reflective practice spaces, multi-agency case-sharing meetings, and culturally competent training - particularly for police and healthcare providers - were identified as essential components of a whole-system approach. Housing staff, often a key point of contact for victim/survivors, should receive specialist support through commissioned training and consultation services.

Tackling barriers – Reimagining access and engagement:

Victim/survivors face a range of systemic and structural barriers that prevent access to mental health support. These include inflexible appointment systems, tight referral thresholds, exclusion of those with dual diagnoses, and a lack of coordination between services. Participants called for a shift in culture, from one that closes doors after missed appointments, to one that exercises curiosity, persistence, and empathy.

Models such as AMBIT (Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment) and Team Around Me (TAM) were cited as promising approaches to wraparound support. A one-stop shop model, single points of contact, and proactive referral practices were recommended to reduce the burden on survivors and ensure continuity of care. Better data sharing, clearer referral pathways, and investment in specialist DVA provision - including within mental health services - were seen as critical to improving outcomes.

Importantly, participants emphasised the need to co-produce service models with victim/survivors and community-based organisations, ensuring that lived experience informs design and delivery.

Designing ideal pathways – Meeting victim/survivors where they are:

The final discussion focused on what “good” looks like in practice. Participants envisioned a system where victim/survivors are met with coordinated, strengths-based support - regardless of their risk level or life circumstances. This includes victim/survivors who remain in abusive relationships, those with complex needs, and families with children exposed to DVA.

CSN was identified as a trusted and approachable service that could expand its remit to support victim/survivors across the risk spectrum. Housing services, often a point of engagement for those who may not access specialist support, should be leveraged to signpost and coordinate care.

For children, systemic therapy models and trauma-informed school responses - such as those enabled by Operation Compass and Healing Together - should be embedded and expanded.

Across all pathways, the emphasis was on flexibility, cultural competence, and victim/survivors involvement. Services must be equipped to respond not only to risk, but to need, aspiration, and healing.

Strategic implications

The insights from Workshop 2 point to a clear strategic direction for Camden:

• Embed victim/survivor-led, coordinated care pathways across services

• Invest in trauma-informed, culturally competent training and practice

• Develop clear, navigable referral routes from early help to specialist support

• Strengthen cross-sector collaboration and shared accountability

• Co-produce service models with communities and those with lived experience

Money Advice Camden (MAC)

Given the high proportion of clients with DVA support needs, MAC staff have developed a detailed understanding of the financial, housing, and systemic challenges facing victim/survivors. Insights were gathered over several meetings, including a dedicated focus group with advisers. While their primary remit is financial support and debt management, their observations touched on housing insecurity, benefits access, and barriers to effective inter-departmental coordination.

Summary of key themes

Housing challenges for victim/survivors, especially those with NRPF or debt Debt as a common and ongoing consequence of DVA Limited victim/survivor awareness of legal and financial rights, including immigration protections Barriers faced by professionals, including slow referral pathways and insufficient training Financial coercion risks associated with universal credit being paid to claimant rather than landlord where there is DVA

Discussion findings

Housing and accommodation barriers

• Securing safe housing is particularly challenging for survivors with NRPF or existing debt. Limited options often force victim/survivors into temporary accommodation, which can be costly and unsuitable.

• When a couple holds a joint social tenancy, it is common for the perpetrator to remain in the property, with the victim/survivor relocated elsewhere for safety. While intended as a protective measure, this can feel punitive to the victim/survivor, forcing them to leave their home and community.

• Frequent moves between temporary accommodation units create instability, erode trusted professional relationships, and can result in inconsistent support across boroughs. These moves also generate further debt as housing benefit payments often cannot keep pace with the changes in address.

• There is a risk associated with universal credit (UC) being paid to claimant rather than landlord where there is DVA in a household. The rent element is often a big proportion of the UC payment; so removing this from the claimants’ bank account can help limit the scope for financial control and make sure poor spending behaviours can’t lead to rapidly spirally rent debt.

Debt as a consequence of DVA

• Debt is a significant and recurring consequence of DVA. Victim/survivors frequently incur debt during and after leaving an abusive relationship, particularly when placed in temporary accommodation and faced with the high costs of setting up a new home (e.g., furniture, appliances, moving expenses).

• Financial hardship can be exacerbated by delays or complexities in accessing benefits, creating a cycle of debt that is difficult to break.

Awareness and access to rights

• Many victim/survivors are unaware of their legal and financial rights, including potential changes to their immigration status (such as visa amendments) or the ability to remove their personal details from public registers for safety reasons. Limited awareness of these options leaves victim/survivors more vulnerable to ongoing harm and financial exploitation.

Barriers for professionals

• Referral pathways are often slow, unclear, or unresponsive, delaying access to essential support.

• Non-DVA staff may lack adequate training to recognise and respond to less visible or ‘non-traditional’ abuse dynamics, such as financial control or immigration-based coercion.

• Data-sharing restrictions, siloed systems, and poor cross-team communication hinder coordinated support. Improving access to shared systems and streamlining processes could significantly enhance the timeliness and effectiveness of interventions.

Service improvements

Whilst service improvements and recommendations weren’t explicitly discussed, the following were alluded to in the conversations.

Housing and stability

• Increase access to safe, affordable accommodation for victim/survivors with NRPF or debt histories, ensuring options within or close to their support networks.

• Review joint tenancy policies to prevent victim/survivors being disadvantaged when perpetrators remain in the shared home.

• Reduce the number of disruptive moves between temporary accommodation units and ensure housing benefit processes can keep pace with address changes.

Debt prevention and financial resilience

• Provide targeted financial advice and early debt intervention for victim/survivors during the transition out of abuse, including support with essential resettlement costs.

• Develop specialist pathways to address DVA-related debt, including priority access to debt relief orders and rent arrears support.

Awareness and rights

• Expand victim/survivor access to clear, practical information on housing rights, debt options, and immigration entitlements, including the process for removing personal details from public registers.

• Embed immigration-related advice into financial and housing support services to ensure victim/survivors can act on opportunities to regularise their status.

Professional practice and coordination

• Improve referral pathways to be faster, clearer, and more responsive, particularly for urgent cases.

• Provide additional training for non-DVA staff on recognising and responding to hidden or non-traditional forms of abuse.

• Enhance data-sharing and cross-team communication to reduce duplication, close information gaps, and improve coordinated support.

GP practice focus group findings on supporting patients experiencing domestic violence and abuse

This group discussion explored the current practices involved in the management of patients affected by VAWG, particularly patients experiencing or having experienced DVA and in relation to mental health. The aim was to understand the perspectives, experiences, and challenges faced by residents, as well as those of the health and social care professionals in relation to this topic.

The session was held at the Hampstead Group practice during their clinical meeting having a variety of healthcare providers present. Approximately 27 to 30 people were in attendance.

Summary of key themes

Clinical and contextual indicators of possible DVA, including physical injuries, behavioural patterns, partner control, and psychological symptoms Importance of immediate risk assessment and prioritised same-day appointments following disclosure Barriers in responding to disclosure, such as difficulties ensuring privacy and complex safeguarding issues Existing support services and referral pathways, with gaps in mental health care and trauma-informed support Need for culturally specific DVA services in the community Practice-based strategies to enable safe disclosure and manage DVA-related mental health needs

Discussion findings

GPs in the focus group reported that DVA often presents indirectly through physical symptoms, stress-related health changes, and subtle behavioural cues. While immediate risk assessment and same-day appointments are standard in some practices, significant barriers remain - including lack of privacy when perpetrators attend consultations, experience perception of inconsistent local authority responses, and limited access to timely, trauma-informed mental health care. Housing insecurity, financial penalties for victim/survivors, and relocation away from support networks further undermine safety and recovery.

GPs regularly refer to CSN and Early Help but feel under-resourced to meet complex needs, particularly for patients with severe mental illness or PTSD linked to abuse. Participants stressed the urgency of more accessible, culturally specific services, better safeguarding pathways, and system changes to ensure perpetrators - not victim/survivors - bear the burden of leaving the home.

Key themes that came up in this discussion include:

Indicators of possible DVA

Participants identified a range of clinical and contextual clues that might signal DVA:

• Physical health presentations: Unexplained or persistent injuries (e.g. chronic neck pain linked to past abuse)

• Behavioural patterns: Frequent appointments, increased stress-related symptoms (e.g. smoking more, panic attacks, sleep problems)

• Control by partner: Attending appointments accompanied by a partner who speaks on their behalf; restrictions on leaving the home

• Psychological indicators: Flashbacks, heightened anxiety in response to triggers, palpitations

Responding to a disclosure of DVA

• Immediate risk assessment: Establishing urgency and involving police where necessary, as disclosure often coincides with periods of heightened danger

• Same-day appointments: At some practices (e.g. Hamstead Group Practice), receptionists are trained to prioritise patients disclosing abuse

• Barriers encountered:

  • Variable or unhelpful responses from local authorities, including perceived “pushback” from council services

  • Difficulty ensuring private conversations when the perpetrator attends with the patient

  • Complex safeguarding issues with ex-partners, particularly where there are shared parenting arrangements - some mothers fear children being placed under a protection plan due to prior negative experiences

Support offered and gaps in provision

• Current referral pathways:

  • Camden Safety Net

  • Early Help (generally positive feedback, particularly for non-statutory family support)

• Advocacy role: GPs often need to push for social care involvement, especially where threats are present but physical harm to children has not yet occurred

• Mental health service barriers:

  • Long wait times (e.g. iCope up to 12 months)

  • Reduced capacity of local mental health teams to manage complex DVA-related needs such as severe mental illness (SMI) or PTSD.

  • Lack of immediate access to trauma-informed care

• Housing and safety issues:

  • Concern that there was insufficient safe accommodation; slow housing processes can leave victims/survivors homeless

  • Concern around financial penalties for women entering refuges (still liable for rent/mortgage on family home)

  • Risk of relocation far from support networks, schools, and community ties

  • Perceived systemic bias favouring perpetrators who remain in the home

• Cultural needs: More culturally specific DVA services are required in Camden

Practice-based support

• Practices recognise the importance of discreetly separating patients from accompanying individuals suspected of being perpetrators to allow safe disclosure

• Ongoing need for improved protocols and confidence in managing DVA-related mental health needs

Key themes across responses

• DVA is often hidden behind every day clinical presentations

• GPs feel under-resourced in terms of both mental health and housing support for victim/survivors

• The risk period around disclosure is critical, requiring immediate, coordinated response

• Systemic barriers (e.g. service capacity, housing processes, safeguarding thresholds) can delay or limit effective intervention

• Culturally tailored and trauma-informed services are essential for better outcomes

• Some participants noted a lack of clarity on available local resources (e.g. beyond Camden Safety Net) and insufficient mental health support pathways for DVA survivors

Existing insights

Camden Women’s Forum (CWF)

In 2020, the Camden Women’s Forum conducted an inquiry into DVA. The findings of the inquiry were shared with Cabinet in December 2021. The inquiry worked with the Healing Our Past and Evolving (HOPE) Survivors Group to undertake the inquiry and hear from survivors of DVA.

The findings shared in the report include:

• Some communities experience barriers to information and accessing services due to cultural stigma and distrust of the system.

• People with no recourse to public funds face significant barriers to escaping abusive relationships and reporting the abuse.

• Victim/survivors would find it helpful if the process for reporting DVA was clearer so they know what the next steps are as they move through the process, and can manage their expectations in relation to the reporting process.

• The experience of the legal and criminal justice systems for victim/survivors is exposing, disempowering, and results in them feeling blamed and interrogated. This can lead to a sense of regret and that the system protects the perpetrator more than the victim/survivor.

• The system can create barriers to access through a lack of understanding and flexibility. For example, for some, the circumstances of their relationship can make it difficult to access services because they jointly own a property with their partner. However, after they have left the relationship they have no access to funds due to financial abuse, yet eligibility criteria exclude them from legal aid.

• Some victim/survivors report being bounced between services and having to tell their story multiple times which adds to the trauma and a feeling of dealing with a bureaucratic process that does not treat them as humans.

• The biggest barrier victim/survivors face is housing.

• Children in families where DVA is occurring have difficulty sharing their experiences and the emotions they feel due to the family circumstances can impact future relationships.

• There is a need for children to have a voice and agency, observe positive role models, and be aware DVA and services.

• It is important for schools to understand that children experiencing DVA can express their emotions and the stresses they face through negative behaviours.

• Camden Safety Net and schools were identified as key sources of support for victim/survivors.

The full report can be viewed here.

The Winch

In 2022, 36 interviews with victim/survivors, grassroot activists, youth workers, and charity staff were undertaken to investigate the causes, manifestations, and systemic nature of violence against women and girls of colour in Camden. Through these interviews relationships, safety and security, education, environmental and societal pressures, poverty, and institutional failures were all identified as key themes.

• Trusted and strong bonds with institutions and community members, alongside safe spaces, effectively reduce vulnerability and aid recovery

• Victim/survivors reported a fear of reporting due to stigma and mistrust of police

• A lack of culturally competent safe spaces was noted, alongside the underfunding and closure of vital youth centres

• Abuse can be normalised due to exposure to violence when young, and further desensitisation occurs due to toxic masculinity, cultural taboos, and social media

• Youth work and role models are crucial for intervention

• Gender stereotypes can hinder emotional expression and recovery

• Victim-blaming and a lack of sexual health education are prevalent

• Women get trapped in abusive relationships due to economic hardship

• The criminalisation of and cutting of services for sex work has worsened conditions

• Funding for charity organisations often fails to reach the most in need

• Social services are under resourced and inconsistent in their approach / response

• Hostile immigration policies significantly harm women who are refugees or asylum seekers

• Schools and police often fail to provide adequate support to victim/survivors

• Violence can manifest as DVA, sexual violence, discrimination and systemic neglect

• Perpetrators are not only individuals, but also institutions and societal norms

• Systemic violence that people experience is rooted in poverty, racism, sexism, and inadequate public services

The full report can be read here.

Galop

Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, working directly with LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. They specialise in supporting victim/survivors of DVA, sexual violence, hate crime, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, so-called conversion therapies, and other forms of interpersonal abuse.

In 2023, they produced a report about LGBT+ DVA victim/survivors access to support, which surveyed over 2000 LGBT+ across the UK about their experiences of abuse and access to support.

• Approximately 61% did not seek support from services following an instance of abuse by a family member of (ex-)partner

• 38% of survivors did not seek support from friends and family or other informal support after an instance of abuse

• Trans, non-binary and gender-diverse+, and pan/queer survivors report high levels of concern about being mistreated by services or services failing to understand their identities.

They also undertook a mapping study of services in England and Wales in 2021 which found:

• Most LGBT+ DVA services are victim/survivor support services, and based in London

• The support is largely provided by LGBT+ ‘by and for’ organisations who often work beyond their geographical remit and their capacity to meet demand

• LGBT+ specialist support exists within VAWG and generic DVA organisations, but it is limited – at the time of the report there were 3.5 FTE LGBT+ IDVAs based across 4 organisations. In addition, these services are less likely to adopt key indicators for LGBT+ inclusion relevant to the needs of non-binary and/or trans+ service users

• No LGBT+ specific services for LGB+ and/or T+ perpetrators and/or perpetrator programme were identified

• There is a lack of emergency accommodation / housing services for LGB+ and/or T+ people, in particular GB+ and/or T+ men.

The full reports can be found on the Galop website.

Women’s Safety Survey 2024

Between July and October 2024, Camden Council surveyed 272 respondents on their perception of safety, personal experiences, and views on what could be improved. The majority of respondents were female (96%), Camden residents (56%), between 40-64 years old (43%), and of White ethnicity (71%).

• In general, people surveyed did not feel safe after dark (72%), had experienced harassment or abuse in Camden (64%), and reported changing their behaviour to increase their safety (e.g. changing route, avoiding headphones, and hiding phones).

• Common issues faced by respondents include catcalling, intrusive staring, being followed, and aggression. Common reasons for feeling unsafe include poor lighting, secluded areas, and nightlife zones.

• 72% of respondents are aware of “Ask for Angela” but only 36% were aware of the Camden Safety Bus. 85% were in support of Public Space Protection Orders.

Community conversation on women’s safety

Approximately 70 participants took part in a Community Conversation about women’s safety in November 2024. The discussion identified 3 priority areas – public spaces, public venues, and reducing offending behaviour.

• Better lighting, visible patrols, and early intervention would help prevent women feeling unsafe

• Community engagement (e.g. inclusive forum meetings) and outreach including support for grassroots organisations are important

• In order to address the diverse needs of women, people with lived experience need to be involved in designing projects and communications, and language barriers need to be addressed

• Staff need to be able to recognise and respond to vulnerability

• Public spaces should include designated areas where people can seek help

• Reporting and a proactive safety culture need to be normalised through culture change

• There is a role for men in reducing offending behaviour through education, mentoring, bystander training, and normalising accountability conversations

• Intersectionality and accessibility must be central to all strategies and work

• Building trust is essential and requires community-led, trauma-informed approaches, as well as clear communication and consistent follow-up

Youth Assembly

The 2024 Youth Assembly, which was attended by over 80 participants, was focused on young women and safety. During the conversation the importance of female-only spaces which enable women and girls to interact and take part in activities was noted. They felt these spaces should support confidence building, skill development, and a greater sense of safety.

They also identified four additional recommendations for action:

• More CCTV in alleyways, back streets, estates, and poorly lit areas

• Free self-defence classes for women and girls

• Empathetic, trauma-informed post-assault support in a women-only environment

• Improved street lighting in alleyways and public spaces

Crossing Pathways – Health professionals

In March 2025, the Home Office commissioned a comprehensive evaluation of the UK health sector response to DVA. The project was informed by engagement with 90 survivors.

The key findings were:

• DVA costs the health service approximately £2.3 billion a year

• Health professionals are uniquely positioned to identify and respond to DVA

• Victim/survivors identified the need for trauma-informed care that can account for intersectional needs

• Nearly 9,000 staff have been trained, resulting in high confidence and understanding among trained professionals

• Challenges include short-term funding which undermines service continuity, recruitment issues due to low salaries and burnout, a lack of private spaces and independent and/or specialist roles to enable access

• Cultural barriers noted include the need for trauma-informed and DVA aware cultures in the NHS.

• Significant savings were identified when clinically-based DVA specialists intervened – up to £2.7 million per case – alongside improved health, safety, and wellbeing outcomes for survivors

The full report can be found online here.

Women’s Homelessness Forum

Forum participants worked with Council officers to explore the intersection of VAWG and women’s homelessness, with a particular focus on Camden, and shared the following insights:

• VAWG is a major driver of homelessness for women

• Women’s homelessness is often hidden and under counted due to flaws in administration and methodologies

• Women’s individual experiences can be obscured by the use of refuges and due to family homelessness

• Many women facing homelessness experience multiple, compounding issues including mental health, substance use, and insecure immigration status. Services are generally unable to accommodate and respond to complex, overlapping needs.

• Women who are experiencing homelessness have limited access to VAWG services, and services they can access are generally lacking a gender-informed, trauma-informed, and intersectional approach, and often fail to meet their long-term needs

CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS

As summarised in the previous chapter, this needs assessment has highlighted examples of effective practice and the commitment of dedicated professionals. At the same time, participants were often more inclined to focus on challenges, gaps, or areas of concern, and the findings presented here therefore reflect that emphasis.

It is therefore important to consider these recommendations alongside the successful work over the past five years that has positively strengthened Camden’s response to VAWG and the positive work that is already taking place or planned across the system, including the work carried out by Camden Safety Net and the Domestic Violence and Abuse Navigators, communication campaigns, the work on achieving Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance accreditation, initiatives led by the Women’s Safety Working Group and planned developments such as the creation of a data dashboard (to name a few).

In many cases, the recommendations build on existing efforts rather than starting from scratch and should be understood as part of an ongoing process of improvement. At the same time, it is also important to recognise the realities of public sector and local authority delivery, including limited resources.

The key findings and recommendations summarised below are specific to this needs assessment, however, they are consistent with the findings and recommendations from a number of already existing reports from within and beyond Camden (many of which are summarised in this needs assessment), including the February 2024 report presented to Cabinet by Cllr Djemai, and the 2021 Camden Women’s Forum Report.

In addition to these recommendations, there are more detailed recommendations in the Mental Health and Domestic Abuse deep dive 2025 (still in development at time of writing). There are also VAWG related recommendations in the following recently published strategies that should be considered alongside this needs assessment: the Camden Alcohol Strategy 2025 – 2030; the Camden Sexual Wellbeing and Reproductive Health System Review and Work Programme 2025-2030; and Camden’s Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Local authorities play a vital role in tackling DVA and VAWG, and their effectiveness relies on close collaboration with health services, police, and specialist agencies. While each agency brings its own statutory duties, professional frameworks, and sets of recommendations, local authorities are uniquely positioned to coordinate multi-agency responses, commission specialist services, and ensure that safeguarding arrangements are responsive to the needs of their communities. By aligning their strategies with the work of the NHS, policing bodies, and voluntary sector providers, while also following their own guidance and local priorities, local authorities can help to create a more joined-up, consistent, and survivor-focused approach. This partnership working is essential to address gaps, reduce duplication, and ensure that victim/survivors receive timely, appropriate, and holistic support.

Recommendations for strategy development

The recommendations provided are intentionally high-level and are based on the evidence review and data collected as part of this needs assessment. Each recommendation area has illustrative stakeholder and quantitative insights included as examples. These are not exhaustive, as the forthcoming strategy development process will help shape a future detailed action plan.

A full list of the stakeholder recommendations can be found in Appendix 3.

Public health approach

Comprehensive strategy that considers prevention; earlier intervention by the system/professions; response/support; perpetrator accountability/programmes; and intergenerational cycle breaking to stop violence

Alongside robust responses to VAWG, invest in early action to prevent DVA and VAWG, including schools/education, community engagement, and earlier identification and intervention by the system/professionals, including with perpetrators. Ensure intergenerational transmission of trauma, risk and behaviour is considered and addressed in strategic planning and response. For example:

• Roll out preventative education for young people on healthy relationships and recognising abuse (Source: Hopscotch, CVAA, C&L Practitioners).

• Address intergenerational abuse through targeted family therapeutic interventions with a focus on child victim/survivors. (Sources: CSN, CSC, WSA staff group, C&L practitioners)

• Use Family Hubs as part of early intervention and as safe, supportive spaces for children and non-abusive parents. (Source: CSC)

• Explore reasons for higher levels of reporting of VAWG-related crime in places such as Camden Town and southern wards, to understand if it reflects actual increased risk of VAWG or other reasons such as enhanced opportunities to report. (Source: quantitative findings)

Data and evidence

Improving insights, data and monitoring

Strengthen the collection, integration, and use of VAWG data and insights to build a shared evidence base that drives effective prevention, response, and partnership working.

• Shared understanding of VAWG: Establish a consistent and agreed definition of VAWG across all departments and partners, with clear categories, standard terminology, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. (Source: quantitative findings)

• Centre the voices of victim/survivors and those impacted by DVA and other forms of VAWG by holding regular insight sessions with diverse cohorts and involving those with lived experience in the design of strategy and policy. (Source: CVAA, Solace, Hopscotch)

• Unified data and a single view of a victim/survivors: Integrate disparate datasets into a central platform to enable a holistic view of victim/survivors’ interactions and needs. (Source: quantitative findings)

• Data sharing with partners: Strengthen governance and processes for sharing relevant VAWG data between Camden Council and trusted external partners. (Source: quantitative findings)

• Data completeness and quality: Improve accuracy and completeness of VAWG data to ensure analysis reflects the full picture of incidents and needs. (Source: quantitative findings)

• Monitoring, evaluation, and insight: Establish continuous monitoring and evaluation processes to track VAWG trends, service responses, and victim/survivors’ outcomes, and to inform ongoing policy and operational improvements. (Source: quantitative findings)

Support gaps

Whole-journey support for all victim/survivors

Ensure tailored, consistent support for victim/survivors of DVA and other forms of VAWG from first disclosure through to long-term recovery, regardless of risk level or complexity of need, including post-separation abuse. Explore and address gaps in identification and support for other, often hidden forms of abuse such as ‘honour-based’ abuse. For example:

• Develop individualised, tiered DVA support across the whole risk spectrum and victim/survivors journey. (Sources: CVAA, CSN, EIG2)

• Review and map the risk thresholds and eligibility criteria used by different services to identify where victims may be excluded from support because they do not meet assessment thresholds, ensuring that no victim is left without appropriate help. (Source: quantitative findings)

• Create structured post-crisis pathways to bridge emergency intervention and long-term recovery. (Sources: CSN, DV Navigators)

• Provide ongoing floating support (practical, emotional) to help sustain independence. (Source: CSN, DVA Navigators)

• Broaden eligibility criteria for long-term support services, including those with complex needs or lower risk. (Source: CSN)

• Increase interventions for child–to–parent abuse. (Source: CSN, C&L practitioners)

Mental health

Trauma-informed mental health and wellbeing

Expand accessible, culturally competent mental health support/services that are informed by the impacts of VAWG including DVA, sexual violence, and coercive control, and address co-occurring needs. For example:

• Expand long-term, community-based, DVA-informed mental health provision (face-to-face, trauma-informed, accessible to all). (Sources: CVAA, CSN, DV Navigators, C&L practitioners, EIG1)

• Integrate awareness of DVA-related brain injuries into mental health pathways. (Source: DV Navigators)

• Tailor services for dual diagnosis (mental health + substance use). (Sources: DV Navigators, EIG1)

Children’s support

Protection and recovery for children affected by abuse

Recognise children as direct victim/survivors of DVA and provide sustained, trauma-informed support across education, health, and family services. Give consideration also to wider forms of VAWG, including often hidden forms such as honour-based abuse.

For example:

• Increase understanding that children are direct victim/survivors of DVA and provide consistent therapeutic and emotional support. (Sources: CVAA, Solace, Hopscotch, CSN, EIG1, CSC, C&L Practitioners)

• Embed trauma-informed responses in schools (e.g., Healing Together, Operation Compass). (Source: EIG2)

• Use Family Hubs as part of early intervention and as safe, supportive spaces for children and non-abusive parents. (Source: CSC)

System related harm

Minimising harm from systems and services

Eliminate re-traumatisation by ensuring services respond with dignity, continuity, and coordination, keeping victim/survivor safety at the centre. For example:

• Reduce re-traumatisation by using personal “passports” to avoid repeated retelling of abuse. (Source: Solace)

• Improve inter-agency communication to avoid unsafe or harmful interventions. (Source: CVAA, Solace)

• Make housing environments and hostels trauma and gender-informed. (Source: DV Navigators)

• Minimise disruption from changes in lead workers to preserve trust and stability. (Source: CSC)

Housing and benefits

Safe, secure, and appropriate housing

Increase availability and quality of safe accommodation and housing pathways that meets the needs of women and children, reduces disruption, and supports recovery. Efforts are made to use Alternative Payment Arrangements to help reduce financial control and/or rent arrears.

For example:

• Expand safe, suitable local accommodation options to preserve social networks. (Sources: CSN, DV Navigators, C&L practitioners, quantitative findings)

• Scale up Housing First models with secure tenancy and wraparound support. (Source: DV Navigators)

• Increase housing priority for refuge referrals and broaden access for those with complex needs or NRPF. (Sources: Solace, CSN)

• Reduce forced relocations, especially for women with children. (Source: DV Navigators)

Equity

Equity and inclusion across all communities

Remove barriers to safety and support for marginalised groups, including (but not limited to) racially minoritised groups; migrant women; disabled women; women with language needs; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) survivors; inclusion health groups; and those with complex needs, taking an intersectional approach.  

For example:

• Ensure all responses and services are inclusive for racially minoritised groups, young and older women, NRPF, language needs, disabilities, neurodivergence, women who are pregnant or parenting and children of abuse. (Sources: Solace, Hopscotch, CSN, quantitative findings)

• Embed cultural competence and anti-misogyny training in services. (Sources: CVAA, Hopscotch)

• Partner with specialist “by and for” organisations as best practice in provision. (Source: Hopscotch)

• Enhance data recording on protected characteristics (ethnicity, disability, pregnancy/parenthood, etc.) to improve equity of services. (Source: quantitative findings)

Skills and training

Skilled and compassionate frontline workforce

Ensure all agencies - from police to healthcare - have the training and capacity to respond effectively to VAWG and DVA, free from victim-blaming. Ensure staff have access to group supervision and reflective practice space. For example:

• Mandatory trauma-informed VAWG/DVA training for all frontline staff (police, housing, healthcare, schools). (Sources: CVAA, Solace, Hopscotch, CSN, EIG2)

• Specialist training on and support with managing disclosures, including from children. (Source: EIG2, C&L practitioners)

• Culturally competent training for police, CPS, and healthcare providers. (Sources: Hopscotch, EIG2)

• Embed DVA mental health module into MECC (Making Every Contact Count) approach. (Source: EIG2)

• Embed Safe & Together consistently within social care practice (Source: C&L practitioners)

• Deliver training on Adult Child to Parent Abuse (Source: C&L Practitioners)

Service navigation

Clear and accessible pathways to help

Make it simple for victim/survivors to find and access the right support at the right time, with clear information, joined-up referral routes and service criteria. For example:

• Rebuild referral pathways post-GDPR to prevent victim/survivors being lost between systems (Source: from quantitative findings)

• Create live, centralised service directory accessible to professionals and victim/survivors (multi-language, multi-format). (Sources: Solace, EIG2)

• Integrate directory with existing platforms (e.g., Mental Health Camden, Waiting Room) and promote via outreach, QR codes, printed guides. (Source: EIG2)

• Provide single points of contact and one-stop shop models to reduce victim/survivors burden. (Source: EIG2)

Justice, safety, and perpetrator accountability

Strengthen system responses to protect victim/survivors, hold perpetrators to account, and reduce repeat harm through preventative measures and support and behaviour change programmes. For example:

• Advocate for improvements CPS/police prosecution rates and consistency of perpetrator consequences. (Source: DV Navigators).

• Advocate for training for justice professionals e.g. to reduce judgement and dismissal of victim/survivors’ cases. (Source: DV Navigators, C&L practitioners)

• Advocate for the importance of perpetrator programmes as part of any VAWG response to ensure all efforts are made to break the cycle of violence. (Source: C&L practitioners, perpetrator service providers)

• Strengthen advocacy and case support to reduce victim/survivor withdrawal and improve justice outcomes. (Source: DVA Navigators, C&L practitioners, quantitative findings)

• Improve responses to stalking and harassment, where current outcomes are particularly poor (Source: quantitative findings).

Funding and workforce

Sustainable funding and service stability

Secure long-term investment in specialist VAWG services, ensuring stable, experienced workforces that can provide consistent, high-quality support. For example:

• Secure long-term funding to ensure continuity of specialist VAWG services. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA)

• Improve job security and parity for specialist roles handling complex, high-risk cases. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA)

• Increase staffing capacity to allow lower caseloads and personalised support. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA)

Partnerships and multi-agency working

Coordinated, whole-system response

Embed shared responsibility across all agencies, - including (but not limited to) the Council, NHS partners and health services, the police & criminal justice system and VCSE organisations with strong partnership working to deliver a united approach to ending VAWG and DVA.

For example:

• Plan service capacity for anticipated growth in housing, safeguarding, MARAC, and specialist VAWG services. (Source: quantitative findings)

• Strengthen cross-sector case sharing, joint meetings, and referral pathways. (Sources: CVAA, Solace, CSN, EIG1, CSC)

• Embed DVA specialists in health, housing, and education settings. (Source: EIG2)

• Establish regular reflective spaces and joint updates between agencies to maintain shared responsibility. (Source: CSC)

We acknowledge that these recommendations do not cover community safety and public realm, as these did not emerge as common themes. However, we recognise the importance of this work in preventing and addressing VAWG, and the current work that is underway to positively contributing to the creation of a safer borough for women and girls in Camden. Therefore, an overarching recommendation would be the continuation of the Women’s Safety in the Public Realm working group and action plan.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report was led by the Health and Wellbeing team. We would like to thank colleagues across Camden Council, our VCSE partners, and - most importantly - people with lived experience who contributed data, insights and reflections. Although led by Health and Wellbeing, the report was a collaborative effort, compiled through the contributions of teams across the Council who led or provided input into specific sections. We are especially grateful to our data specialists and all those who offered their expertise, review, and feedback ahead of publication.

For any queries, please email

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Glossary and Abbreviations

Appendix 2: Additional services

Appendix 3: Recommendations from stakeholder groups

Appendix 4: Additional documentation

Appendix 5: Additional legislation, guidance, and policies

Appendix 6: Quantitative data appendices

6a: Data sources

6b: Metropolitan Police Service crime categorisation

6c: Metropolitan Police Service VAWG flags

6d: Calculations for metrics

6e: Statistical tests

6f: Camden FGM data

6g: Children safeguarding and social work flags

6h: Adult Social Care safeguarding flags

Appendix 1: Glossary and abbreviations

Term	Definition
Accessible services	Services that are designed and delivered in ways that ensure all individuals, regardless of their physical, sensory, cognitive, or social abilities, can use and benefit from them equally.
Accommodation-based support services	Services that provide housing and support to individuals, particularly vulnerable populations such as those with mental health conditions or domestic abuse victims/survivors. These services aim to help individuals live more independently by offering stable housing and access to tailored support services.
Behaviour change programmes	Programmes designed to make a difference to the way people act.
Coercive control	When a person you are personally connected to repeatedly behaves in a way which makes you feel controlled, dependent, isolated or scared.
Commissioning	The continual process of planning, agreeing and monitoring services. Commissioning is not one action but many, ranging from the health-needs assessment for a population, through the clinically based design of patient pathways, to service specification and contract negotiation or procurement, with continuous quality assessment.
Cohort	A group of people who share a characteristic.
Consent	To agree to do or allow something: to give permission for something to happen or be done.
	Sexual consent happens when all people involved in any kind of sexual activity agree to take part by choice. They also need to have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
Culturally competent	The ability to view the world through the lens of other people - in all their diversity.
Cultural norms	A shared expectation or rule within a specific group or society about how people should behave in particular situations.
Distributed leadership	A leadership approach in which leadership responsibilities are shared across multiple individuals or groups within an organisation, rather than being concentrated with a single leader or a small leadership team.
Domestic abuse	Behaviour of a person (A) towards another person (B) is domestic abuse if: (i) A and B are aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other, and (ii) the behaviour is abusive. Any incident of controlling, coercive, or threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse of those aged 16 or over who are or who have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of their sex, gender or sexuality Is an incident or pattern of behaviour which are violent, controlling, coercive, threatening or degrading towards a person who is or has been a close intimate partner or family member. Including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; ‘honour’ based violence; and coercive control which is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, and intimidation
Downstream prevention	Interventions that occur after a health problem has already developed, focusing on treatment, mitigation, or rehabilitation rather than preventing the issue in the first place.
Ecological model	Models that acknowledge the importance of human-environment interactions in understanding and changing behaviour.
Family-centred approach	Approach that involves working in partnership with families to better understand their circumstances and to decide on strategies that will suit them and their children.
Female Genital Mutilation	A procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there is no medical reason for this to be done.
Financial abuse	The unauthorised and improper use of funds, property or any resources belonging to another individual.
Forced marriage	Where one or both people do not or cannot consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used to force them into the marriage. It also includes when anything is done to make someone marry before they turn 18, even if there is no pressure or abuse.
Forced migration	A person subject to a migratory movement in which an element of coercion exists, including threats to life and livelihood, whether arising from natural or man-made causes (e.g. movements of refugees and internally displaced persons as well as people displaced by natural or environmental disasters, chemical or nuclear disasters, famine or development projects).
Gender	The characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender varies from society to society and can change over time.
Gender identity	A way to describe a person’s innate sense of their own gender, whether male, female, or non-binary, which may not correspond to the sex registered at birth
Gender-based violence	Violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.
Gender-variant	An umbrella term used to describe gender identity, expression, or behaviour that falls outside of culturally defined norms associated with a specific gender.
Holistic	Dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part.
Honour-based abuse	An incident involving violence, threats of violence, intimidation, coercion or abuse (including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse), which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and or community for alleged or perceived breaches of the family and/or community’s code of behaviour.
Homophobia	The fear, hatred, discomfort, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, or of same-sex attraction in general.
Inequalities	The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, rights, or treatment among individuals or groups within a society. It can occur across various dimensions and often leads to disadvantage or discrimination for certain populations.
Indigeneity	The quality or fact of being indigenous (in various senses); the quality or fact of originating or occurring naturally in a particular place
Intergenerational	Involving different generations.
Intervention	The action of intervening, ‘stepping in’, or interfering in any affair, so as to affect its course or issue.
Intersectionality	The interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, sex and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
Legislation	The action of making or giving laws; the enactment of laws.
Life-course approach	A life course approach to health aims to ensure people’s well-being at all ages by addressing people’s needs, ensuring access to health services, and safeguarding the human right to health throughout their lifetime.
Local authority	A government organisation responsible for providing public services and facilities within a specific geographic area, such as a city, borough, district, or county.
Low birth weight	Weight at birth of < 2500 grams (5.5 pounds).
Marginalised communities / groups	Those excluded from mainstream social, economic, educational, and/or cultural life.
Meta-analysis	Analysis of data from a number of independent studies of the same subject (published or unpublished), esp. in order to determine overall trends and significance.
Multi-agency approach	A way of working where different organisations and professionals collaborate to address complex issues that cannot be effectively tackled by one agency alone.
Narrative review	A type of literature review that identifies a selection of studies related to a topic of interest without a predetermined research question or specified search strategy.
Perpetrator	A person who perpetrates something, especially a crime.
Personally Connected	As set out in the DA Act 2021: The victim-survivor and alleged perpetrator must be 16 years of age and personally connected. For the purposes of this Act, two people are “personally connected” to each other if any of the following applies — they are, or have been, married to each other; they are, or have been, civil partners of each other; they have agreed to marry one another (whether or not the agreement has been terminated); they have entered into a civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated); they are, or have been, in an intimate personal relationship with each other; they each have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship in relation to the same child (see subsection (2)); they are relatives. For the purposes of subsection (1)(f) a person has a parental relationship in relation to a child if — the person is a parent of the child, or the person has parental responsibility for the child. In this section — “child” means a person under the age of 18 years; “civil partnership agreement” has the meaning given by section 73 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 “parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (see section 3 of that Act); “relative” has the meaning given by section 63(1) of the Family Law Act 1996.
Prevalence	The proportion of a population who have a specific characteristic in a given time period.
Prevention	The action of keeping from happening or making impossible an anticipated event or intended act.
Pre-term birth	Babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.
Primary prevention	Actions aimed at avoiding the manifestation of a disease.
Primordial prevention	Aims to address the root causes of health problems and improve the wider determinants of health. It focuses on preventing the emergence of risk factors in the first place by tackling the underlying social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.
Procurement	The buying of goods and services that enable an organisation to operate its supply chains, in a profitable and ethical manner.
Protective factors	Factors that facilitate the attainment of positive outcomes.
Protected characteristics	There are nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. It is illegal for a person to be discriminated against because of a protected characteristic.
Prospective-longitudinal studies	A type of research design that follows a group of individuals over time, collecting data at multiple points to observe how certain factors or exposures affect outcomes as they develop.
Psychological abuse	The use of threats, humiliation, intimidation, manipulation and control to cause emotional harm or exert power over someone.
Proxy	Someone or something that acts on behalf of another.
Qualitative	Of or relating to quality or qualities; measuring, or measured by, the quality of something.
Quantitative	Relating to or concerned with quantity or its measurement; that assesses or expresses quantity.
Racially minoritised	Individuals or groups who have been socially, politically, or economically marginalised due to their race or ethnicity, often as a result of systemic power imbalances and historical inequalities.
Randomised - controlled trials	Prospective studies that measure the effectiveness of a new intervention or treatment.
Refuge	Safe houses to escape domestic abuse.
Right to Move	The Right to Move in the UK refers to the ability of social tenants to move to take up employment opportunities without being disadvantaged by local housing authorities. This policy aims to support social tenants who need to relocate for work-related reasons, ensuring they can access housing that meets their needs without being limited by local connection criteria.
Safeguarding	Protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.
Secondary prevention	Deals with early detection of disease when this improves the chances for positive health outcomes.
Self-efficacy	A personal power or capacity to produce an intended effect.
Sex (biological)	A person’s sex registered at birth based on their physical characteristics including chromosomes, reproductive organs, and hormonal profiles. People will be assigned as either male or female.
Sexual orientation	A person’s sexual identity in relation to the sex or gender to whom they are usually attracted.
Social behaviours	The actions and responses of individuals that occur within a social and cultural context, influenced by complex stimulus conditions and the consequences of previous behaviours. It reflects the interaction between an individual’s environment and their behavioural patterns over time.
Sociodemographic	The characteristics of a population that can influence behaviours and preferences, including variables such as age, sex, education level, income, the number of inhabitants in a town, and homeownership.
Socioeconomic status	The relative position of an individual, family, or group within a societal hierarchy based on access to or power over valued resources such as wealth, education, and social recognition. It encompasses factors such as parental occupation, family income, and prestige, influencing living conditions and opportunities for skill development.
Social housing	Social rent homes. These homes have rents linked to local incomes and provide an affordable, secure housing option for people across the country. Provided either by housing associations or the local council.
Statutory	Of, relating to, or contained in a statute; enacted, prescribed, or appointed by statute; that conforms to requirements prescribed by statute.
Stereotyping	To view or portray (a person) as having characteristics corresponding to a widely-held but oversimplified or prejudiced preconception of the group to which they belong.
Stigma	The negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency. A stigma implies social disapproval and can lead unfairly to discrimination against and exclusion of the individual.
Systematic review	A type of literature review of research that require equivalent standards of rigour to primary research. They have a clear, logical rationale that is reported to the reader of the review. They are used in research and policymaking to inform evidence-based decisions and practice.
Temporary accommodation	Housing provided by local councils to people who are facing homelessness. Temporary accommodation provides a safe and secure place to stay while you wait to find a long-term home.
Tertiary prevention	Action that attempts to minimise the harm of a problem through careful management.
Third sector organisation	The third sector includes charities, social enterprises and community groups which deliver essential services, helps to improve people’s wellbeing and contributes to economic growth.
Transphobia	Antipathy and associated violence towards or exclusion of individuals whose gender identity or expression is incongruous with their sex registered at birth, collectively termed transgender (trans), non-binary and gender diverse people.
Trauma-informed practice	An approach to health and care interventions which is grounded in the understanding that trauma exposure can impact an individual’s neurological, biological, psychological and social development.
Upstream prevention	Aims to prevent public health problems before they occur by optimising the physical, economic, and social factors that shape communities’ health.
Risk factor	Something that increases the likelihood of developing a disease/condition/event.
Universal	Extending over or including the whole of something specified or implied, esp. the whole of a particular group or the whole world; comprehensive, complete; widely occurring or existing, prevalent overall.
Verbal abuse	Using negative words and language that cause harm. It may take the form of blaming, insulting, belittling, intimidating, demeaning, disrespecting, scolding, frightening, ridiculing, criticising, name-calling or threatening a child. It is not just about shouting and screaming. Verbal abuse can also be quiet, insidious and subtle. Tone, volume and facial expression all play a part.
Victim/Survivor	Refers to a person who has experienced any form of violence against women and girls (VAWG), including physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse. The term victim emphasises the harm and injustice suffered, while survivor highlights the person’s resilience, agency, and recovery. Both terms are used together to respect individual preferences and acknowledge different stages and perspectives of experience.
Violence against women and girls (VAWG)	VAWG is a gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. Definitions of the term ‘violence against women and girls’ (VAWG) vary and are inconsistent, but the government defines it as “acts of violence or abuse that we know disproportionately affect women and girls”. It covers crimes including rape and other sexual offences & exploitation, stalking, domestic abuse including coercive and controlling behaviour, trafficking, ‘honour’-based abuse (including female genital mutilation, forced marriage and ‘honour’ killings), ‘revenge porn’ and ‘upskirting’.
Whole system approach	Strategic integrated approach to planning and delivering services.

Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Definition
ACEs	Adverse Childhood Experiences
APTR	Accused Perpetrator
ASC	Adult Social Care
BCU	Basic Command Unit
CAMHS	Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
CLA	Children Looked After
CMARAC	Community Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference
CNWL	Central and North West London
CPS	Crown Prosecution Service
CSEW	Crime Survey for England and Wales
CSN	Camden Safety Net
CSSW	Children Safeguarding and Social Work
CYP	Children and Young People
DAHA	Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance
DAPNs	Domestic Abuse Protection Order Notices
DAPOs	Domestic Abuse Protection Orders
DAPP	Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme
DASH risk checklist	Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Honour Based Violence Risk Assessment checklist
D(S)VA	Domestic (and Sexual) Violence and Abuse
EH	Early Help
FGM	Female Genital Mutilation
GDPR	General Data Protection Regulation
ID(S)VA	Independent Domestic (and Sexual) Violence Advocate/Advisor
LGBT+	Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender plus
MAC	Money advice Camden
MARAC	Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference
MECC	Make Every Contact Count
MOPAC	Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime
MPS	Metropolitan Police Service
NFLT	North London NHS Foundation Trust
NHS	National Health Service
NICE	National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NPCC	National Police Chiefs’ Council
NRPF	No Recourse to Public Funds
OHID	Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
ONS	Office for National Statistics
SMI	Serious Mental Illness
PTSD	Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
UC	Universal Credit
UN	United Nations
VAWG	Violence Against Women and Girls
VCS / VCSE	Voluntary and Community Sector / Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise
VRU	Violence Reduction Unit
WHO	World Health Organisation

Appendix 2: Additional services

Name/Title	Family Stories Intervention
Description	A collaborative, brief intervention by the Anna Freud Family Trauma Team for mothers and primary-school aged children living in a shelter/refuge who are at risk of PTSD. The support is co-produced and adapts evidence-based trauma focused CBT. Launched in May 2025.

Title / Name	Coram Creative Therapies for CYP
Description	Coram runs both music and art therapy for young people in both one-to-one and group sessions. Music therapy This therapy aims to help children express their emotions non-verbally and to help them build trust with their therapist. Art therapy Helping to identify new strategies for managing feelings, thoughts, and behaviours at home and school, this therapy can build resilience and support children, parents and teachers through the process of positive changes. Referrals should be made by the young person’s teacher / SENCO.
Service User Eligibility	Children who live and go to school in Camden Participants do not need to have any musical / artistic skills or experience
Service Data	Not available

Name/Title	Hourglass
Description	The only UK charity focused on the abuse and neglect of older people. Provide a free 24/7 helpline to support older people who experiencing all types of abuse (domestic, physical, psychological, economic, sexual, and neglect) and their families. Support can be accessed via the helpline, by text, email, live chat, chatbot, and local community hubs.

Name/Title

SignHealth

Description

Provide a range of support to the deaf community about health and wellbeing, including psychological therapy and specialist, confidential support for people affected by sexual violence and DVA for young people, families, and in court. Their support provides a dedicated worker who creates a safety and support plan as well as links and advice related to housing, children, therapy, the legal system, and liaising with other agencies. They have both male and female Independent Sexual Violence Advisors who offer support to people have experienced sexual abuse either recently or in the past. SignHealth also provide prevention workshops in education settings and the deaf community. Their website has a range of resources and information to help people understand if they are in an abusive relationship and how to access support.

Name/Title

Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Description

A personal safety charity that seeks to reduce the risk and prevalence of abuse, aggression, and violence – with a specific focus on stalking and harassment – through education, campaigning, and support. An expert organisation in the fields of lone working, personal safety training, and stalking training. They established the National Stalking Helpline which is the only service of its kind globally.

Appendix 3: Recommendations from stakeholder groups

Note: These are the recommendations from the insight sessions only. Please see Chapter 6 for overall VAWG Needs Assessment recommendations.

Public health approach

Alongside robust responses to VAWG, invest in early action to prevent DVA and VAWG, including education, community engagement, earlier intervention by the system/professionals, including with perpetrators. Ensure intergenerational transmission of trauma, risk and behaviour is considered and addressed in strategic planning and response. Wider delivery of preventative education for young people on healthy relationships, recognising abuse and promoting respect. (Source: Hopscotch, CVAA, C&L Practitioners) Ensure support is holistic and addresses intersecting issues like mental health, disabilities, housing, poverty, and financial challenges together rather than in a fragmented/siloed way. (Source: Hopscotch, alluded also by CSN, DVA Navigators, C&L Practitioners) Increase proactive early intervention police/community safety responses where victims won’t press charges. (Source: CSN) Engage fathers earlier to prevent harm and disrupt cycles of abuse. (Source: CSC, C&L Practitioners) Take purposeful, timely action after social care risks assessment to avoid ongoing harm. (Source: CSC) Encourage professional curiosity across different workforce groups and sectors to identify underlying abuse when clients present to services for other reasons (e.g., mental health crises, unexplained injuries). (Source: CSN, C&L Practitioners) Address intergenerational abuse through targeted family interventions. (Sources: CSN, CSC, WSA staff group, C&L practitioners) Embed survivor voice in strategy, policy and service design. (Source: CVAA, EIG2)

Gaps in support for survivors e.g. ‘standard risk’

Ensure tailored, consistent support for victim/survivors of DVA and other forms of VAWG from first disclosure through to long-term recovery, regardless of risk level or complexity of need. Develop individualised, tiered DA support across the whole risk spectrum and survivor journey. (Sources: CVAA, CSN, EIG2) Create structured post-crisis pathways to bridge emergency intervention and long-term recovery. (Sources: CSN, DV Navigators) Provide ongoing floating support (practical, emotional) to help sustain independence (e.g., life skills, cost-of-living management). (Source: CSN) Broaden eligibility criteria for long-term support services, including those with complex needs or lower risk. (Source: CSN) Avoid “monitoring only” responses — link risk identification to concrete, transformative interventions. (Source: CSC) Increase interventions for child–to–parent abuse. (Source: CSN, C&L Practitioners)

Mental health

Expand accessible, culturally competent mental health services that are informed by the impacts of VAWG including DVA, sexual violence, and coercive control, and address co-occurring needs. Expand long-term, gendered and DVA-informed mental health provision (face-to-face, trauma-informed, accessible to all regardless of immigration or housing status). (Sources: CVAA, CSN, DV Navigators, EIG1, WSA staff group, C&L Practitioners) Integrate awareness of DVA-related brain injuries into mental health pathways. (Source: DV Navigators) Tailor services for dual diagnosis (mental health + substance use). (Sources: DV Navigators, EIG1) Provide mental health checks during housing transitions. (Source: Solace) Commission bespoke mental health services for victim-survivors impacted by multiple disadvantage and co-occurring conditions. (Source: WSA staff group) Improve access to secondary and tertiary mental health care and develop accessible pathways into crisis support. (Source: WSA staff group)

Support for children

Recognise children as direct victims of DVA and provide sustained, trauma-informed support across education, health, and family services. Give consideration also to wider forms of violence against women and girls, including often hidden forms such as honour-based abuse. Recognise children as direct victims of DVA and provide consistent integrated therapeutic and emotional support. (Sources: CVAA, Solace, Hopscotch, CSN, EIG1, CSC, WSA staff group, C&L Practitioners) Fund play therapy, parenting programmes, and emotional coaching for mothers. (Source: Solace) Embed trauma-informed mental health responses in schools (e.g., Healing Together, Operation Compass). (Source: EIG2, C&L Practitioners) Use Family Hubs as part of early intervention and as safe, supportive spaces for children and non-abusive parents. (Source: CSC) Prioritise consistent, trusted relationships between workers and children/families. (Source: CSC, C&L Practitioners)

System-induced trauma

Eliminate re-traumatisation by ensuring services respond with dignity, continuity, and coordination, keeping victim/survivor safety at the centre. Reduce re-traumatisation by using personal “passports” to avoid repeated retelling of abuse. (Source: Solace) Improve inter-agency communication to avoid unsafe or harmful interventions. (Sources: CVAA, Solace, C&L Practitioners) Make housing environments and hostels trauma-informed. (Source: DV Navigators) Minimise disruption from changes in lead workers to preserve trust and stability. (Source: CSC) Ensure there is stronger accountability, improved communications and consistent case handling and handovers across boroughs (Source: Solace, C&L Practitioners)

Housing and benefits

Increase availability and quality of safe accommodation and housing pathways that meets the needs of women and children, reduces disruption, and supports recovery. Efforts are made to use Alternative Payment Arrangements to help reduce financial control and/or rent arrears Expand long term safe, suitable local accommodation options to preserve social networks. (Sources: CSN, DV Navigators, WSA staff group, C&L Practitioners) Scale up Housing First models with secure tenancy and wraparound support. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA staff group) Increase housing priority for refuge referrals and broaden access for those with complex needs or NRPF. (Sources: Solace, CSN) More out-of-hours/weekend support for emergency housing (Source: Solace) Improve hostel environments by ensuring trauma-informed staff, adequate facilities, and timely maintenance. (Source: DVA Navigators) Reduce forced relocations, especially for women with children. (Source: DV Navigators) Review and reform commissioning processes for hostels/temporary accommodation to align with relational practice standards. (Source: DV Navigators) Explore “Alternative Payment Arrangement” (APAs) where the landlord can request the rent portion of the Universal Credit (as well as a limited contribution to any rent arrears) directly from DWP; rather than the claimant having to manage it. (Source: Money Advice) Provide emergency/essential funding for fleeing survivors (Source: Solace, DVA Navigators) Address the impact of short-term prison stays on benefit retention and housing stability. (Source: DVA Navigators)

Equity

Remove barriers to safety and support for marginalised groups, including migrant women, disabled women, women with language needs, LGBTQ+ survivors, inclusion health groups and those with complex needs, taking an intersectional approach. Ensure all services and resources are inclusive for NRPF, language needs, disabilities, neurodivergence, and children of abuse. (Sources: Solace, Hopscotch, CSN) Embed cultural competence and anti-misogyny training in services. (Sources: CVAA, Hopscotch) Expand culturally sensitive, community-based outreach and activities in trusted settings where women can build trust and access help, with better awareness of VAWG issues among facilitators. (Source: Hopscotch) Partner with specialist “by and for” organisations as best practice in provision. (Source: Hopscotch) Develop a universal VAWG offer for homeless women (Source: WSA staff group) Improve the capacity and capability of mainstream DVA and VAWG services to identify and respond to multiple disadvantage and homelessness. (Source: WSA staff group) Develop a VAWG offer that integrates addiction expertise and addresses abuse linked to substance use and criminal exploitation, i.e., gendered violence from drug dealers, moving beyond a narrow focus on ‘personally connected’ DVA (Source: WSA staff group)

Training and skills

Ensure all agencies — from police to healthcare — have the training and capacity to respond effectively to VAWG and DVA, free from victim-blaming. Mandatory trauma-informed VAWG/DA training for all frontline staff (police, housing, healthcare, schools). (Sources: CVAA, Solace, Hopscotch, CSN, EIG2) Specialist training on managing disclosures (including from children) and avoiding victim-blaming. (Source: EIG2) Culturally competent training for police, CPS, and healthcare providers. (Sources: Hopscotch, EIG2) Embed DA mental health module into MECC (Making Every Contact Count) approach. (Source: EIG2) Develop training and resources focused on supporting victim/survivors of intrafamilial including adult child to parent abuse. (Source: WSA staff group, C&L Practitioners) Embed Safe & Together consistently within social care practice. (Source: C&L Practitioners) Introduce a clear practice-based model of social responses to DVA. (Source: C&L Practitioners)

Service navigation and information access

Make it simple for victim/survivors to find and access the right support at the right time, with clear information and joined-up referral routes and service criteria Create live, centralised service directory accessible to professionals and survivors (multi-language, multi-format). (Sources: Solace, EIG2) Integrate directory with existing platforms (e.g., Mental Health Camden, Waiting Room) and promote via outreach, QR codes, printed guides. (Source: EIG2) Provide single points of contact and one-stop shop models to reduce survivor burden. (Source: EIG2) Ensure all pathways and processes are responsive, accessible in multiple formats, and avoid repeated retelling of stories (survivor passport model). (Source: Solace)

Justice, safety, and perpetrator accountability

Strengthen system responses to protect victim/survivors, hold perpetrators to account, and reduce repeat harm through preventative measures and support and behaviour change programmes. Advocate for improvements CPS/police prosecution rates and consistency of perpetrator consequences. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA staff group) Advocate for training for justice professionals to reduce judgement and dismissal of survivors’ cases. (Source: DV Navigators) Advocate for the importance of perpetrator programmes as part of any VAWG response to ensure all efforts are made to break the cycle of violence. (Source: C&L practitioners, perpetrator service providers) Strengthen the confidence and capability of professionals to embed the principles of perpetrator accountability into their work. (Source: WSA staff group) Improve pathways into perpetrator behaviour change programmes and disruption programmes for example linking perpetrator programmes to housing or justice systems, or early referrals alongside CSN referrals. (Sources: EIG1, Hopscotch, WSA staff group, C&L practitioners) Expand access to supervised contact centres outside of court proceedings. (Source: C&L Practitioners) Expand access to independent advocacy for survivors navigating court proceedings. Improve judicial and system-wide understanding of coercive control and ongoing abuse, reducing reliance on the “parental conflict” framing.

Funding and workforce stability

Secure long-term investment in specialist VAWG services, ensuring stable, experienced workforces that can provide consistent, high-quality support. Secure long-term funding to ensure continuity of specialist VAWG services. (Source: DV Navigators) Improve job security and parity for specialist roles handling complex, high-risk cases. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA staff group) Increase staffing capacity to allow lower caseloads and personalised support. (Source: DV Navigators, WSA staff group, C&L Practitioners) Ensure access to regular clinical supervision and reflective practice to support staff dealing with high-stress, complex cases. (Source: CSN, WSA staff group, C&L Practitioners) Embed Safe & Together consistently within children’s social care practice. Introduce a clear practice-based model for social work responses to DVA. Training on Adult Child to Parent Abuse (currently being planned at the Council)

Multi-agency coordination

Embed shared responsibility across all agencies, - including (but not limited to) the Council, NHS partners and health services, the police and VCSE organisations with strong partnership working to deliver a united approach to ending VAWG and DVA. Strengthen cross-sector case sharing, joint meetings, and referral pathways. (Sources: CVAA, Solace, CSN, EIG1, CSC) Embed DVA specialists in health, housing, and education settings. (Source: EIG2) Develop system-wide accountability for DVA response quality. (Sources: EIG1, EIG2) Establish regular reflective spaces and joint updates between agencies to maintain shared responsibility. (Source: CSC) Use multi-disciplinary teams to ensure diverse perspectives and joint accountability in DVA cases. (Source: CSC)

Appendix 4: Additional documentation

The following documentation is available to provide further insights and understanding. If you would like more details on the full reports from the stakeholder engagement or services, please email

Camden Council reports / insights

• Care Act Reforms Work

• Domestic Violence and Abuse & Mental Health deep dive

• Homelessness lived experience insights

Linked Camden Council strategies

• Alcohol strategy

• Housing strategy

• Sexual and reproductive health report

Documentation by other organisations

• Changing the culture report – Universities UK

• Children and young people Insights data - SafeLives

• Disabled survivors too | Domestic abuse spotlight - SafeLives

• Strengthening Fathers - London City Hall

• Tackling Violence against Women and Girls - Local Government Association

• Trauma Informed Research - London City Hall

• VRU Evidence Hub – London City Hall

Appendix 5: Additional legislation, guidance, and policies

Legislation

• Childcare Act 2006

• Children and Social Work Act 2017

• Crime and Policing Bill: Reducing violence against women and girls (VAWG) factsheet - GOV.UK

Guidance

• Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases – GOV.UK

• Care Act 2014 briefing | Domestic abuse services - SafeLives

• Commissioning services to tackle violence against women and girls - GOV.UK

• CYP-good-practice-guide.pdf – Women’s Aid

• Guidance for multi-agency forums: Racially minoritised clients - SafeLives

• Guidance for multi-agency forums: Addressing perpetrators - SafeLives

• Inclusive and nurturing schools - London City Hall

• Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK

• Local authority guide to survivor involvement - SafeLives

• Supporting Families briefing 2021 - SafeLives

• Supporting male victims - GOV.UK

• Trans inclusion guidance | Domestic abuse - SafeLives

• Values & principles for effective multi-agency work - SafeLives

• VAWG Outcomes and Performance Framework – National Police Chiefs’ Council

• VAWG-Code-of-Practice-16.05.22-Final.pdf – End Violence Against Women

• Violence Against Women and Girls - The Crown Prosecution Service

• Working together to safeguard children - GOV.UK

Appendix 6: Quantitative data appendices

Appendix 6a: Data sources

	Data Source	Description	Link
Internal	Adult Social Care Safeguarding	Introduced in the statutory duties set out in the Care Act 2014, raised through ASC frequently overlap with abuse types that fall under VAWG, providing a critical and robust dataset for understanding adult victims at risk.	N/A
	Camden Safety Net	Camden’s high risk DVA service, CSN inherently deals with survivors and victims of VAWG.
	Children Safeguarding and Social Work	VAWG-related issues can surface either at the initial referral stage or during later assessments, highlighting how children and families are affected.
	Domestic Abuse Navigators	Provide support for victims and survivors of DVA experiencing multiple disadvantage.
	Early Help	See Children Safeguarding and Social Work
	Housing	For victim/survivors of DVA, housing pathways are a key area of support. DVA issues may appear through statutory routes (applications under Part 6 or 7 of the Housing Act 1996) or through non-statutory provision, such as Camden’s Adult Pathway, rough sleeping services, and refuge accommodation. Also for current council tenants, housing officers can raise DVA as a risk.
	Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)	This multi-agency meeting ensures that cases that have been assessed to be of serious risk of harm or homicide of DVA are jointly assessed and managed, making it a vital source of information on the most serious cases.
External	Metropolitan Police Service – Homicide Data	Provides an overview of homicides across London	https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/stats-and-data/stats-and-data/met/homicide-dashboard/
	Metropolitan Police Service – VAWG Offence Data	Provides detailed crime level data on offences linked to VAWG, including outcomes, location and offence type, and flags of VAWG abuses.	N/A
	NHS FGM Report	The Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Enhanced Dataset (SCCI 2026) is a repository for individual level data collected by healthcare providers in England, including acute hospital providers, mental health providers and GP practices.	Female Genital Mutilation - NHS England Digital
	Victim Support, Mayors Office of Policing and Crime	MOPAC commissions a range of support services and interventions for victims and witnesses of crime in London, and for individuals at risk of becoming involved in crime. Caseworkers and Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) work with victims to support immediate and long-term safety, and wellbeing for service users. Support is provided to help victim/survivors understand their rights, plan and leave safely, advocate with professionals, court support, dealing with social services, support for children, accessing safe accommodation, accessing immigration advice, debt and money advice/advocacy, information and support where there has been sexual violence, mental health support and referring onto specialist services.	Supporting Victims and Witnesses | London City Hall
Other	Office of National Statistics – Mid Year Population Estimates 2023 (Local Authority and Ward)	Used to calculate rates of crime per 1,000 residents (per 1,000 female residents if for VAWG rates).	Population estimates - local authority based by five year age band - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics
	Office of National Statistics – Census 2021 (Topic Summaries and Ready Made tables)	Various tables used to ascertain prevalence of at risk groups, and look of geospatial correlation between VAWG rates and demographics of local populations.	2021 Census - Census of Population - Data Sources - home - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics

Appendix 6b: Metropolitan Police Service crime categorisation

Group	Subgroup	VAWG Offence
Arson And Criminal Damage	Arson	N/A
	Criminal Damage	N/A
Burglary	Burglary - Residential	N/A
	Burglary Business And Community	N/A
	Burglary In A Dwelling	N/A
Drug Offences	Possession Of Drugs	N/A
	Trafficking Of Drugs	N/A
Fraud And Forgery	Fraud And Forgery	N/A
Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society	Misc Crimes Against Society	Exploitation of Prostitution; Other Violence
Nfib Fraud	Nfib	N/A
Possession Of Weapons	Possession Of Weapons	N/A
Public Order Offences	Other Offences Public Order	N/A; Outraging public decency
	Public Fear Alarm Or Distress	Public Fear Alarm or Distress
	Race Or Religious Agg Public Fear	Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear Alarm or Distress
Robbery	Robbery Of Business Property	N/A
	Robbery Of Personal Property	N/A
Sexual Offences	Other Sexual Offences	Sexual Assault on a Female Child under 13; Sexual assault on a Female aged 13 and over; Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16; Upskirting; Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation; Exposure and Voyeurism; Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13; Sexual Grooming; Incest or Familial Sexual Offences; Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature; Assault on a female by penetration.; Causing Sexual Activity without Consent; Other Miscellaneous Sexual Offences; Sexual Activity etc with a Person with a Mental Disorder; N/A; Unnatural Sexual Offences; Offences relating to using equipment to film or observe another while breastfeeding
	Rape	Rape of a Female aged 16 and over; Rape of a Female Child under 16; Rape of a Male Child under 13; Rape of a Female Child under 13; Rape of a Male Child under 16; Rape of a Male aged 16 and over; N/A
Theft	Bicycle Theft	N/A
	Other Theft	N/A
	Shoplifting	N/A
	Theft From The Person	N/A
Vehicle Offences	Aggravated Vehicle Taking	N/A
	Interfering With A Motor Vehicle	N/A
	Theft From A Vehicle	N/A
	Theft Or Unauth Taking Of A Motor Veh	N/A
Violence Against The Person	Homicide	Murder; Manslaughter
	Violence With Injury	Actual Bodily harm and other Injury; Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm without Intent; Wounding or Carrying out an act Endangering Life; Assaults Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm on a Constable; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm without intent; Assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Emergency Worker (other than a Constable); Poisoning; Possession of items to Endanger Life; Wounding Amounting to GBH or Inflicting GBH (Inflicting Bodily Harm with or Without Weapon) on a Constable; Female Genital Mutilation; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Actual Bodily Harm and other Injury; Use of Substance or Object to Endanger Life; Cause GBH with intent on Constable to resist/prevent arrest; Wounding or Inflicting GBH (with or Without Weapon) on Emergency Worker (other than a Constable); Attempted Murder; Unlawfully and Maliciously Wound / GBH an Emergency Worker (other than a Constable) with Intent to cause GBH; Neglect; Other Violence; Intentional Destruction of a Viable Unborn Child; Endangering Life at Sea; Non-fatal strangulation and suffocation; Wounding with intent to do GBH on Constable; Causing or Allowing Death of Child or Vulnerable Person; GBH on Emergency Worker (other than a Constable) with Intent to resist or prevent arrest; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Assault with Injury; Cause or allow a child or vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm; N/A
	Violence Without Injury	N/A; Harassment; Sending letters etc with intent to cause distress or anxiety; Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress; Engage in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate / family relationship.; Stalking; Forced marriage offences; Modern Day Slavery; Pursue course of conduct in breach of Sec 1(1) which amounts to stalking; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment; Breach of Stalking Order

Appendix 6c: Metropolitan Police Service VAWG flags

Subtype	Offence List
Controlling or Coercive Behaviour	Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation; Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress; Engage in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate / family relationship.; Exploitation of Prostitution; Forced marriage offences; Modern Day Slavery; Offences relating to using equipment to film or observe another while breastfeeding ; Sexual Grooming
Domestic Abuse	Flagged by MPS in dataset
Economic Abuse	N/A
FGM	Flagged by MPS in dataset
Forced Marriage	Flagged by MPS in dataset
Honour based violence	Flagged by MPS in dataset
Physical or Sexual Abuse	Actual Bodily harm and other Injury; Assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Emergency Worker (other than a Constable); Assault on a female by penetration.; Assaults Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm on a Constable; Attempted Murder; Cause or allow a child or vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm; Causing Sexual Activity without Consent; Exposure and Voyeurism; Female Genital Mutilation; Incest or Familial Sexual Offences; Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm without Intent; Intentional Destruction of a Viable Unborn Child; Murder; Non-fatal strangulation and suffocation; Other Miscellaneous Sexual Offences; Poisoning; Possession of items to Endanger Life; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Actual Bodily Harm and other Injury; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm without intent; Rape of a Female Child under 13; Rape of a Female Child under 16; Rape of a Female aged 16 and over; Rape of a Male Child under 13; Rape of a Male aged 16 and over; Sexual Activity etc with a Person with a Mental Disorder; Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13; Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16; Sexual Assault on a Female Child under 13; Sexual assault on a Female aged 13 and over; Unnatural Sexual Offences; Upskirting; Use of Substance or Object to Endanger Life; Wounding Amounting to GBH or Inflicting GBH (Inflicting Bodily Harm with or Without Weapon) on a Constable; Wounding or Carrying out an act Endangering Life; Wounding with intent to do GBH on Constable
Psychological / Emotional / Other Abuse	Neglect
Sexual Exploitation	Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation; Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature; Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress; Exploitation of Prostitution; Modern Day Slavery; Offences relating to using equipment to film or observe another while breastfeeding; Sexual Activity etc with a Person with a Mental Disorder; Sexual Grooming
Sexual Violence	Abuse of Children through Sexual Exploitation; Abuse of Position of Trust of a Sexual Nature; Assault on a female by penetration.; Causing Sexual Activity without Consent; Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress; Exposure and Voyeurism; Incest or Familial Sexual Offences; Other Miscellaneous Sexual Offences; Rape of a Female Child under 13; Rape of a Female Child under 16; Rape of a Female aged 16 and over; Rape of a Male Child under 13; Rape of a Male Child under 16; Rape of a Male aged 16 and over; Sexual Activity etc with a Person with a Mental Disorder; Sexual Activity involving a Child under 13; Sexual Activity involving a Child under 16; Sexual Assault on a Female Child under 13; Sexual Grooming; Sexual assault on a Female aged 13 and over; Upskirting
Stalking and Harassment	Breach of Stalking Order; Harassment; Public Fear Alarm or Distress; Pursue course of conduct in breach of Sec 1(1) which amounts to stalking; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear Alarm or Distress; Sending letters etc with intent to cause distress or anxiety; Stalking
Violent or Threatening Behaviour	Breach of Stalking Order; Harassment; Outraging public decency; Public Fear Alarm or Distress; Pursue course of conduct in breach of Sec 1(1) which amounts to stalking; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Assault with Injury; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Harassment; Racially or Religiously Aggravated Public Fear Alarm or Distress; Sending letters etc with intent to cause distress or anxiety; Stalking; Other Violence

Appendix 6d: Calculations for metrics

Metric	Description	Calculation
Crime Rate per 1,000 Female Residents	Number of crimes (total or VAWG) per 1,000 female residents in a given area	(Total Crimes ÷ Female Population) × 1,000
Count of Crimes	Total number of recorded crimes (can be filtered for VAWG or specific types)	Sum of recorded crime incidents
Proportion of Crime Type within Total Crimes	Share of a specific crime type relative to all recorded crimes	(Crimes of Type X ÷ Total Crimes) × 100
Proportion of Crime Type within VAWG Crimes	Share of a specific VAWG crime type within total VAWG crimes	(VAWG Crime Type X ÷ Total VAWG Crimes) × 100
Percentage Change of Crime Rate Between Years	Relative year-over-year increase or decrease in crime rate	((Crime Rate Year 2 − Crime Rate Year 1) ÷ Crime Rate Year 1) × 100
Absolute Change of Crime Rate Between Years	Raw numerical change in crime rate between two years	Crime Rate Year 2 − Crime Rate Year 1
Percentage Change of Crime Rate Within a Single Year	Relative monthly or quarterly change in crime rate within the same year	((Later Period Rate − Earlier Period Rate) ÷ Earlier Period Rate) × 100
Rank of Boroughs	Position of a borough relative to others based on a selected metric	Sort boroughs by metric (e.g. crime rate), assign rank (1 = highest or lowest)

Appendix 6e: Statistical tests

Test Name	What It Does
One sample t-test	Compare the mean of a single sample to a known or hypothesized population mean.
Shapiro–Wilk	Tests whether a sample comes from a normally distributed population.
Mann–Whitney U	Compares differences between two independent groups when the dependent variable is ordinal or not normally distributed.
Fisher’s exact test	Tests for a non-random association between two categorical variables in a 2x2 contingency table.
Chi-square (goodness of fit)	Tests whether observed categorical data matches an expected distribution.
Pearson correlation	Measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two continuous variables.

Appendix 6f: Camden FGM data

Source: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/female-genital-mutilation/april-2023-to-march-2024 for Camden

FGM Question	Response Category	Camden (per 1000)	London (per 1000)	England (per 1000)
Advised on health implications of FGM	No	0.17	0.03	0.01
	Not recorded	0.08	0.27	0.09
	Not stated or unknown	0.30	0.14	0.06
	Yes	1.23	1.11	0.33
Advised on illegalities of FGM	No	0.08	0.02	0.01
	Not recorded	0.08	0.28	0.09
	Not stated or unknown	0.25	0.17	0.12
	Yes	1.36	1.07	0.26
Age at attendance (latest attendance in period)	18-24	0.08	0.03	0.02
	25-29	0.17	0.11	0.06
	30-34	0.21	0.15	0.07
	35-39	0.21	0.12	0.05
	40-44	0.08	0.05	0.02
	45-49	0.04	0.01	0
	50+	0.04	0.01	0
	Under 18	0	0	0
Age at which FGM was carried out	1 and under 5	0.21	0.08	0.03
	10 and under 15	0.04	0.03	0.01
	15 and under 18	0	0	0
	18 and over	0	0	0.01
	5 and under 10	0.13	0.12	0.04
	Not recorded	0.04	0.12	0.07
	Not stated or unknown	0.21	0.08	0.05
	Under 1	0.21	0.04	0.02
Country of Birth	Eastern Africa	0.47	0.19	0.06
	Northern Africa	0.08	0.02	0.02
	Not recorded	0.04	0.10	0.04
	Not stated or unknown	0.25	0.11	0.04
	Rest of Africa	0	0	0
	Rest of Asia	0.04	0.01	0
	Rest of world	0	0	0
	United Kingdom (the)	0	0	0.01
	Western Africa	0.04	0.04	0.04
	Western Asia	0.04	0.01	0.02
Country of origin	Eastern Africa	0.47	0.15	0.04
	Northern Africa	0.08	0.02	0.02
	Not recorded	0.04	0.11	0.07
	Not stated or unknown	0.30	0.17	0.05
	Rest of Africa	0	0	0
	Rest of Asia	0.04	0	0
	Rest of world	0	0	0
	United Kingdom (the)	0	0	0.01
	Western Africa	0.04	0.02	0.03
	Western Asia	0.04	0.01	0.01
Country where FGM undertaken	Eastern Africa	0.13	0.12	0.04
	Northern Africa	0.04	0.01	0.02
	Not recorded	0.38	0.15	0.06
	Not stated or unknown	0.34	0.17	0.05
	Rest of Africa	0	0	0
	Rest of Asia	0	0	0
	Rest of world	0	0	0
	United Kingdom (the)	0	0	0
	Western Africa	0.04	0.02	0.03
	Western Asia	0	0.01	0.01
Daughters born at attendance	No	0.04	0.07	0.11
	Not recorded	1.78	1.46	0.36
	Yes	0	0.01	0.02
De-infibulation undertaken?	No	0.81	1.02	0.30
	Not recorded	0.81	0.48	0.17
	Yes	0.17	0.05	0.01
FGM Type	FGM Type 1	0.21	0.13	0.05
	FGM Type 2	0.17	0.07	0.03
	FGM Type 3	0.13	0.07	0.02
	FGM Type 3 - Re-infibulation Identified	0	0	0
	FGM Type 4	0.04	0.01	0.01
	History of FGM Type 3	0	0.01	0
	Not recorded	0	0	0.01
	Not stated or unknown	0.30	0.19	0.09
FGM Type 4 qualifier	Cauterisation	0	0	0
	Incising	0	0	0
	Not recorded	0.04	0.01	0.01
	Piercing	0	0	0.01
	Pricking	0	0	0
	Scraping	0	0	0
FGM identification method	Not recorded	0.08	0.17	0.06
	On examination	0.17	0.10	0.05
	Other	0.42	0.13	0.04
	Other clinician	0	0	0
	Self Report	1.10	1.14	0.33
Invalid attendances	NHS number Not recorded			0.01
Invalid patients	NHS number Not recorded			0.01
Number of daughters under 18	1	0.08	0.07	0.04
	2	0.04	0.03	0.01
	3+	0.04	0.02	0.01
	Not recorded	0.47	0.15	0.06
	Not stated or unknown	0.13	0.12	0.04
Pregnant at attendance	No	0.17	0.08	0.03
	Not Stated or Unknown	0.34	0.10	0.05
	Not recorded	0.04	0.12	0.06
	Yes	1.27	1.24	0.35
Referring organisation type	General Practice	0.13	0.10	0.03
	NHS Organisation	0.13	0.25	0.11
	Not recorded	0.59	0.20	0.17
	Not stated or unknown	0.13	0.09	0.02
	Other	0.81	0.86	0.14
	Self-referral	0	0.05	0.02
Total Attendances	Attendances Total	1.78	1.54	0.49
Total Distinct Patients	Total Distinct Patients	0.85	0.49	0.23
Total Newly Recorded	Newly Recorded Total	0.38	0.23	0.13
Treatment function area	General Practitioner	0.04	0	0.01
	Gynaecology	0.25	0.10	0.03
	Midwifery Service	1.36	1.08	0.24
	Not recorded	0	0.11	0.04
	Obstetrics	0.08	0.20	0.16
	Other	0.04	0.04	0.01
	Paediatric Specialties	0.08	0.01	0

Appendix 6g: Children safeguarding and social work flags

Form	Flag
Child and family assessment (CSSW)	Abuse linked to faith or belief; Abuse or neglect - emotional abuse; Abuse or neglect - neglect; Abuse or neglect - physical abuse - physical abuse or neglect by an adult; Abuse or neglect - physical abuse - physical abuse or neglect by another child; Abuse or neglect - sexual abuse - sexual abuse by an adult; Abuse or neglect - sexual abuse - sexual abuse by another child; Child sexual exploitation; Domestic abuse; Female genital mutilation; Trafficking
Early Help Family Assessment (EH)	Abuse and exploitation; CYP Sexually Exploited; Domestic; Domestic abuse; Emotional; FGM; Forced Marriage; Honour Violence; Physical; Sexual; Trafficked CYP; Violence Against the Person
MASH contact and referral (CSSW)	Abuse linked to faith or belief; Abuse or neglect - emotional abuse; Abuse or neglect - neglect; Abuse or neglect - physical abuse - physical abuse or neglect by an adult; Abuse or neglect - physical abuse - physical abuse or neglect by another child; Abuse or neglect - sexual abuse - sexual abuse by an adult; Abuse or neglect - sexual abuse - sexual abuse by another child; Child sexual exploitation; Domestic abuse; Female genital mutilation; Trafficking

Appendix 6h: Adult Social Care safeguarding flags

VAWG Flag	Abuse Types
Controlling or Coercion	Coercion And Control; Harassment; Psychological/Coercion And Control; Restraint; Verbal Abuse
Domestic Abuse	Domestic Abuse; Other Domestic Abuse
Economic Abuse	Financial; Financial & Material; Financial And Material; Misuse Of A Legal Authority; Misuse Of Financial Affairs By A 3rd Party; Other Financial & Material; Rogue Trading/Scamming; Theft
Emotional and Other Abuse	Emotional / Psychological; Harassment; Hate Crime; Mate Crime; Other Discriminatory; Other Psychological/Emotional; Psychological / Emotional; Psychological/Emotional; Verbal Abuse
FGM	FGM; Sexual Abuse FGM
Forced Marriage	Forced Marriage
Honour-Based Violence	Honour Based Violence; Honour-Based Violence
Physical / Sexual Abuse	Assault; Other Physical Abuse; Other Sexual Abuse; Physical; Physical Abuse; Sexual; Sexual Abuse; Sexual Abuse FGM
Sexual Exploitation	Sexual Exploitation
Sexual Violence	Other Sexual Abuse; Sexual; Sexual Abuse; Sexual Exploitation
Stalking and Harassment	Harassment; Verbal Abuse
Violence	Assault; Inappropriate Physical Sanctions; Physical; Physical Abuse; Restraint

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[102] A two‐proportion z‐test comparing Camden’s 2024 female‐resident offence rate (29.05 per 1,000) to that of the rest of London (26.46 per 1,000, excluding Camden) yielded a test statistic of Z = 5.47 and p < 0.0001. This difference of 2.59 offences per 1,000 residents is both statistically and practically significant: the 95% confidence interval for the rate difference is [1.63, 3.57] per 1,000, which lies entirely above zero. In other words, we can be 95% confident that Camden’s true offence rate exceeds that of the rest of London by between 1.63 and 3.57 crimes per 1,000 female residents in 2024.

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[107] Office for National Statistics. Domestic abuse victim characteristics, England and Wales [Internet]. Newport: ONS; 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/domesticabusevictimcharacteristicsenglandandwales/latest

[108] See footnote 105

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[116] NSPCC Learning. Emotional abuse: statistics briefing [Internet]. London: NSPCC; [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/statistics-briefings/emotional-abuse

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[118] National Police Chiefs’ Council. Violence Against Women and Girls [Internet]. London: NPCC; [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/violence-against-women-and-girls/

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[123] NHS Digital. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – Summary: April 2023 to March 2024 [Internet]. Leeds: NHS Digital; 2024 [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://files.digital.nhs.uk/73/515589/Female%20Genital%20Mutilation%20%28FGM%29%20-%20Summary%20-%20April%202023%20to%20March%202024.pdf

[124] See footnote 120

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[129] National Police Chiefs’ Council; College of Policing. National Policing Statement 2024 for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) [Internet]. 2024 Jul [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://news.npcc.police.uk/resources/vteb9-ec4cx-7xgru-wufru-5vvo6

[130] Desai R, Bandyopadhyay S, Zafar S, Bradbury-Jones C. The experiences of post-separation survivors of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a qualitative study in the United Kingdom. Violence Against Women. 2022;30(9):2128–47. doi:10.1177/10778012221142914

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[135] Johnson R. Domestic abuse rates for Year 5 and Year 6 in Camden primary schools [internal report]. Camden Council; 2024 Feb 8.

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[137] Camden Council. Section 42 enquiry: The four-stage process [Internet]. London: ASC Practice; 2023 Mar 15 [cited 2025 Oct 7]. Available from: https://ascpractice.camden.gov.uk/what-matters-to-people/safeguarding/safeguarding-duties-and-procedures/section-42-enquiry-the-four-stage-process/#main

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[142] Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA). What is DAHA Accreditation? London: DAHA. Available from: https://www.dahalliance.org.uk/membership-accreditation/what-is-daha-accreditation/

[143] Camden Council. Cabinet meeting documents: 18th January 2023. London: Camden Council; 2023. Available from: https://camden.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=10174&Ver=4

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