Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 July 2025, will consider a report to approve the Domestic Abuse Policy for Service Users.

Councillor Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager, Liz Jones, ASBIT Manager and Domestic Abuse Lead and Dawn Thompson, DAHA Project Worker have been invited to present the report and answer questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 9 July 2025, will consider a report to approve the Domestic Abuse Policy for Service Users. 

The Committee was asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations. 

Councillor Lubna Arshad, Cabinet Member for A Safer Oxford, Richard Adams, Community Safety Service Manager, and Liz Jones, ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead, were present to respond to questions.  

Councillor Arshad introduced the report, noting that Oxford City Council is currently working to achieve the Domestic Abuse Housing Accreditation (DAHA) which will offer housing providers a framework and benchmark to operate by to ensure delivery of effective responses to domestic abuse. The Committee heard that the Council will be assessed for the required standards in respect of supporting survivors of domestic abuse, children of domestic abuse, and holding perpetrators to account. Councillor Arshad explained that the policy will guide the Council in this effort. Members were also notified of an edit to the report, as highlighted in yellow.  

The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions. 

Councillor Ottino requested some illustrative examples of how staff would be expected to respond.  

Councillor Qayum joined the meeting.  

Councillor Jarvis asked firstly, in relation to the wider context of temporary accommodation provision pressures, what confidence there is that the current capabilities are adequate for dealing with instances of domestic abuse and how much confidence is there that the Council can move people on from temporary accommodation into more stable environments. Secondly, information regarding prevention of domestic abuse was requested.  

Councillor Henwood sought clarification around the process for recording and managing domestic abuse against those under 16 years of age.  

The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead responded. In response to Councillor Ottino’s request, an increase in the number of people coming forward and reporting domestic abuse was noted. For these scenarios it was explained that contact centres report to Safer Oxford and the Community Safety Team who then consider the report and contact the person as required. The Committee heard that contact could take the form of a text, and risk assessments are used to determine risk levels and next steps. The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead explained that referrals are made to MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) for high-risk cases and referrals to Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service are used for medium-risk cases. It was emphasised that each case is individual, and needs are assessed upon this understanding, however Oxford City Council is not a support service but does hold responsibility for identifying and sourcing the correct support for victims. In respect of children, it was explained that referrals are made to MASH as necessary.  

In response to Councillor Jarvis, the ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead explained that anyone who approaches the Council through the housing team to report lack of accommodation due to domestic abuse would be immediately triaged and risk assessed. This can lead to the assignment of emergency accommodation with consideration of the location and context of the placement based on the risk assessment. The Committee heard how this work crosses over with the Sanctuary Scheme to ensure that victims are supported and connected with support services and necessary resources. Furthermore, in line with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, persons are then moved on under the consideration of further risk assessments to more permanent accommodation which suits their individual needs. 

Councillor Mundy joined the meeting. 

Councillor Qayyum asked on average how long the process of triaging reports takes for those with children facing domestic violence to receive emergency housing. The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead reassured the Committee that this would take place on the same day generally but emphasised that this depends on the ability to successfully contact and communicate with the person in question.  

 
The Chair asked, in relation to pages 55 and 56 of the report, what protections are in place for those of vulnerable immigration status to reassure them that their information will not be passed on to the Home Office, for example, as means of encouraging them to come forwards. Secondly, it was asked whether there has been any consideration of explicitly recognising how immigration controls can be a barrier to people coming forward, and as a result increasing vulnerability.  

The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead assured the Committee that a process is currently being drafted to ensure that housing teams can access support for those who come forward with no recourse to public funds whilst fleeing domestic abuse. Language barriers were also recognised as a necessary factor for consideration. If the person is fleeing domestic abuse and has no children, they can be housed with Sanctuary Hosting until they are awarded the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) which provides temporary immigration status and access to public funds. They can then be housed in a refuge and can apply for indefinite leave to remain.   

In response to an earlier question regarding prevention measures for domestic abuse, the ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead informed the Committee that she sits on the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategy Board which is focused on raising awareness, working with schools and community groups, and changing misogynistic attitudes.  

Councillor Qayyum requested clarification on how legal fees to support leave to remain applications are sourced. The ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead explained that people are signposted to the Home Office who provide the domestic abuse concession which allows immigration lawyers to access legal aid to help them apply for indefinite leave to remain.   

The Chair invited the Committee to discuss possible recommendations.  

The Committee resolved to make the following recommendation(s) on the report to Cabinet: 

1. That there is explicit recognition under section 3, Diversity Implications, of the way in which national immigration policy makes people less likely to disclose domestic violence, given Oxford’s status as a Council of Sanctuary, it is especially important to acknowledge how national policy can harm the efforts of local authorities to build inclusive and safe communities. 

The Chair thanked Councillor Arshad, the Community Safety Service Manager, and the ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead. 

Councillor Arshad, the Community Safety Service Manager, and the ASBIT Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead left the meeting and did not return.