Liverpool Lib Dems: a safe space must be a priority for those seeking refuge. 

Liverpool’s main opposition party has called for more to be done to support those experiencing domestic violence in the City.

In Liverpool there were over 14,000 reported domestic abuse incidents recorded to the Police, with 10,478 domestic abuse crimes recorded within 2020-21. 

Tonight (Thursday 12th Sept) Liverpool City Council’s Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee will consider a report on the impact of domestic abuse on Children’s services in Liverpool. At the next meeting of Full Council the Liverpool Lib Dems are supporting the motion to put forward supporting action on violence against women and girls.  

7.3% of women and 3.6% of men experience domestic abuse but it is feared that figures are almost certainly reduced by underreporting. In Liverpool, between April 2020 and March 20021: 75% (7641) of police recorded domestic abuse victims/survivors were female and 25% (2531) male.

Liz Makinson, Shadow Cabinet Member for City Health, Equality and Adult Social Services has slammed the lack of emergency support:

“It’s self-evident that we face a massive challenge in supporting the victims and survivors of domestic abuse, as well as stamping it out in society.

“Currently there are three refuges funded by the city council providing support to women and their children. However there are still huge gaps in the provision - there are no emergency safe space places for those survivors and victims people who are Male, LGBTQ+, disabled or have complex needs. Notably, council feels it cannot provide adequate support to those experienced harmful practice, Honour Based Abuse and violence, forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation. This is a time when these people are at their most vulnerable and they desperately need help. I’m glad that the council recognises and identified this gap in their provision and now must act to rectify it. 

“Although the council’s vision for everyone to have a safe, dignified and empowering place to live is admirable it doesn’t feel realistic. The reality is that the rising cost of private rents and the lack of social housing in the City is having a significantly greater impact on those suffering abuse. Many of them feel isolated and trapped, unable to leave because they don’t know how they will afford to live on their own. When you add in further complexities like the lack of accessible accommodation means disabled people are sometimes left with little alternative but to stay in abusive relationships.

“As an opposition group, we will be working constructively with the administration to tackle this issue for the survivors and victims of domestic abuse.”