Agenda item

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions that are not specific to reports on the agenda must have been received in writing 10 working days before the date of the meeting. 

Questions specifically concerning reports on the agenda should be received within two working days of the publication date of the agenda.  Please ensure that questions specifically regarding agenda items are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Friday, 6^th January 2023.

A question was received from Councillor Simon Jeal.

He asked that with reference to the update on Priority 2 of the Safer Bromley Strategy (Violence Against Women and Girls), could the Chairman confirm whether sex workers were included within the scope of 'High Risk Victims' under the Strategy and if so, what specific actions were being undertaken by the Council, commissioned providers and partners, to address barriers preventing those who were victims of violence being able to access VAWG support services provided under the Strategy.

The Chairman responded and stated that sex workers were indeed included in the Priority 2 element of the Strategy. The multi-agency approach was designed to deal with a wide range of crime and disorder across the borough, including the area that had been identified in the question.  It was noted that the Council had a Domestic Abuse Strategic Lead, based in the Community Safety Team of the Public Protection Division. This post worked across a broad range of partners, agencies and organisations to support existing services and to develop new ones where required. A key element of the post’s work was to ensure that there were not barriers that prevented victims of violence & abuse to access appropriate services and where required, to work with partners in the borough to develop new ones.

The following organisations and services providing assistance and support to victims and survivors in the borough were noted.

·  There was a local Bromley Procedure for modern slavery & human trafficking: procedure_26_modern_slavery_and_human_trafficking_policy_and_guidance.pdf (bromleysafeguardingadults.org)

·  The Bromley Safeguarding Adults Board (BSAB) was a member of the London Modern Slavery Leads (LMSL) group, facilitated by the Human Trafficking Foundation.

• WGN  (Women and Girls Network) - LBB part funded their hotline; they offered various services, including an advice line, a dedicated sexual violence helpline and counselling sessions.

• Nia – an organisation in receipt of national funding and who provided a service in Bromley to deliver 1-1 outreach and professional training and support services for vulnerable women affected by sexual and domestic violence  Specialist Refuge Strand Leaflet-2017-2023.pdf

• Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid (BCWA) – the Council’s commissioned service, providing support to victims & survivors in  all the areas of domestic abuse

• WIP (Women in Prison) - national funding for work to be done in Bromley on sexual violence/abuse

• Victim Support - Supporting victims of sexual violence, slavery and trafficking. 

• Early Intervention & Family Service (EIFS) - providing support to EU nationals and those with no recourse to public funding (NRPF)

• LBB website was multi-language

• Brighter Beginnings, a local charity, providing financial and practical support to vulnerable victims

Councillor Jeal and the Chairman of the Safer Neighbourhood Board said that recent comments from Cllr Sean Slater were damaging to the Strategy. The Chairman of the SNB said that she was surprised that a statement had not been released by the Council. She said that a counter education campaign was needed in schools to counter misogynistic messages from people like Andrew Tate. 

RESOLVED that the question and the response to the question be noted.