Andrew Dismore

Andrew Dismore AM, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Hendon and London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden  has questioned London Mayor  Boris Johnson over Barnet Council’s policy for domestic violence victims, which will force them to declare themselves homeless to qualify for  emergency help.   (see video https://vimeo.com/109701120)

Mr Dismore asked the Mayor about the consequences of Barnet’s policy and in particular asked him :

• Do you agree  that safe and secure housing goes part of the way so we can ensure that we improve victims’ reporting and ensure these terrible cases are dealt with properly, with help for the victims and action against perpetrators?

• Do you agree that if they are secure council tenants victims should not have to give up secure tenancy rights to get help with emergency housing?

• Do you agree that victims shouldn’t have to declare themselves homeless to get a safe place to go?

• Do you agree that victims who are fleeing a violent partner should not have to go to the back of the housing queue?

• Will you make representations to Conservative Barnet Council  who are planning to do precisely all these things,  to put Domestic Violence victims in precisely that position, before finding a safe place for usually women and children who are these victims, requiring them to declare themselves homeless, give up any secure tenancy rights, putting them to the back of the queue before they can qualify for emergency housing?

 

After questioning the Mayor, Mr Dismore said:

‘It was very disappointing that the  Mayor refused to engage in  any criticism of the council, despite being obviously very uncomfortable with the policy. He would not even agree to make representations to Barnet.

‘The latest figures show that in Barnet, Domestic Violence offences are up 25.2% year on year, with 1,817 offences reported. This increase may well be the result of a better and more sympathetic approach by the police to victims, encouraging more to report this appalling offence to the police. a sympathetic approach not shared by Barnet Council.

‘However, if Conservative Barnet Council gets its way, all that good work by the police will be undermined. Under  the Council  policy of  loss of security of tenure , victims required to self declare as homeless,  and going to the  back of the housing queue, there is a risk of renewed underreporting  due to these major disincentives,  meaning  victims will again suffer in silence  and  perpetrators will be  allowed to continue undetected and unpunished.

‘It  is disgraceful that to avoid criticising  his Conservative Council mates, the Mayor is not  prepared to stand up for those women and children who are victimised in their own homes by violent partners  He should be ashamed of himself, as should the councillors who are planning to introduce  this disgraceful  policy’.