Redbridge Council’s cabinet has approved a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, bringing prevention, support for survivors and action on perpetrators into a shared approach for the borough.
The decision was made on Thursday 12 November. The council’s ambition is to halve violence against women and girls over the lifetime of the strategy, in line with the Government’s national ambition. That is a long-term objective, not a reduction that has already been achieved.
The strategy covers harm at home, in public spaces and online. It is intended to involve services beyond the council, including police, health and probation partners. Their work spans everything from recognising abuse earlier to helping survivors find safety and addressing the behaviour of those who cause harm.
Prevention in schools and public spaces
A draft strategy covering 2026 to 2036 was considered by councillors before the cabinet decision. It described plans to offer every school in the borough a programme addressing sexism and harassment, and to develop education for young people about domestic abuse and healthy relationships. It also proposed domestic abuse training for council staff.
The draft set out an intention to review walkways, underpasses, streets and parks for potential safety risks. It also envisaged consulting women and girls about places where they feel unsafe and ensuring camera coverage in areas with higher levels of violence against women and girls.
Some work is already under way. Young people are being taught about positive relationships and signs of abuse, while council and police teams have worked together on public safety. A programme encouraging people who witness harassment to intervene safely and patrols in areas with higher reporting were already part of the local approach.
The measures described in the draft are intentions for the years ahead, rather than evidence that every school has received the programme or every proposed change to a public space has been completed. Individual actions may require further decisions.
Support beyond a crisis
The proposed approach was developed with residents, partner organisations and an Experts by Experience panel of women with lived experience of violence and domestic abuse. Workshops in 2024 and 2025 also involved practitioners, children and young people.
The panel called for support that continues beyond an immediate crisis and respects survivors’ privacy and autonomy. The draft strategy recognised that language needs, digital exclusion, disability and other communication challenges can make it harder for some people to report abuse or obtain help.
Among the support priorities in the draft were practical assistance for survivors in financial need, safe housing, help for children affected by domestic abuse and efforts to secure funding for mental health and therapeutic support. These are intended areas of work, not guarantees that every service has received additional funding.
In the 12 months leading up to February 2025, 3,030 domestic abuse offences were recorded in Redbridge. Domestic abuse is under-reported, so recorded offences do not capture the full extent of abuse. The figure relates to domestic abuse specifically; it is not a count of every form of violence against women and girls.
Accountability and delivery
The draft also proposed closer work between services to identify and manage risks posed by perpetrators, alongside the use of relevant protective measures. An existing council programme offers people who have hurt or frightened a partner, former partner or family member support to change their behaviour.
The plan placed oversight with a specialist strategic group, with progress to be reported to the borough’s Community Safety Partnership Board. Delivery depends on sustained cooperation and available resources. The report prepared for the decision did not commit to explicit spending and said it had no direct financial implications.
Redbridge’s existing Reach Out service supports people aged 16 and over in the borough who are experiencing domestic abuse, regardless of gender or sexuality. It can offer practical and emotional support, including help with safe accommodation and contacting the police.
Reach Out can be contacted on 0800 145 6410 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Anyone in immediate danger should call 999.
