To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of support available for migrant victims of domestic abuse.
Answered on
22 May 2023
Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this Government. Information on support for victims, including guidance on the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), can be found on the Domestic abuse: how to get help page on GOV.UK. Further advice and support can be accessed through Government’s ‘Enough’ Campaign.
The DDVC allows for eligible migrant victims to apply for the lifting of the no recourse to public funds condition associated with their leave, enabling the victim to access welfare benefits while their application for indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic abuse is made and considered. The DDVC has operated since 2012 and is widely known throughout the specialist domestic abuse sector.
We recently announced that we are providing a further £1.4 million in 2023/ 24 to continue to fund the Support for Migrants Victim scheme, ensuring we maintain support for migrant victims of domestic abuse regardless of their immigration status. This support includes accommodation, subsistence, legal advice and counselling.
The Home Office is grateful to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for publishing the ‘Safety Before Status: The Solutions’ report and to the Commissioner’s team and external partners for researching the vital issue of support for migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
We will continue to engage with the Commissioner’s office on recommendations set out in the report, and across government. We have already begun to take forward work that stems from some of the recommendations.
We are giving detailed consideration to the findings of this research and considering the wider policies affecting migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Our official response will be published as soon as is practicable.