North Wales MS and Shadow Social Justice Minister Mark Isherwood has raised in the Senedd the concerns of Welsh Women’s Aid that The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 has “caused lasting and devastating consequences” for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Responding to yesterday’s statement by the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip: ‘Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Annual Report 2022-23’, Mr Isherwood said Welsh Women’s Aid “strongly believe that the Act may break the Welsh VAWDASV refuge system”, with concerns having been raised ‘on issues such as safeguarding risk, complexity of residents ‘tenancy status’ and additional administration burden on refuge provision, which are already dealing with high demand’.
Mr Isherwood also highlighted the identified challenges in the ability of victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wales to access counselling support, and the poor support in Wales for perpetrators to change behaviour.
He said:
“The National Advisers report states: ‘The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales provided a comprehensive report in 2022 ‘A Patchwork of provision: mapping report’ on how to meet the needs of victims and survivors across England and Wales.
“This report highlighted the challenges in the ability of victims and survivors who wanted it to access counselling support, with a 21percentage point difference between the highest area, 58% in the North-East of England, and lowest area, 37% in Wales.
“Furthermore, it states ‘in pursuit of holding perpetrators to account and the specific behaviour change interventions, 16% of survivors in the North-East of England reported their perpetrator was able to access support to change behaviour, compared to 3% in Wales’.
“So how will you plug this gap in access to services in Wales?
He added:
“The report also states that ‘Survivor engagement and ensuring that experts by experience are involved in policy making and scrutiny of delivery at all levels is critical”.
“However, Welsh Women’s Aid have highlighted concerns around The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and that they not being listened to by Welsh Government, stating:
“They ‘do not believe the Act fits the flexible and emergency nature of refuge provision. Refuge provision is never intended to be a ‘home’ and survivors reside there whilst fleeing risk of imminent serious harm or death. Refuge relies on flexible tenancies, such as licenses, so that a survivor can be moved on quickly when refuge is no longer appropriate for them. This legislation has inappropriately treated the emergency accommodation that refuge proves as a home for the purposes of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act’.
“They ‘strongly believe that the Act may break the Welsh VAWDASV refuge system. It has already caused lasting and devastating consequences for survivors and service provision … since its implementation. Concerns have been raised on issues such as safeguarding risk, complexity of residents ‘tenancy status’ and additional administration burden on refuge provision, which are already dealing with high demand’.
“Although they have raised and evidenced their concerns to the Welsh Government, you have stated that they do not have a sufficient evidence base for legislative change or a public consultation.”
Mr Isherwood informed members that prior to the first-year anniversary of implementation on the 1st of December, Welsh Women’s Aid will be holding a peaceful ‘Storm the Senedd’ event on 28th of November, and that he will be co-sponsoring a drop in event on 13th December on this issue.
He asked the Minister:
“So what discussions have you had, or will you now have, with the Minister for Climate Change to address these very real concerns regarding the Act, and will you come to either of these events to hear further about Welsh Womens’ Aid’s concerns?”