Briefings and responses

We particularly welcome the Government’s allocation of £8 million towards support for children who witness domestic abuse, which followed the LGA’s call for an urgent injection of funding into early intervention initiatives that provide support for children experiencing domestic violence.

The new Domestic Abuse Bill has the potential to make important changes to help improve the lives of victims of domestic abuse.

Building cohesive communities can only be successful with an in-depth understanding of that locality. Councils’ position at the heart of their communities, provides them with a unique vantage point and the knowledge to both respond, and build resilience, to integration challenges, alongside local partners.

Proposals to increase the threshold for defining small society lotteries would mean local authorities having to regulate a larger number of operators.  

The LGA started a new programme of work on this issue in January 2017 when the then Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland OBE, met the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board.

"The LGA supports the proposed new electoral law and any additional efforts to tackle the intimidation of local political candidates."

Councils are uniquely placed to deliver programmes that improve the lives of children and young people, as they have responsibility for delivering over 800 local services. This includes councils’ duty to protect children and young people from involvement in, and the impact of, youth violence.

We agree the safeguarding response to this crime could be strengthened to improve protection for people who are at risk and unable to protect themselves, ensure perpetrators are brought to justice and help to prevent forced marriage from occurring in the first place.

Knife crime has a devastating impact on victims, their families and communities. The recent rise in such crimes committed by young people is of enormous concern.

We need to help pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at any earlier point, to ensure they are fully supported in school and not left vulnerable to criminal exploitation. This includes significant and sustainable funding to manage the rising demand in support from pupils with SEND.