New culturally aware scheme launched to help BAME victims of domestic violence
A new approach to tackling domestic abuse that seeks to understand the diverse backgrounds of victims and perpetrators is helping women and girls in three North London boroughs.
Launched last year in Brent, as well as Barnet and Enfield, the Culturally Integrated Family Approach (CIFA) directly addresses issues around culture, family tradition and religion that affect the experience of domestic violence within BAME communities.
The new approach was created after findings from the Office for National Statistics showed the rates of domestic abuse amongst BAME communities is higher than with their white counterparts. All three boroughs have seen an increase in the number of people being referred to a multi-agency forum due to the risk of domestic abuse – with Brent seeing a 17% rise in referrals over the past year.
This called for a culturally aware service to provide support to victims and address perpetrators with progress discussions on the approach getting underway last month.
Cllr Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Public Protection at Brent Council, said: “We know one size does not fit all and that is why this tri-borough partnership is vital in trialling a culturally integrated family approach.
