Melton council to review domestic abuse policy with up to 50 incidents reported every month

A ‘motion of notice’ submitted by Councillor Sharon Butcher (Independent) was unanimously supported by members at the latest full council meeting – it means officials will now consider the wishes of individual survivors and give them the option of staying in the community if they wish to rather than be relocated elsewhere.

Relevant cabinet members and officials will now conduct a review of Melton Borough Council’s housing options, homelessness, and allocations policies and processes as they relate to domestic abuse.

The authority will also now ‘promote awareness of domestic abuse support routes across the borough and ensure that survivors are signposted clearly and consistently to specialist support alongside housing advice’.

Councillor Butcher told the meeting: “Domestic abuse affects individuals in different ways and survivors’ needs vary significantly; there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to safety and recovery.

“For some survivors, relocation may be welcomed as part of a fresh start; for others, remaining close to family, schools, employment, and established support networks is essential to recovery and long-term stability.

“Housing responses can sometimes default to out-of-area relocation due to perceived risk, which may unintentionally undermine survivor choice and wellbeing where the risk assessment does not require it.

“Rigid application of relocation as a default can compound trauma and may result in survivors being displaced from their own community while perpetrators later return to the same area.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Leigh Higgins – he was absent from the meeting but his words were read out by his Independent colleague, Councillor Margaret Glancy.

She told the full council: “Domestic abuse is not an abstract problem.

"It’s happening here in Melton.

"Last year, Leicestershire Police recorded over 20,000 domestic abuse-related incidents across the county and Melton consistently sees around 40 to 50 domestic abuse crimes reported every month.

"Behind every one of these numbers is a person, a neighbour, a colleague, a parent, a child, living with fear, uncertainty and often silence.

"Many victims never come forward at all.

"Nationally it is estimated that only around one in five victims report abuse to the police.

"That means the true scale of the issue in Melton is far greater than what appears in official figures.”

The motion was supported by members of all political groups across the chamber.

Councillor Joe Orson (Conservative), the cabinet lead for community safety, told the meeting: "For many years, I worked closely with domestic abuse services across Leicestershire — one lesson was absolutely consistent: survivors recover best when they retain control over their own decisions.”

He added: “Domestic abuse is one of the most complex and sensitive issues any council deals with, and this motion rightly recognises that there is no single pathway that fits every survivor.”

The review will engage with relevant partners, such as local domestic abuse support services, safeguarding partners, and housing providers operating in the borough, to ensure alignment with best practice and local pathways.

After the review has been undertaken, a short report will set out findings and any proposed policy and procedure updates plus staff training implications will be reported to cabinet within six months.