THE COUNTY’S domestic abuse support officers are working to ensure that survivors can continue to live in their own home.

At its latest meeting, Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Carlisle heard a presentation from officers on their work to address domestic abuse.

Derek Houston, senior manager for care integration and Louise Cavanagh, domestic and sexual abuse business co-ordinator for children’s social care gave the presentation, highlighting the work that is taking place in Carlisle and across the county.

And officers were asked what work is taking place to ensure that victims of abuse are not the ones that have to be displaced.

READ MORE: Council to address issue of domestic abuse in Carlisle

Leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart Young said: “Where do you stand on this debate about, when there’s a situation of domestic abuse in somebody’s home, should the focus be on removing the victim from their home, or removing the perpetrator.

“The policy drive is, for the best of intentions to protect, they rehome the victim but then actually they lose their home and they’re living in temporary accommodation, whilst the perpetrator in many cases remains in the property.”

Mr Houston said: “This is something we’re working on as part of the Safer Cumbria Domestic Abuse Group. We’re in the process of producing a Perpetrator Strategy.

“We want to enable victims, survivors, to stay in their own home or give them the choice, some will, some won’t but that should be down to them to make that decision.

“We are making slow progress in terms of the housing providers about them providing housing for perpetrators to move in.”

Mr Houston said it is currently an “uphill struggle” due to legislation, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“There is a statutory requirement around victims and housing, there isn’t any statutory requirements around perpetrators and housing, so it’s entirely a voluntary understanding that we’re working with the housing providers.

“We’re anticipating the Government launching the Perpetrator Strategy. I had a meeting with the domestic abuse commissioner a couple of weeks ago. She’s very much pushing for victims, survivors to stay in their own home."

READ MORE: Police deal with 80 domestic abuse crimes in Cumbria a week