London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has made significant strides in its mission to address domestic abuse through a public health approach by funding the IRIS programme in six new boroughs. In Havering, IRIS is delivered in partnership with Aanchal; in Merton and Wandsworth, with Refuge; in Harrow and Hillingdon, with Advance and AWRC; and in Sutton, with Sutton Women’s Centre. This initiative underscores the VRU’s unwavering commitment to evidence-based strategies and early intervention approaches aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.
An essential catalyst for this expansion is the VRU’s trust in IRISi, the organisation behind the IRIS programme, which has already demonstrated success with the implementation of the 7B and 4B programmes. IRISi is recognised as a pioneer in developing and delivering initiatives addressing domestic abuse within healthcare settings.
Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, emphasises the unit’s commitment to prevention and early intervention. She states, “Our continued support and investment will provide vital support for healthcare practitioners to offer support for those affected by domestic abuse in these six additional London boroughs. Our partnership with the healthcare sector and domestic abuse specialists highlights that by working together, we can prevent violence against women and girls”.
Caroline Dart, Senior Manager at London’s Violence Reduction Unit, underscores the crucial role of healthcare professionals in supporting survivors. She explains, “Healthcare staff see millions of patients every single day and have a unique opportunity to ensure that survivors understand their rights to get the support they need and deserve. Survivors can access much-needed practical and emotional support through a direct referral pathway into specialist Domestic Abuse services so that patients can access ongoing support in their communities”.
Medina Johnson, CEO at IRISi, highlights the significance of the partnership with London’s VRU, stating, ” We’re delighted to continue our partnership with London’s VRU. As the only evidence-based initiative for general practices with proven success rates of referral and outcomes for patients, this expansion will further strengthen our ability to support survivors and prevent domestic abuse in these six additional areas”.
Working side by side with the local, specialist domestic abuse services
Jacqueline Messam, Refuge’s IRIS Service Manager, highlights the importance of creating awareness and providing support within local communities. She notes, “It is great that IRIS is now be available in Wandsworth and Merton, we have already partnered with local professionals who are supporting us to link in with local GP services. Wandsworth has a population of around 327,500 residents with 39 surgeries; in 2022 there were 2,800 domestic abuse incidents within the borough. Merton has a population of around 214,071 residents with 21 surgeries and domestic abuse accounts for 13.6% of all recorded crime in this borough. Implementing the IRIS programme within Wandsworth and Merton will provide opportunities to create awareness of the prevalence of DA in the local area as well as educate and support GP surgeries to further support those impacted by DA”.
Colette Taylor of Aanchal emphasises the urgent need for intervention in Havering, where reported domestic abuse incidents are high. She states, “Local data highlights a concerning trend, with one ward in the borough ranking highest in London for reported domestic abuse incidents over a year-long period (December ’22 to November ’23). This stresses the urgent need for intervention, and Havering is fully committed to embracing the IRIS programme. Drawing from our experiences running the programme in another London borough, we anticipate increased engagement from GPs and practices. This will improve connections and help bridge response gaps. We believe this programme will be instrumental in identifying domestic abuse and ensuring people get the help they need earlier in their journey. Additionally, patients who have been identified with long-term trauma from historical abuse will also receive support and resources to help in their recovery.”
In Harrow and Hillingdon, Krishna Tailor-Lodhi, Advance’s Implementation Manager, expresses excitement about expanding the IRIS Programme. She says, “We’re excited to be involved in expanding the programme and embedding this great service to help support primary care professionals to identify domestic abuse, and ensuring we can have integrated referral pathways. Having dedicated Advocate Educators means we can support with bridging the gap from the point of referral to ensuring that the victim/survivor receives the most appropriate support.”.
Carol Glover, Head of Communications & External Affairs at Advance said: “Enabling primary care professionals to identify domestic abuse and direct victims/survivors to expert integrated help is a fantastic example of primary care at its most responsive to a complex and sensitive issue. Advance believes GPs are an essential part of the coordinated community response needed to tackle domestic abuse and turn the dial.”
Heather Smiles, from Sutton Women’s Centre, remarked, “To be building on our existing relationships with local GPs to tackle this issue will have huge benefits to the local community.”
The launch of the 6B programme marks a significant milestone in London’s ongoing efforts to tackle domestic abuse. By expanding the evidence-based IRIS programme into six new boroughs, the VRU is taking proactive steps to empower communities, support survivors, and ultimately prevent violence against women and girls.
