Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the announcement from DCLG that a new fund will be set up to help support refuges, said:

“This is an important and welcome step forward. Organisations which work with victims of domestic violence say the cuts introduced by this Government have pushed their services to ‘crisis point’. Many refuges have already closed and in some areas, such as Chester and Devon, there is no specialist refuge provision at all. That’s why Labour called for additional resources to be made available to ensure victims leaving violent relationships get the vital support they need earlier this year. It should not have taken a crisis to get the Home Office to start taking violence against women.

“But we need to know when this money will be made available. We are aware of a number of refuges that are currently under threat of closure and running on reserves, so we can’t wait for this funding to be made available.“