People who experience domestic abuse in north Oxfordshire will receive sensitive and tailored support under a new policy.
Published: Wednesday, 3rd September 2025
On Tuesday, 2 September Cherwell District Council’s executive approved the Domestic Abuse Policy. The district has high rates of domestic abuse relative to other parts of Oxfordshire, and the new policy comes as the latest development in ongoing work to raise awareness and help survivors access support.
Councillor Nick Cotter, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “Domestic abuse is a very serious offence, and as the housing authority, we know that people experiencing it are often in need of a safe roof over their heads.
“No-one in our district should be living in fear of violence at home – whether physical or psychological, and this new policy is all about making sure people feel confident when they get in touch with us for support with housing matters or for help with escaping domestic abuse. We will seek to remove barriers to reporting domestic abuse to the police and support victims in seeking justice.
“Our pledge is that the service we offer will be responsive to people’s individual circumstances, and that domestic abuse survivors will be treated sensitively by a sympathetic and well-trained member of staff.”
Cherwell has a dedicated domestic abuse coordinator and provides people who experience domestic abuse with housing advice and assistance. Staff will help connect people with other local support services – many of which are delivered at county level.
They can help survivors access legal advice around injunctions, non-molestation orders and tenancy or mortgage advice.
The council will sensitively tailor the handling of housing cases to accommodate survivors’ individual needs. Wherever possible this will include a dedicated housing case officer, flexibility in the format of meetings, and the option to have a case officer of a specific gender if desired.
The policy also underscores the council’s ongoing commitment to ensuring all staff have enhanced and up-to-date training so they can best help people experiencing domestic abuse.
The council is seeking accreditation for its work in this area from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, and the new policy is an important step towards achieving this.
The council also has a service known as target hardening for victims of domestic abuse. This involves installation of products such as video doorbells and security lighting to make victims feel safer in their own homes and help stop abusers from contacting them or attempting to access their home.
A range of information about local support for domestic abuse victims is available here.