Abuse survivor's concerns about new council policy

A woman who escaped an abusive partner has raised concerns about a new council strategy which aims to challenge perpetrators and support victims.

West and North Northamptonshire Councils have agreed a joint five-year strategy on domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Speaking at an executive meeting, the woman from Corby said women seeking help at an early stage were "being made to feel like a nuisance", not believed, and there needed to be more emphasis on financial abuse.

Reform councillor Gregory Wilcox said he would "hold the system to account whenever it falls short, especially when victims are not treated with dignity and belief".

In Northamptonshire, there were 17,572 domestic abuse and sexual violence-related incidents and crimes recorded in the year to March 2025, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The document covers five priority areas of early intervention and prevention, support and protection for all victims and survivors, trust and confidence, coordinated community response and partnership working, and holding perpetrators accountable.

The woman told the chamber at North Northamptonshire Council that she was in a relationship aged 19, "where control began in ways that didn't look like abuse".

She raised concerns that financial abuse was not explicitly included in the strategy, which she warned would have "life-changing consequences".

"The abuse didn't start with violence; it started with control, isolation, and financial restriction; because those warning signs were not recognised, it escalated," she said.

"By 22, it had become physical and life-threatening.

"No one should have to wait until they are physically harmed to be taken seriously."

She asked for a clear commitment to training, accountability, and consistent standards on recognising different types of abuse from the council.

Officers told councillors the strategy was a live document and could be altered to make the reference to economic abuse clearer.

An action plan setting out specific commitments is to be developed later this year.

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