'Helped me feel safer' - Blackpool Council’s domestic abuse prevention support praised by Government

Blackpool has been highlighted as a national leader in its approach to deescalating domestic abuse, with its approach seeing a more than 99% success rate in preventing offences.

Blackpool Council’s Home Safety Check service gives domestic abuse survivors enhanced in-home security measures and wrap-around support.

It has proven to be 99.55% effective in stopping perpetrators from contacting, harassing or attacking victims. There have been just seven breaches recorded out of more than 1,500 instances of support.

Now it has been praised by national government for how it disrupts domestic abuse cases and also prevents homelessness for victims.

The scheme supports survivors who choose to stay in their own home by installing enhanced security measures around the property, removing the need to move to refuge accommodation.

Introduced in 2020, it has supported 1,552 households so far. In the first six months of 2026 alone, Blackpool Council installed a further 323 security measures on homes. These include video doorbells, strengthened doors, alarms, security lighting and fireproof letterboxes.

Measures like the video doorbells can capture incidents, deterring perpetrators in cases where victims have been experiencing violence or intimidation. Only seven breaches have occurred since 2022- each caught on camera. Of those, five perpetrators received custodial sentences for their crimes and a sixth was prosecuted for criminal damage.

One survivor said the support “helped me feel safer during a very scary time”.

She said: “Before this, I felt anxious and vulnerable. I didn’t feel safe in my own home.

“After the video doorbell was installed, I immediately felt more at ease. There was also an order put in to prevent the perpetrator coming near me or my home and I was supported by council staff and other professionals.

“Having those services work together was extremely valuable – so I didn’t have to constantly explain my situation to different people. The team were understanding throughout, listening to me and making sure appropriate measures were in place.”

The Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government (MHCLG) visited Blackpool in summer to learn more about the council’s approach.

In its report, the MHCLG highlighted Blackpool’s “innovative” use of video doorbells and said the council offered a “strong example” where security measures and specialist domestic abuse support “coordinated closely … to feel joined up for survivors”.

Cllr Dave Flanagan, cabinet member for public protection, housing and empty properties, said: “As the available security measures suggest, the risks for these survivors are very real. We take our responsibility to vulnerable households seriously and have developed a wide-ranging approach to tackling domestic abuse.

“We’ve done that by working closely with survivors, listening to their wants and needs, and coming up with a mixture of practical and highly personalised solutions.

“I’m immensely proud of our team for delivering these life-changing, life-saving results. To have effectively reduced instances at a 99% success rate is an excellent achievement and we’ll continue working hard to build on that.”

Blackpool Council also actively uses civil powers and enforcement action to disrupt incidents and protect victims. By issuing Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices or Civil Injunctions, perpetrators are prohibited from contacting or going near to victims, risking arrest and prison should they breach these orders.

Blackpool’s approach has proven to be a valuable alternative to the use of refuges. It has allowed thousands of individuals or families to stay in their own homes, rather than needing emergency accommodation.

Domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of housing instability or homelessness across England - responsible for around 16% of people losing their home.

Cllr Flanagan added: “Previously the approach was to support victims, often including children, to move from their home to safer accommodation. But this was often temporary and out-of-area. We know that taking someone who is already vulnerable away from their support network isn’t a long-term solution. Now, using relatively simple and low-cost measures, victims can stay in their own home, and perpetrators are instead forced to move away - and, crucially, stay away.

“It’s worth noting too how these measures aren’t means tested. They’re available to anyone who needs them, because we know domestic abuse happens in all communities and neighbourhoods.”

Blackpool Council will again be supporting White Ribbon Day later this month, alongside its ongoing Green Dot campaign. The UN-led White Ribbon campaign, held on 25th November every year, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Government have praised Blackpool council’s use of video doorbells in capturing or deterring perpetrators in cases of domestic violence or intimidation