Pilot Sojourner Scheme to be continued to protect victims of domestic violence
The Home Secretary has announced that spouses and partners of UK residents who are victims of domestic violence will now be able to access vital support services to help them escape the relationship.Further to a successful pilot project which helped nearly 1,000 women and children escape domestic violence, the new permanent plan will provide these migrants on spousal visas with housing and support whilst they make an application to stay in the UK separately from their partners.
Currently, victims of domestic violence feel they have to stay in abusive relationships because they are in the UK on a spousal visa and are afraid that if that they will have no access to public money and be forced to go home if they leave their partner.
The pilot scheme, and future arrangements, will support spouses who leave their partners. The scheme will only provide access to housing and support for a limited time, however, and during this period anyone receiving such support will be supported and encouraged to lodge an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain, separate from the spousal visa they entered the country on.
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, said that: ‘‘We are clear that no one should be forced to stay in an abusive relationship. ... We have always said we will support the small number of spouses who must leave their relationship and are unable to access any support services. However, we are very clear there will be tough checks in place to ensure this system is not abused by those seeking to stay in the country where they do not have the right to.’
The pilot project of the Sojourner Project has been running since November 2009 to assist women who have left abusive relationships by providing funding to cover housing and essential living costs. The permanent plan, continuing and developing this service, will come into effect next year.
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