Last year, the Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board conducted a survey to find out what people living and working in Lambeth knew about safeguarding adults.

One finding from this survey was that so-called ‘honour-based violence’ was less likely to be recognised as a form of adult abuse. It is often linked to family members or acquaintances who mistakenly believe someone has brought shame to their family or community by doing something that is not in keeping with the traditional beliefs of their culture. Fear of honour based violence or punishment can also be a barrier to people seeking support when they are suffering abuse or neglect.

Incidents also often have an overlap with other categories of Adult abuse. An adult who is at risk of honour based violence is at risk of significant harm through physical, sexual and psychological and emotional harm. In some cases they are also at risk of being killed.

Indicators that someone may be experiencing ‘Honour Based Violence’ include signs of:

• Domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour by partner or family members;

• Pressure on the person to go abroad by partner, family, or community members;

• Excessive restriction of movement/travel and other activities (such as house arrest);

• Increased isolation, and denial of access to the telephone, internet, passport and friends.

• Family members cancelling arranged care and support services in place (to limit the opportunities for the adult to disclose concerns to professionals).

Any information or concern that an Adult is at risk of or has already suffered Honour-based violence, should be referred to the police. In an emergency, do not delay, and call 999.

Where the person is an ‘adult at risk’ (vulnerable because they have care needs and are unable to protect themselves from harm), a Safeguarding Adults Concern should be raised with the Local Authority: 0207 926 5555.

For more information on honour based violence, or to seek support, please visit:

• Metropolitan Police Service’s resource outlining the help and support available from Community Safety Units. Remember, you do not have to wait for a crime to be committed to approach the police to talk about your fears. They are here to help you and make you safe even if nothing ‘criminal’ has happened yet. The police take honour based violence very seriously and take great care to handle all cases with sensitivity and confidentiality.

• Karma Nirvana, a national charity working to support victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence. They run a 24/7 helpline for victims as well as those working to support victims. To get free and confidential help, call 08000 5999 247.

The Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board have launched a new e-bulletin to share the latest news and updates with partners. The first edition includes a link to the new LSAB Mental Capacity Act Charter and the recently published annual report.

To read the full update, please see below.

To be the first to hear the latest news and updates, sign up to our mailning list via LSABAdmin@Lambeth.gov.uk

The Crime Survey for England and Wales reports that there are approximately 70,000 disability hate crime incidents per year. This means that disability hate crime is the second most common motivating factor for hate crime and the second most prevalent yet it is grossly under-reported, with many victims as well as the wider public not being aware of how and why this happens and its impact on those who experience it.

The Lambeth Disability Hate Crime Partnership (LDHCP), a collective of 16 organisations from the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, have been working to raise awareness of Hate Crime against Disabled people since 2014. The work of the Partnership along with that of the local Metropolitan Police has resulted in increased of reporting of such crimes putting, Lambeth in the top two London Boroughs for reporting.

Lambeth Council, responding to the recommendations made by the Lambeth Equality Commission, recently re-affirmed its commitment to working alongside the Police and other agencies to combat Hate Crime against Deaf and Disabled people.

To mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week (13th – 20th October) the Lambeth Disability Hate Crime Partnership is holding its annual event and is aiming to raise further awareness, particularly in relation to Housing, highlighting the issues that arise and helping people to learn how to identify, report, uncover and confront the issue.

The event is aimed at Deaf and Disabled people, carers, and professionals such as councillors, local Police Officers, housing and community safety officers, , London Deaf & Disabled People’s Organisations, voluntary groups, local businesses and anyone that may come into contact with these issues; providing the opportunity for them to hear directly from Disabled people and about the work that is being done to support individuals.

Aims of the event –

• How Hate Crimes against Deaf and Disabled people involving neighbour disputes can sometimes be misunderstood as anti-social behaviour
• Why reporting is important & how the Disability Advice Service Lambeth’s (DASL) Hate Crime Advocacy Worker for Disabled People can offer support
• Hear from local Police and other organisations as to what measures can be taken to help people keep safe
• Learn about Inclusion London’s new Disability Hate Crime Project

Details of the event:

To be held at: We are 336, 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA

On: Wednesday 17 October 2018 at 10.00am – 1.30pm

Followed by light lunch and information stalls

Book via Eventbrite here call 020 7501 8976 or email to hatecrime@disabilitylambeth.org.uk

The 9th Annual Report (2017/2018) of the Lambeth Safeguarding Adult’s Board (LSAB) has now been published and is available to download.

The LSAB has celebrated a number of achievements in the past year, including:

- a successful survey measuring awareness of adult safeguarding Lambeth which has given us a benchmark we can use to target future awareness raising initiatives.

- an analysis of equalities data within safeguarding activity in order to understand how different communities in Lambeth were being represented in adult safeguarding work. This has helped us to identify what improvements can be made, to ensure under-represented groups are reached.

- two public events which equipped Lambeth residents with knowledge around the Mental Capacity Act and protection against Financial Abuse.

- LSAB’s Community Reference Group focus on improving residents’ access to information/ advice with the view of empowering them to know how to get help and protect themselves from abuse/neglect.

Nonetheless, there is still more to be done. Our goals for the next three years have been set out in our strategic plan for 2017 to 2020, and we have broken these down into targeted aims for the next financial year (2018/19).

.