A DOMESTIC abuse victim has said a review into controversial cuts to services needs to be more wide-ranging.

Oxfordshire County Council is reviewing its proposals to cut funds for domestic abuse services by £132,000, about 40%, to services such as helplines and refuges.

It follows an initial consultation it conducted into £1.5m proposed cuts to all housing-related support services, of which domestic abuse services are just one area.

Deborah Wiffen from Witney said the new year-long review was a good opportunity to look at the bigger picture and not just focus on the cuts.

She said: "You can't just put a band aid on the problem. All that infrastructure and care takes up a huge amount of money.

"We need to educate people and train people to be able to help.

"It's not about little bits of money sitting here and there, we need to look at the bigger picture.

"We need to break down the barriers and the way the issue is viewed in society."

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The 47-year-old welcomed the review but said cuts of any sort sent out the wrong message to victims.

She said: "Sadly we've never had the necessary care and support. It's taken a lot of time for people to realise there is help but cuts demean it and suggest it's not an issue.

"It takes the power away from the victim. It almost says they don't see it as a problem. It's about public confidence and knowing there's help out there."

In a report into the initial consultation, director of adult social services John Jackson acknowledged the negative response to the cuts to domestic abuse services.

He said: "Overall, participants did not support this proposal. We acknowledge the strength of concern expressed by a wide range of stakeholders, including service users about the proposal to reduce funding for these services by 40% in 2016/17.

"We recognise that any reduction of funding for these services needs to be planned carefully as to do otherwise is likely to have an adverse impact on women and children these services support.

"Wellbeing and safety of vulnerable women and children who flee from domestic abuse is paramount for the council."

It is part of cuts to housing-related services - homelessness support, substance abuse support and floating support for vulnerable adults.

In the same report Oxfordshire County Council recommended the cuts to these other services for approval, including a £450,000 cut to homeless hostels, with 23 beds in Oxford receiving a reduced support service.

The recommendation also means £214,000 funding will be removed for the substance misuse service.

But the authority’s public health team will commission some substance misuse services to the value of about £150,000 and contribute an extra £250,000 to the overall cost.

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