DOMESTIC violence advisers at  Solace Women’s Aid in Tower Hamlets, London, are balloting to strike against job cuts which they say would jeopardise critical support services.

According to their union United Voices of the World (UVW), the proposed redundancies would cut the team by a third in a borough which ranks second-highest in London for domestic abuse cases.

Between April and December 2024 alone, the Solace team managed 1,139 referrals and supported 227 survivors. 

UVW assistant general secretary Isabel Cortes said: “Tower Hamlets cannot turn its back on survivors of domestic abuse. 

“Cutting this team by a third is not just a funding decision, it’s a death sentence for countless women and families who rely on these life-saving services. 

“This is not simply about protecting jobs, it is about protecting justice and ensuring the most vulnerable members of our community are not abandoned.

“Domestic abuse is a national emergency and Tower Hamlets council has a duty to act to safeguard those who are most at risk.”

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council, said: “We are working with Solace to understand the current situation and ensure that support to victims of domestic abuse is not impacted.

“We continue to fund and support the vital work Solace undertakes with our residents”