We’re getting better at spotting domestic violence signs earlier, says council

There has been a rise in safeguarding concerns linked to domestic violence in Blackpool – but a report says the figures are not down to higher offending rates.

Blackpool Council says the increase in related safeguarding issues is down to other factors, which are connected to improvements in Adult Care Services, the authority says.

A key factor is that staff are getting better at spotting wider issues of domestic violence earlier,  in relation to others matters, as a result of ongoing improvements to the service.

The issue is set to be discussed in a report to Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny committee, which is due to meet on Thursday.

Figures show that between 2024/2025 and 2025/2026, there was an increase of 127 completed safeguarding concerns (+107%) where domestic abuse was identified as an issue.

There has also been an upward trend in the proportion of concerns received where domestic abuse was identified, with an increase of 5 percentage points between 2024/2025 (7%) and 2025/2026 (12%).

What the council says

A spokesperson for Blackpool Council said: “While we have a seen a rise in safeguarding concerns received where domestic abuse was identified as an issue, this doesn’t automatically point to a rise in domestic abuse cases.

“Instead, it is that we have got better at identifying domestic abuse as a potential factor in safeguarding referrals.

“Work is increasing and improving both to raise awareness with the public around domestic abuse as a social issue, and with our own staff as a consideration within our safeguarding approach.

“ We’re recording things more comprehensively to better spot the links between different types of incidents or abuse.

“These numbers are slightly, but not significantly, higher than regional and national averages.

“We have recently produced an Adult Social Care Safeguarding Handbook, offering guidance on identifying domestic abuse in the context of safeguarding. Most of the concerns raised were by police and social care staff themselves, but we are also seeing healthcare staff and other services flag concerns too.

“For the cases raised, nine-in-ten of the people at the centre of the concerns made their own informed decisions about the support they wished to receive, and protection plans were put in place for around one-in-four. The remaining one-in-ten were supported to participate in decision-making on their care and support.

“We are confident in the abilities of our adult social care teams to appropriately identify and address safeguarding issues of any kind.”