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A council blunder has put a fleeing domestic violence victim at risk of being found by her abuser (17 August 2012)

Date: 17/08/2012
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, A council blunder has put a fleeing domestic violence victim at risk of being found by her abuser

A mother who was hiding from domestic violence had her address published in Islington Councils latest data leak giving her nightmares.
The council had initially refused to admit it but 10 people who had escaped from abusive partners were among the 2,400 residents whose personal details were published on the website ‘What do They Know’ last month.
The mother in question a 32 year old woman had fled a violent relationship along with her young children and had found shelter in Islington. She said that she would no longer feels safe until she moves.
The woman who wanted to not be identified said that it was her worst nightmare and was absolutely disgusted as she was in an abusive relationship and had come to Islington t be safe.
She added that she was sent to a women’s refuge and then moved to various hostels and services which was not proper with small children.
And after a long battle in 2010 she had been given a proper house and had settled in the permanent accommodation became acquainted to the area and the children too had started to go to school. But after the leak she frets that she would have to move again.
She was more concerned about her children after the leak which she said could happen again with other councils and that she was not so sure how she could feel safe when everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home.
While she and her children are waiting to be moved more security was being fitted confusing the children and forcing her to think, what if the man finds her?
The man would be already on the internet searching for her name and now it would become easy for him to find her and it would be like a festival for him she added.
Teresa Parker, from the charity Women’s Aid which helps victims of domestic violence, said that when a victim was being re settled confidentiality was very essential as leaving a violent relationship was always fraught with dangerous consequences for them.
She added that she hoped that the council in such situation took responsibility for what has happened and take the necessary safety measures and help the women to be relocated.
A spokesman for Islington Council apologized for the mistake and said that when a person was experiencing domestic violence then it was an important factor to consider a housing transfer request.
He stressed that the only details which would have identified women as domestic violence victims were the letters DV which appeared alongside the names of 10 people on the re-housing lists.

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