Harrow’s 5,000 domestic violence victims a year will soon have the support of an extra £200,000 for abuse services.

Councillors have been asked to vote for a new domestic violence strategy, including a £200,000 investment for services, later this week.

The council is due to adopt its new domestic and sexual violence strategy for 2014 to 2017 at a meeting on Thursday, and the strategy commits it to developing policies and services that address the full range of violence.

The council’s corporate plan includes a commitment to invest an extra £1 million to tackle domestic violence and support carers, but will now commit to a further £200,000 to tackle domestic violence.

Proposed options for the additional money include securing and improving existing services, training professionals and developing campaigns around issues such as forced marriage and 'honour'-based violence.

Councillor Margaret Davine, who is responsible for adults and older people and a trustee at The Women’s Centre charity, said: “Often, especially with domestic violence, what we see is a lack of willingness for women of Asian cultures to come forward, because they are afraid to do so.

“Working at The Women’s Centre, I have seen women ostracised from their families for coming forward to report domestic violence. There can be a culture of blaming and shaming victims of domestic violence.”

According to the report, a profile of reported domestic violence cases suggests that 62 per cent of victims in Harrow during the past year were female – while children were present in 45 per cent of all incidents reported to the police.

Estimates also indicate that 5,617 women and girls in the borough, aged 16 to 59, have been a victim of domestic abuse during the past year.

The council’s new strategy hopes to address the crime using a number of steps, including identifying protective measures and safeguarding options for victims and survivors, along with holding abusive partners and relatives to account.

Mrs Davine added: “I am so delighted to see this council commit to dedicated, proper funds for a proper plan to tackle this issue. Because it predominantly happens behind closed doors, it can be easy to miss it, especially in a low-crime borough like Harrow.

“Domestic violence affects entire families, including children, and it is only right that even with cuts to local government budgets we are prioritising tackling domestic violence.”

The Labour cabinet will vote on the new strategy on Thursday.