James has expressed concern over the decision by Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) not to renew vital funding for Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS), highlighting the importance of this service to domestic abuse support networks across the county.
NCLS provides a free community legal service to victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Last year alone, the service supported 452 victims across Lynn and West Norfolk. The organisation has warned that the funding cut will have “serious safeguarding implications” at a time when demand for support is rising.
The PCC’s grant, which has helped fund NCLS’s domestic abuse legal advice service, will come to an end in April. Initially, NCLS was funded by a 3-year grant from the Ministry of Justice providing £46,000 between 2022-2025. The grant was only extended for 12 months allowing the PCC to provide £35,000 last year. The funding by the PCC was essential to help support “hundreds of high-risk survivors who face significant barriers to accessing justice”.
James commented:
“Norfolk Community Law Service provides a critical service helping victims of domestic abuse navigate the justice system. When NCLS wrote to me I contacted the Police and Crime Commissioner to ask her to reinstate the grant so it is disappointing that the PCC will no longer support NCLS. This is more than just a funding problem; this is about safeguarding very vulnerable people in our communities.”
NCLS Chief Executive David Powles has also written to the PCC challenging the decision. He said:
“This decision has serious safeguarding implications. Our service is often the first step towards safety for survivors. Without it, many victims are left navigating a complex legal system alone or remain trapped in abusive situations because they cannot identify a safe or viable route out.”
In her statement, the PCC cited wider financial pressures and competing priorities, including the new Police and Crime Plan, the Government’s violence against women and girls strategy, and other obligations, as reasons for the decision.
Despite the loss of PCC funding it has now been announced NCLS will now receive funding from Norfolk County Council for 2026/27 and 2027/28. This will allow NCLS to continue their work.
In response, James said:
“The government’s Police Funding Settlement has left the Office of the PCC and Norfolk Constabulary in a difficult financial position and I recognise the pressures. It’s really a shame the government has left Norfolk in a position where the PCC is struggling to support both basic police work and services like NCLS. However, I’m pleased Norfolk County Council was able to step in this time to provide two years of funding.”
James has also written to the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council on behalf of the PCC regarding funding for Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (NIDAS). NIDAS is a domestic abuse service also facing financial uncertainty. For both NIDAS and NCLS James has advocated on their behalf and helped them receive promising results. King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council indicated an allocation of funding to NIDAS while Norfolk County Council have intentions to fund NCLS through 2026/7 and 2027/8.
