The Harmful Practices Coordinator coordinates the Harmful Practices Operational Group (HPOG).

The overarching objective of the HPOG is to ensure that the response to harmful practices within the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster City Council is coordinated, safe, and effective. Professionals may also attend the quarterly meetings as guests to
expand their knowledge on harmful practices and meet colleagues working in this space.

One of the main aspects of the role has been supporting the collection of harmful practices data. Data on harmful practices can be limited, and the group have spent time improving the use of data to better understand the local picture. Through the collection of both MARAC and agency data, the group have built up a greater understanding of the prevalence of, and agencies’ responses to, harmful practices. This was showcased in 2023 in the paper Harmful Practices and MARACs: What Does the Data Tell Us?

In 2021, the University of Suffolk analysed 3 years of MARAC data collated by the Harmful Practices Coordinator to produce a briefing paper: Responding to Harmful Practices against Women and Girls in London: The Potential of a Data-Driven and Intersectional Approach.

Since 2024, the HPOG has been focused most on building the confidence of local professionals to use
their professional curiosity around Harmful Practices. This has resulted in a conference with an accompanying summary report, the production of a new Harmful Practices Specialist Agency Contact
Guide, a twice-monthly drop in session called ‘Come Curious’, and a one-page harmful practices guidance document for frontline professionals. All of these resources are available.