This week the government launched a consultation on a new Domestic Abuse Bill. The consultation will look at views on proposed legislation, as well as other approaches to put an end to the harms caused by domestic abuse, and offer support to victims and survivors to help rebuild their lives.
These include:
Clare’s Law
Also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, the government are looking to implement this into legislation. Doing so will allow police to disclose information about previous violent offending by a new or existing partner and form better protection for victims. This has already been rolled out in operations across the UK.
New Treatment to Victims
The government also wish to propose giving domestic abuse victims the same status in court as those who have been victims of modern slavery or sex offences, in order to make them automatically eligible for the range of specific measures taken in criminal proceedings. Measures such as giving evidence behind a screen or via a video link to ensure their security.
Learning more about the Bill
Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, Katie Ghose, said “The Domestic Abuse Bill is a unique opportunity to make a real difference to survivors’ lives. We are delighted that the government has listened to our concerns by recognising that there must be sustainable funding for refuges to put an end to the current post-code lottery of support available, which leaves women and children with nowhere to turn and puts lives at further risk.
“These life-saving services are not an optional extra but an essential piece of the jigsaw in our response to domestic abuse; the support that refuges and community services provide, from drop-in centres to counselling, legal advice and helplines, is often the key to survivors accessing help from the police and other agencies.
“The Bill’s ambition will be undermined if there is not a long-term, sustainable funding plan for refuges in place. We are calling on the government to give survivors a cast-iron guarantee that they will not go ahead with planned changes to how refuges will be funded, which threaten these life-saving services with closure.
“That’s why we want to see a Domestic Abuse Bill that encompasses and goes beyond changes to the criminal justice system. We know that many women do not feel able to report abuse to the police, so we need a Bill that makes domestic abuse everyone’s business. It must reach beyond a criminal justice response to include policies on housing, education, health, immigration and the welfare system to name but a few, so that all survivors and their children get the support they need, when and where they need it.
“Children are often the unseen victims of domestic abuse, they do not only witness domestic abuse but experience it and must be supported and protected too. We welcome the government’s recognition that more must be done for children who experience domestic abuse. Any new measures must include protection in the family courts and robust support services in place to help children overcome trauma.”
“The proposed Domestic Abuse Commissioner is a real opportunity to tackle the current post-code lottery of support available for survivors. The Commissioner must be granted robust powers and resources so that they can monitor levels and quality of service provision and hold all agencies to account to ensure that every survivor gets earlier, more effective support, as well as shine light on all forms of violence against women and girls.
“We want this Bill to be rooted in the reality of survivors’ experience and bring about a step change in our national response to domestic abuse. This consultation is an opportunity for the government to provide survivors with a cast-iron guarantee that refuges will be protected. We look forward to working with them to create a long-term and sustainable funding solution to ensure that refuges can continue to operate as a national network for every woman and child who cannot safely stay in their own home.”
Domestic abuse in a relationship is not something to be taken lightly. It is important to have an expert by your side to support you when making a claim, so get in touch with the professionals at Harold Stock today to discuss how they can help get your life back on track.
