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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The government is inviting public comment – from survivors to professional dealing with domestic violence – on its draft Domestic Abuse Bill, with a deadline of 12:15am on 31 May for submissions.
The bill seeks to address the problem at every stage, from prevention through to rehabilitation, “by challenging the acceptability of abuse and addressing the underlying attitudes and norms that perpetuate it,” the Home Office and Ministry of Justice said in a joint statement.
Proposed measures include a single protection order, punishable as a criminal offence, and applicable across the criminal, family and civil courts.
Additionally, Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee is hold its own, separate inquiry into domestic violence and abuse ahead of the draft Bill.
Meanwhile the Secure Tenancies (Victims of Domestic Abuse) Bill is working its way through Parliament. The aim to ensure that victims who have a lifetime social tenancy will be able to retain it in new accommodation if forced to flee their current home.
“This short and focused Bill is an important part of the Government’s wider aim of supporting victims of domestic abuse to leave their abusive situation and ensuring that they and their families are provided with the stability and security they need and deserve,” Communities Minister Heather Wheeler said in the Commons.
Meanwhile, a new piece of legislation is on the statute book: survivors of domestic abuse can now register to vote without their name and address appearing on the electoral roll. The purpose is to end the fear of their former partners finding their address.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
