Welcome to NCDV Online Magazine

DA pilot extended to Glasgow court

Flag of Scotland waving against blue sky

Following successful testing at the Dundee, Hamilton and Paisley Sheriff Courts, Scotland’s busiest, Glasgow, is now covered by a new way of handling the nation’s domestic abuse cases. Under the Summary Case Management scheme, evidence is shared and, where possible, agreed before setting an initial trial date in order to reduce the number of unnecessary […]

Multi-million boost to domestic abuse projects in capital

Big Ben Clock Tower and House of Parliament in the night, London, UK

London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced £15m of fresh funding for the Mayor’s Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation programme. The money will help add 14 projects to the 70-plus already supported. “Sadly, cases of domestic abuse continue to rise and we know the cost-of-living crisis is leaving many survivors with the dilemma of staying with perpetrators […]

Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed

Homeless Woman Sitting on The Street Side Hopeless

Domestic Homicide Reviews in England and Wales will be renamed Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews to better recognise suicides linked to domestic abuse. The reviews are a multi-agency effort which seeks to identify and implement lessons learnt from deaths which have, or appear to have, resulted from domestic abuse. The aim is to better protect […]

International: Jamaica toughens up on domestic violence

Jamaica Country Flag in a Map, Kingston Capital Text, Creative Font

The Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act has come into force in Jamaica, giving more clout to the protection orders courts can issue to protect victims from harm and harassment. Those who breach an order now face up to one year in prison and a penalty of up to 1,000,000 Jamaican dollars (£5,900), compared with six months […]

Domestic abuse work recognised in New Year’s Honours

Celebrating New Year in London

Several people have been rewarded for their efforts in tackling domestic abuse in the New Year’s Honours list. They include: Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, chairwoman of Refuge: CBE. She is co-founder of the Joanna Simpson Foundation with Diana Parkes, who also becomes a CBE. They set up the charity to raise awareness of domestic abuse and domestic […]

Women ‘face Clare’s Law postcode lottery’

Composite image of balls of the lottery

Thousands of women are reportedly at serious risk of harm because police forces are failing to hand over potentially lifesaving information under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme. Official data shows 56% of the 20,226 requests for background checks on potential domestic abusers were rejected during the six months to March 2022, the Independent newspaper reported. […]

Police and CPS to change way they deal with domestic abuse

Police siren at accident or crime scene

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), College of Policing and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are to transform how they investigate, handle and prosecute domestic abuse cases to ensure victims are better supported, timeliness improved and more offenders are brought to justice. A national domestic abuse justice plan will be jointly drawn up with a focus […]

DA charges rise, but prosecutions decline

Glasgow Police At An Incident

Arrests and subsequent charges for domestic abuse-related offences in England and Wales increased year-on-year in the 12 months to March, but the number of prosecutions fell. Applications for non-molestation orders reached a record high. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) findings come against the background of little change in such crimes recorded by police forces: […]

Westminster introduces expenses for DA cross-examiners

View on Westminster Palace, Big Ben in London, UK

The justice ministry for England and Wales will pay expenses to lawyers who sign up as a qualified legal representative to cross exam survivors of domestic abuse. While hundreds have already joined the scheme, a new expenses policy is being introduced to encourage more to join, the ministry said. Previously no expenses were available: in […]

Jacobs acts to ensure domestic homicide review recommendations are carried out

Big Ben, Westminster Bridge on River Thames in London, England, UK

Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, is launching a domestic homicide oversight scheme to hold public bodies and national government to account so they take steps to prevent future deaths. “I want to see cross-governmental leadership to ensure that all agencies, from health to children’s services, make ending domestic homicide a […]