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Thousands of DA victims lose help after legal aid cuts

Newspapers

An estimated 34,000 domestic abuse survivors have been denied support in seeking protection orders in the decade since legal aid was scaled back, according to research by House of Commons library staff. Also, the proportion of publicly funded domestic abuse cases fell from 75% to 47% between 2010-11 and 2020-21 and spending on civil legal […]

Scottish defence lawyers go on DA strike in fees dispute

Flag of Scotland - also known as St Andrew's Cross or the Saltire, is the national flag of Scotland.

Members of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) have stopped accepting new instructions in some domestic abuse cases as part of a campaign for better legal aid rates. The action, which began 3 May, relates to section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 which covers coercive control. “Offences under s.1 of the Act […]

Faster Clare’s Law disclosure proposed

Danger on the street. Blue flasher on the police car at night.

Police forces in England and Wales will have 28 days to release information requested through the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) if new home office guidance is adopted. The current guideline is 35 days. Better known as Clare’s Law, the scheme allows people to discover their partner’s criminal history and therefore if their partner poses […]

Police watchdog identifies DA weakness in Kent

Kent Police’s response to domestic abuse is of particular concern, according to Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Roy Wilsher, who also accepts the force is taking steps to improve its handling of such cases. “The force is rightly proud of some of its work protecting vulnerable people. However, domestic abuse investigation teams have not been […]

CPS amends approach to prosecuting DA cases

Court hammer laying on book.

The Crown Prosecution Service has published revised guidance on prosecuting domestic abuse-related crimes. A key objective to is to tackle what the agency describes as misleading myths and stereotypes. “DA cases are amongst the highest priority work dealt with in the criminal justice system. The safety of victims and children is imperative when prosecuting cases […]

CWJ calls for reforms to end ‘unjust criminalisation’ of DV victims

Signing agreement

The Centre for Women’s Justice says there is clear need for changes to the legal system to prevent female victims of violence from being unfairly prosecuted. In a special report, Double standard: ending the unjust criminalisation of victims of violence against women and girls, the organisation lays out a 20-point action plan with five aims: […]

Government launches plan to combat DA

Palace of Westminster

The Westminster government has issued its Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, which details how it will invest more than £230m to deliver many of the provisions in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. “This plan will place greater focus than ever before on preventing abuse,” home secretary Priti Patel wrote in a foreword to the 101-page document. […]

Police officers accused of DA keep their jobs

street

An investigation has shown eight out of ten police employees accused of domestic abuse are still working with their force. They are also less likely to face prosecution. Freedom of information requests made by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and broadcaster ITV revealed only 36 of the more than 1,300 officers and staff reported for […]

Family courts pilot scheme to better support DA victims

Wooden gavel

Family courts in North Wales and Dorset are testing a pioneering approach to improve how they help domestic abuse victims. Judges will be able to review information and request more documentation before a case reaches court, while all agencies involved will exchange information on a case. That may include domestic abuse professionals sharing risk assessments […]

Victims poorly served by justice system changes, says chief constable

Wooden gavel in a courtroom

The criminal justice system is increasingly stacking up against domestic abuse victims with officers having to release suspects before a decision on charging them is reached, according to West Yorkshire’s chief constable John Robbins. By contrast, police are able to press charges within hours over other incidents such as a fight in a pub, he […]