Government pledges more cash to tackle DA
Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak allocated £19m for domestic abuse services in England and Wales as part of his March budget. Most, £15m, will be spent in the coming financial year to increase funding for perpetrator programmes to reduce the risk of abuse continuing. The other £4m will be spread over two years to […]
Chief inspector recounts her time as DA victim
Chief Inspector Sharon Baker of Avon and Somerset Police has spoken about her experience of domestic abuse to show how it can happen to anyone. “Domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate. People may be surprised an officer has had this experience, but anyone can be a victim,” she was quoted as saying by the Bath Live news […]
DA survivors ‘dropping charges as court delays lengthen’
Victims of domestic abuse are withdrawing charges against ex-partners after becoming frustrated by criminal justice system delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Westminster government has reacted by promising to provide more courts. The developments come against a background of survivors having been told their cases will not reach trial until 2022 as courts in […]
The figures behind more calls to helplines during pandemic
The latest statistics prove people are contacting domestic abuse support services in greater numbers, as widely anticipated, during lockdowns and other measures imposed to counter coronavirus. Those restrictions have left many victims trapped indoors with the perpetrator. In the nine months from 1 April to the end of the year, calls and contacts logged by the […]
Sharp rise in contacts to NSPCC about children living in violent homes
The monthly average of people getting in touch with the NSPCC concerned about children exposed to domestic violence was 53% higher between last April and December than before the coronavirus lockdown. There were 8,371 contacts to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children during those nine months. The monthly peak was 1,053 […]
Home Office to reform bail conditions to protect DV victims
Proposed changes to rules related to pre-charge bail will provide better protection for victims and witnesses in cases of domestic or sexual violence, says home secretary Priti Patel. The new measures will enable police to impose strict conditions on suspects in high-harm cases during ongoing investigations, but also ensure individuals are not held on bail […]
Government drive to bolster workplace support for DA victims
The UK government is to make it easier for people enduring domestic abuse to get help at work. The drive follows publication of the report into a review of workplace support for domestic abuse victims to establish how government and employers can tackle the problem. As a result, the government will set up a working […]
Pharmacies to be place of help for DA victims
The Home Office has launched a scheme so people at risk of or suffering from domestic abuse can discreetly signal at chemists they need help accessing support. By asking for ‘Ani’ at Boots’ 2,300 stores and 255 independent pharmacies, they will be offered a private space to talk to a trained pharmacy worker to see […]
Women’s Aid new CEO named
Farah Nazeer has been appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Women’s Aid, starting 1 March. She has more than 20 years of director-level experience with charities, mainly dealing with women’s rights and gender issues and is currently deputy director of advocacy at Action Aid UK, a role which seeks to end gender-based violence and […]
Northern Ireland’s DA Bill delayed due to cost fears
Justice minister Naomi Long says she has put Northern Ireland Domestic Abuse Bill on hold because changes to the proposed legislation could have cost up to £1bn without proper checks. Last month, the assembly voted to widen access to legal aid for domestic abuse survivors in child contact cases, an amendment which she said had […]
