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Reports of DA rise but prosecutions fall

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Police in England and Wales recorded 910,980 domestic abuse-related crimes in the year-ending March 2022, an increase of 7.7% on the previous 12 months, Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures show. The rise may reflect increasing willingness of victims to report crimes, the ONS said. But arrests by police were down: 31.3 per 100 domestic […]

Homeless DA survivors ‘still face gatekeeping’

Thoughtful Homeless People Feeling Cold in Winter

Domestic abuse victims seeking accommodation when fleeing an abusive relationship continue to be confronted by obstruction from housing officers, according to a Solace Women’s Aid survey. Now that anyone made homeless by domestic abuse automatically has priority need for temporary accommodation, the charity surveyed frontline workers to assess how well the change introduced in last […]

Calls to police and DVPNs increase in Manchester

female helpline operator

The number of domestic abuse reports to police, arrests and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPNs) issued in Greater Manchester have gone up. “In the last 12 months, there has been a 12% increase in domestic abuse calls that required a grade 1 response, meaning that GMP officers have attended around 23,000 domestic abuse incidents where […]

Cheshire police launch scheme to prevent abusers re-offending

Police car on the street

A programme has been introduced in custody suites at Chester, Middlewich and Runcorn to enable those committing domestic abuse-related offences to stop offending. Perpetrators taken into custody will be offered access to support services and a behavioural change programme on their release. Participation is voluntary. Cheshire Police has launched the scheme with My CWA which […]

‘Kay’s Law’ brought in

Victims of crimes such as domestic abuse or sexual assault are now better protected following the arrest of alleged perpetrators under new provisions known as ‘Kay’s Law’. The reforms, which come into force in England and Wales late October as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, mean forces have a duty to […]

Legal aid extended for DA victims

The doctor is talking on the phone

Letters from doctors, following video or telephone consultations, which offer evidence of domestic abuse will now be accepted by courts in England and Wales for legal aid applications. The change was a provision in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which took effect on 17 October. Others include: ensuring special guardians, family members or friends who […]

Women’s Aid survey shows tolerance of DA in society

Computer keyboard with a SURVEY button. Concept - asking questions to receive feedback

Around a third (34%) of those questioned in a Women’s Aid-commissioned poll believe domestic abuse is the result of bad people rather than a reflection of attitudes in society, the domestic abuse survivors’ support charity says. Chief executive Farah Nazeer added: “While it is true that only abusers are responsible for their actions, effective responses […]

Met probes DA claims against its own

The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating 625 allegations of domestic or sexual abuse against officers and staff. The force set up the Domestic and Sexual Offences Unit (Daso) in January as part of an effort to rebuild trust in London’s police service following a series of scandals. A “significant number” of cases under investigation involve […]

Survey reveals extent of DA suffered by visually impaired people

Midsection of blind man with white cane getting on public transport in city

Around one in 12 blind and partially sighted people in the UK is believed to be a victim or survivor of domestic abuse, according to a report published by SafeLives and sight loss charity Vision Foundation. The findings show 8.6% –188,000 – of the 2.19 million visually impaired women and men in the country have […]

New law generates more reports of DA in northern Ireland

British regional flag of Northern Ireland

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is receiving a monthly average of 100-plus allegations of domestic abuse involving coercive control. The behaviour was outlawed when the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 came into force last February. More than 170 perpetrators have been charged to date. Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher said: […]