Camilla visits hospital’s domestic abuse service
In her first solo engagement as Queen Consort, Camilla met independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs) and maternity staff working in the domestic abuse field at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The hospital’s management trust has what it describes as a whole health approach to domestic abuse by working with acute health, mental health, primary care and […]
Domestic abuse support group to buy 20 homes
Thrive Women’s Aid plans to purchase 20 properties as safe, move-on accommodation for domestic abuse survivors in Neath-Port Talbot, South Wales, after the Social and Sustainable Capita charity pledged a £2.7m social investment loan to the organisation. The funding enables it to buy homes for the first time in its 42-year history and help meet […]
Camilla praised for her domestic abuse work
Queen Consort Camilla, who has spoken of her intention to continue raising awareness of domestic abuse in her new role, has been praised by campaigners in the field. Former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal tweeted: “Lots known about King Charles’s interest in green issues, less about Queen Consort Camilla’s passion for tackling violence against women […]
Rise in DA investigations on London police officers
Currently 173 serving Metropolitan police officers have accusations of domestic abuse against them under investigation, according to Greater London Authority figures. In February, 147 officers had faced allegations of domestic violence against their spouses or partners in the last two years, with 8% of them charged with a crime, the London’s Evening Standard newspaper reported. […]
Domestic abuse support for staff ‘lacking in 50% of companies’
Around a half of employers have no dedicated domestic abuse support, according to a poll. However, 29% of those surveyed said they are reviewing their policies about offering no assistance to staff suffering from domestic abuse. But 22% of respondents have no dedicated support and have no plans to introduce it, a poll by human […]
Increase in DV support in Manchester and Cumbria
Nine more Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (IDSAs) will be recruited across Greater Manchester with at least nine others continuing in post. Separately, Cumbria’s work in the field will be expanded. The extra and ongoing aid for victims of domestic or sexual abuse in Manchester is made possible by a […]
Initial ONS data shows no change in DA prevalence during pandemic
Preliminary findings from an Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey show 5.7% of 16- to 59-year-olds experienced domestic abuse in the year to March 2022, around the historic average of 6%. Yet police and charities reported a significant increase in cases and demand during lockdowns associated with counter-coronavirus measures. “Rather than being indicative of an […]
Huge gaps in police DA specialist training
More than ten million people were living in areas at the end of last year where no police officers had received special guidance on handling domestic abuse. An official report published in 2014 had highlighted the issue, leading to SafeLives creating the DA Matters programme. Data released under freedom of information laws revealed officers in […]
Domestic abusers barred from cross-examining victims in courts
Alleged perpetrators of domestic abuse can no longer cross-examine the victim in family and civil courts under measures which come into force on 21 July as part of the Domestic Abuse Act (2021). The change is in response to concerns they used the process to extend their abuse, and victims were retraumatised by their experiences […]
Women’s Aid urges action to counter cost of living crisis
Domestic abuse support organisation Women’s Aid is calling for a raft of measures to combat increased pressures faced by victims during the current period of high inflation. The charity wants to see: An emergency domestic abuse fund to support survivors by paying for essential items and energy bills; Reduced energy costs for all refuges; and […]
