DA pilot extended to Glasgow court
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
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 […]
Domestic abuse charity ‘goes into liquidation’
London-based Against Violence & Abuse (AVA) is reported to be winding down because it is technically insolvent. “The decision to close has been a difficult one, and comes following a period of operational and financial difficulty which the charity has tried to work through,” the board of trustees said in a letter quoted by charity […]
Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed
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
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 […]
DA survivors to get cash support from government
Domestic abuse victims in England and Wales will be able to claim up to £3,000 from the state starting 31 January. The government’s motive is to help survivors move forward with their lives, prevent homelessness or face pressure to return to their abusers because of financial strain. “It will be a lifeline for many, helping […]
Domestic abuse work recognised in New Year’s Honours
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’
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. […]
Met Police commits to combatting VAWG
London’s police force has updated its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) action plan now that VAWG is one of its strategic priorities. It is based on building trust and confidence; relentlessly pursuing perpetrators; and working to make spaces safer for women and girls. Among ten specific commitments is tackling police-perpetrated VAWG and improving the […]
DA charges rise, but prosecutions decline
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: […]
