Scotland Offers £1000 to DA Victims
As part of its initiative to help women and children escape domestic abuse, the Scottish government have launched a pilot which will enable abused women to receive up to £1000 to help with the costs incurred when leaving a controlling or abusive relationship. The £500,000 Fund to Leave will be administered by various Women’s Aid […]
High charge rate in Scotland’s domestic abuse cases
A total of 94% of the 30,139 domestic abuse charges reported to the Crown and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland in 2022-23 were pursued through the courts. The cases included seven murders or culpable homicides, 491 of attempted murder or serious assault, and 639 rapes or attempted rapes. In 86% of the cases, the perpetrator […]
Pilot tagging of perpetrators to be launched
Offenders who pose a threat to their former partner or children in England and Wales face being forced to wear an electronic tag on leaving prison to protect their victim from further trauma. Starting in the East and West Midlands, up to 500 offenders will be made to wear a GPS device in a pilot […]
Drive to tackle DA launched in London
Seven boroughs plus partner agencies have set up the Prevent and Change programme to deal with domestic abuse in South London. Led by Lambeth Council, councils covering Merton, Lewisham, Southwark, Kingston, Richmond and Wandsworth will also be joined by specialist providers to deliver different aspects of the initiative. The Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme, a branch […]
DA car patrols streets of Wigan
A police car dedicated to attending domestic incidents as they are reported is now operating in Wigan, with a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer and independent domestic violence advisor (IDVA) in the vehicle. “Having that balance of both a police officer and an IDVA responding to DA incidents is working extremely well, resulting in some […]
International: start date given for Ireland’s domestic violence agency
An agency to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in Ireland will be operating by the end of January, says justice minister Helen McEntee. The new organisation will be responsible for providing support to services for victims and people at risk of DSGBV; reducing its prevalence; overseeing government strategies and plans; developing standards for […]
MPs urge government to tackle use of technology in DA
The Westminster government should do more to counter misuse of connected technology as latest evidence suggests most domestic abuse cases now feature spyware, says Parliament’s culture, media and sport committee. “The surge in use of devices such as smart home security systems, baby monitors, cameras and smart speakers to monitor, harass, coerce and control victims […]
Government to review domestic homicide sentencing
The Westminster government is to seek the public’s views on changes to sentencing guidelines for murders committed when a relationship ends. Proposals include making 25 years in jail the starting point for domestic homicide when there is a history of controlling or coercive behaviour. Views will also be sought on the intention to bring greater […]
High levels of drug use in domestic abusers, study shows
An average of three in five (59%) of those arrested for domestic abuse offences tested positive for cocaine and/or opiates, according to findings from seven UK police forces. The highest proportion was 85% from one area. The results also support anecdotal evidence that cocaine use is an exacerbating factor in domestic abuse. “We know there […]
Increase in reports shows greater DA awareness, says police force
A marked rise in reports of domestic abuse cases in West Lothian, Scotland, have been welcomed as positive by the local police force. It recorded 2,684 incidents between January and March, a 12.1% increase on the five-year average. However, 58% of those cases did not result in a crime being logged, the Daily Record newspaper […]
