New law generates more reports of DA in 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: […]
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 […]
Police DA perpetrators face sack
Officers who commit violence against women and girls should expect to be dismissed and barred from re-joining the police, says College of Policing chief executive Andy Marsh. “There is no place in policing for anyone who behaves in a way that damages the public’s trust in us to keep them safe,” he added. He was […]
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 […]
