The Government produced its draft Domestic Abuse Bill in January 2019. The question is can the Government come up with the goods? Well the Bill provides lots of promises. The four main objectives seem to hit the spot particularly as prevention and protection is at the core of it. The Read more…
At the start of the world cup, warnings have been issued about the imminent increase in domestic abuse during major football tournaments, the last one being Euro 2016. The academic research from Lancaster University has prompted a campaign by White Ribbon UK to mobilise men to send out a clear Read more…
In June 2017 the Government announced that a new law on domestic abuse would form part of the legislative programme for this Parliament. On 8th March 2018, a consultation was announced which has put more more flesh on the bones of the proposed bill. A government consultation sets out a timescale Read more…
For a number of years there has been a debate about whether alleged perpetrators of domestic abuse should be allowed to cross examine their victims in the family court. This arises where the alleged perpetrator is a parent who has applied for a child arrangements order. It is usually, but Read more…
Whilst there is much debate in the media about who is to blame for the recent spate of football violence during Euro 2016, at home the warnings are that domestic abuse incidents are likely to rise during the tournament. Research shows that excessive alcohol consumption coupled with the heightened tensions Read more…
On 17 May, the Home Secretary Theresa May said that the police are still not taking domestic abuse seriously enough as a crime. Domestic violence – or to use the wider term domestic abuse – was redefined in 2013 as: “any incident of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse Read more…
Following on from my previous blog it has now been confirmed by the Court of Appeal that the 24 month time limit imposed by the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) is invalid. LASPO was introduced in April 2013 and resulted in the majority of people who had Read more…
When former Eastenders actress, Sian Blake and her two children were discovered murdered in their home, the issue of domestic abuse was thrust back into our conscious. This case garnered media interest because of the celebrity connection, but the harsh reality is two victims of domestic abuse are murdered by Read more…
On 8th July 2015 the Government announced that it is removing a technicality which meant some victims of domestic abuse were losing their Legal Aid part way through a case. As a result of cuts brought in by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) on 1st Read more…
After a recent High Court decision, the NSPCC has raised concerns about references the judge made about considering allegations of physical abuse in a “cultural context”. The court case was a wardship matter, where the court is asked to make a child a “ward of court”, in itself not a Read more…