On 22nd January 2015 the High Court ruled in favour of the Government in a judicial review of the rules on legal aid entitlement for victims of domestic abuse. The challenge focussed on whether the evidence of domestic violence required to obtain legal aid in family cases is so inflexible Read more…
As family solicitors we deal with victims of domestic abuse in our day to day work. The remedies available in the family court to protect victims of domestic abuse fall under the civil rather than the criminal law. The most common family law injunctions are called non-molestation and occupation orders. Read more…
Under the current law perpetrators of domestic abuse have to be charged with offences which apply to the population generally (assault, harassment etc.). On 20th August the Home Secretary Theresa May announced a consultation on whether a specific crime of domestic abuse would improve police performance in this area. Although Read more…
Reports suggest that the authorities anticipate a significant increase in cases of domestic abuse during the World Cup. The suggestion is that extended periods of higher than usual levels of drinking may well lead to an increase in the incidence of abuse within the home. What is not clear is Read more…