UK Government launches new strategy to tackle domestic violence

On 30 March 2022, the Government has launched a new strategy to tackle domestic violence. The Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan outlines the government’s approach to limit the prevalence of domestic abuse and domestic homicide, tackle perpetrators and provide victims and survivors with the support they need.

Camika Boamah, trainee solicitor at Miles and Partners in London outlines the government’s approach and highlights the key provisions made in the plan.

Pursuing perpetrators

• Options for creating a new register for domestic abusers which could require perpetrators to take actions such as reporting to the police when changing address or opening a bank account with a new partner.
• Increasing electronic tagging to a further 3,500 individuals who have left prison and who pose a risk to women and girls.

Prioritising prevention

• A package of support for teachers to deliver the relationship, sex, and health education curriculum to ensure children learn about healthy relationships at an early age.
• Making it easier to access information on a partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending by revising and consulting on Clare’s Law, to consider the timescales for disclosure, and promote tools which allow online applications.

Supporting victims

• Doubling the funding for the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
• A commitment to reviewing the statutory leave laws for victims of domestic abuse.
• Funding 700 independent domestic violence and sexual violence advocate roles with additional funding for 300 roles later this year to refer and support victims and survivors.

A stronger system

• More work to support police to help identify and reduce the risks of suicide in cases involving domestic abuse.
• The government has also introduced new measures in our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will give victims of domestic abuse longer to report offences to the police, so that abusers cannot evade justice.

Click here to read more about the Tackling Domestic Violence Plan.

For advice on how you can get protection from domestic abuse, please contact our team of lawyers 020 7426 0400 or email office@milesandpartners.com.

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only. They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. The law may have changed since this article was published. Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.