Landmark` overhaul for domestic abuse laws in UK

Source: BBC News, 21/01/2019

Campaigners say the measures are a `once in a generation`
opportunity to combat the impact of abuse.
Government experts estimate domestic abuse cost society £66bn in
2016/17 and it`s hoped the changes will improve the response.
The draft bill going before MPs will also:
• Create new powers to force perpetrators into behaviour-
changing rehabilitation programmes
• Make victims automatically eligible for special
protections when they are giving evidence in criminal trials
• Set up a national `domestic abuse commissioner` tasked
with improving the response and support for victims across public
services
Domestic abuse in figures
Year ending March 2018
Two million
People aged 16-59 told the Crime Survey for England and Wales they
had been a victim of domestic abuse
• 1.3m Female victims; 695,000 male
• 38 Arrests for every 100 recorded crimes
• 89,091 Cases resulted in prosecution
• 12% Proportion of prosecutions that fail after a victim
changes their mind about giving evidence against their abuser
Source: Office for National Statistics
The definition of domestic abuse will specifically recognise that
it goes beyond crimes of violence and includes victims who are
psychologically coerced and manipulated, as well as those who have
no control of their finances.
The legislation will also clarify the workings of `Clare`s Law` -
a measure introduced four years ago to permit police to tell a
member of the public of concerns over a partner`s previous
violence.
Victoria Atkins, Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and
Vulnerability, said: `I have heard absolutely heartbreaking
accounts of victims whose lives have been ripped apart because of
the physical, emotional or economic abuse they have suffered by
someone close to them.
`The draft domestic abuse bill recognises the complex nature of
these horrific crimes and puts the needs of victims and their
families at the forefront.`
But shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said survivors of domestic
violence have waited too long for the plans.
`If the Tories are serious about combating domestic violence, then
there should be long-term funding commitments to ensure sufficient
resources are available for abuse survivors,` she said.
Analysis
By Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent
Theresa May promised to overhaul domestic abuse laws almost two
years ago - and the bill was a key pledge in the 2017 Queen`s
Speech.
The public consultation closed eight months ago - and only now are
we seeing the final package.
So given government is so pre-occupied with Brexit, it`s not clear
when there will be Parliamentary time to turn the measures into
law.
Campaigners say the plans must be a national priority - not least
because the government`s staggering estimate of the costs support
what they have said for years.
The £66bn figure is an estimate of the full impact of perpetrators
on society - not just the cost of clearing up a specific crime.
One housing association in Sunderland, for example, spent £8m on
repairs suspect to be linked to domestic violence.
There are many other hidden impacts, including the damaged life
chances for children scarred by what they experience.
Sandra Horley, chief executive of the charity Refuge, welcomed the
draft bill - saying it was a `once in a generation` opportunity.
And Suzanne Jacob, head of SafeLives, said: `For too long, we`ve
expected victims and children to uproot their lives while the
perpetrators remain invisible and unchallenged by the system.
`The new change in approach reflects what hundreds of survivors
told SafeLives they wanted - we`re pleased the Government is
listening.`