The government has taken a number of measures to strengthen legislation and protections for victims of domestic abuse.<\/p>
This includes the measures set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which is helping transform our response to victims and bring perpetrators to justice.<\/p>
Controlling or Coercive Behaviour within an intimate or family relationship was made a criminal offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 removed the requirement for the parties to be \u2018living together\u2019 for the offence to occur, meaning it applies to intimate partners, ex-partners or family members, regardless of whether the victim and perpetrator live together.<\/p>
The Domestic Abuse statutory guidance contains detailed sections setting out specifically how victims from ethnic minority backgrounds may experience additional barriers to identifying, disclosing, seeking help or reporting abuse.<\/p>
The government continues to offer migrant victims in the UK who have, or last had, permission to be in the UK under the family Immigration Rules to apply for access to the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC).<\/p>
The government will continue to work with the police and criminal justice agencies to ensure the law is used to maximum effect to protect victims of domestic abuse.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4826", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Laura Farris"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Laura Farris"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-24T16:57:29.78Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to (a) assess and (b) improve the effectiveness of existing legal measures designed to protect (a) minority ethnic women and (b) all people from domestic abuse.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4638", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Slough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi"} ], "uin" : "21775"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1676827", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1676827/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government\u2019s response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner\u2019s report Safety Before Status: The Solutions<\/em> was published in July 2023 and can be found at Gov.UK.<\/p> <\/p> The reservation on Article 59 of the Istanbul Convention will be kept under review as policies which address support for migrant victims of domestic abuse develop. Official advice will be provided to Ministers on the reservation, in due course.<\/p> <\/p> The Migrant Victims Protocol is in the final stages of development. The Department expects this to be published in early 2024.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4888", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Sharpe of Epsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-29T14:18:10.04Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 4 April (HL6672 and HL6673), and further to the remarks by Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 12 July (HL Deb cols 1727\u20131730), whether they have now published (1) their response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner\u2019s report Safety before status: the solutions, published on 13 December 2022, (2) their decision on the reservation on Article 59 of the Istanbul Convention, and (3) the migrant victims\u2019 protocol.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4234", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Lister of Burtersett"}
], "uin" : "HL1069"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1674065", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1674065/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department works closely with and promotes organisations that seek to improve the employer's response to domestic abuse, including with the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) and the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant (EDAC).<\/p> In addition, through the Employers Engagement Fund, The Survivors Trust has been awarded funding in 2023/24 and 2024/25 to work with employers to raise awareness of domestic abuse, train their employees on how to identify, better understand and respond to domestic abuse disclosures in the workplace.<\/p> Our national communications campaign \u2018Enough\u2019 was launched in 2022, to challenge the harmful behaviours that exist within wider society. Campaign advertising has reached millions of individuals across England and Wales, and thousands of clicks on the website through to organisations that support victims of these crimes.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4826", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Laura Farris"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Laura Farris"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-12-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "4529"}
, {"_value" : "4530"}
, {"_value" : "4531"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-12-14T15:20:07.683Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will undertake a post legislative review of section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 to help assess the potential effectiveness of the introduction of an offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship in (a) preventing, (b) prosecuting and (c) punishing coercive control.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Morgan"}
], "uin" : "4534"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672951", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1672951/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime and tackling it remains a top priority for this Government.<\/p> We remain committed to delivering our Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and complimentary Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. We have doubled funding for the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and added violence against women and girls - including domestic abuse - to the revised Strategic Policing Requirement elevating it to a national threat for police forces to respond to accordingly.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4826", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Laura Farris"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Laura Farris"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-27T15:53:34.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to tackle domestic violence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4052", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Pawsey"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rugby"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Pawsey"}
], "uin" : "900294"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667895", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1667895/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is important that police officers recognise and understand domestic abuse in all its forms. Post-separation abuse is an established risk factor for homicide. The College of Policing authorised professional practice guidance is clear that officers should offer assistance to victims intending to recover property from a residence to ensure this process is carried out safely.<\/p> Domestic abuse training plays a crucial role in police officers\u2019 understanding and response to domestic abuse. The specialist Domestic Abuse Matters programme developed by the College of Policing and domestic abuse charities, has been delivered to the majority of forces to date. The Government is also now funding the rollout of the training to those forces who have yet to undertake it. It is, however, crucial that police forces continue to remain updated with domestic abuse training, particularly for new officers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derbyshire Dales"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Miss Sarah Dines"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-13T14:49:52.493Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce measures to help victims of domestic violence retrieve their possessions safely from their ex-partner's properties in circumstances when the police will not intervene.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1576", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Pritchard"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "The Wrekin"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Pritchard"}
], "uin" : "121"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1640056", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1640056/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " DVPO (domestic violence protection order) and DVPN (domestic violence protection notice) data are not recorded by magistrates\u2019 courts.<\/p> His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICRFS) collect DVPN/O data and this has been published annually by the ONS here Domestic abuse in England and Wales - Appendix tables - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)<\/a> for 2016-2018 and Domestic abuse and the criminal justice system - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)<\/a> for annual data since 2019.<\/p> Prior to 2017 data was published directly by HMICFRS here PEEL assessments data - His Majesty\u2019s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (justiceinspectorates.gov.uk)<\/a> with 2015 being the first year the data was published. In 2015 only data on DVPOs issued are available. Not all police forces could provide data to HMICFRS in each data year and so the figures in the below table may underestimate the number of DVPOs and DVPNs granted. Data published by HMICFRS was published in 12-month periods from July-June. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publication tracks DVPO/Ns issued in a 12-month period from April-March. A breakdown of these figures can be seen in the below table.<\/p> Table 1: Number of Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Notices issued<\/strong><\/p> <\/p><\/td> Year<\/p><\/td> DVPOs issued<\/p><\/td> DVPNs issued<\/p><\/td><\/tr> HMICFRS published - 12 months leading to June 30th<\/p><\/td> 2015<\/p><\/td> 3,813<\/p><\/td> -<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2016<\/p><\/td> 3,706<\/p><\/td> 4,358<\/p><\/td><\/tr> ONS published - 12 months leading to March 31st<\/p><\/td> 2017<\/p><\/td> 3,698<\/p><\/td> 4,017<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018<\/p><\/td> 4,878<\/p><\/td> 4,219<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2019<\/p><\/td> 5,859<\/p><\/td> 4,349<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2020<\/p><\/td> 6,267<\/p><\/td> 4,468<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2021<\/p><\/td> 7,995<\/p><\/td> 10,046<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2022<\/p><\/td> 10,167<\/p><\/td> 11,336<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derbyshire Dales"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Miss Sarah Dines"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-06-08T14:00:07.027Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-05-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Domestic Abuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Domestic Violence Protection (a) Orders and (b) Notices were issued by each Magistrates Court in England and Wales in the last 21 months for which data is available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4620", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ellie Reeves"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham West and Penge"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ellie Reeves"}
], "uin" : "186757"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1640057", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1640057/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICRFS) collect DVPN/O data and this has been published annually by the ONS here Domestic abuse in England and Wales - Appendix tables - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)<\/a> for 2016-2018 and Domestic abuse and the criminal justice system - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)<\/a> for annual data since 2019.<\/p>