<\/p>
<\/p>
Domestic violence is a dreadful form of abuse and is not acceptable within our
society. The Coalition Government's approach to tackling domestic violence and
abuse is set out in its Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan, updated in March
2014.
In 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Constabulary to undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with
domestic violence and abuse. HMIC's report exposed significant failings. In response
to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group, which
she is chairing, and on which I sit, to ensure HMIC's recommendations are acted upon.
The Group met for the first time on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014, to improve their response to domestic violence and abuse.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the police and other agencies have
the tools necessary to tackle domestic violence, to bring offenders to justice
and to ensure victims have the support they need to rebuild their lives. On 8
March 2014, the Government announced the national roll-out of Domestic Violence
Protection Orders following the successful conclusion of a one-year
pilot in three police force areas including Wiltshire, as well as the Domestic
Violence Disclosure Scheme following the successful conclusion in
September 2013 of a one-year pilot in four police force areas \u2013 once again
including Wiltshire.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62337/answer/previousversion/4350", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T15:22:10.2229767Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_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 recent steps her Department is taking to help end domestic abuse and violence against women.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} ], "uin" : "201115"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62338", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62338/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
Last September, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Constabulary to conduct a review of the response to domestic abuse
across all police forces. HMIC published its findings in March 2014,
emphasising that the key priority is a culture change in the police so that
domestic violence and abuse is treated as the crime that it is and that the
police use the full range of tools already available to them.
In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a new national
oversight group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to oversee delivery
against each of HMIC's recommendations. Their first meeting was held
on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear
that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014.
There are a number of offences that make domestic abuse illegal, including
actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and assault. Assault can extend to
non-physical harm. This Government has introduced stalking and harassment
legislation which can apply to coercive control and psychological abuse.
However, the Government will continue to consider what measures will drive
culture change in the police in response to the findings of the HMIC review.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "201085"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T16:08:31.848382Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_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 plans her Department has to bring forward proposals to criminalise coercive control and psychological abuse for the purpose of protection of victims of domestic violence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1488", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Brooks Newmark"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Braintree"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Brooks Newmark"} ], "uin" : "201084"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62341", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62341/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
Last September, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Constabulary to conduct a review of the response to domestic abuse
across all police forces. HMIC published its findings in March 2014,
emphasising that the key priority is a culture change in the police so that
domestic violence and abuse is treated as the crime that it is and that the
police use the full range of tools already available to them.
In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a new national
oversight group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to oversee delivery
against each of HMIC's recommendations. Their first meeting was held
on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear
that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014.
There are a number of offences that make domestic abuse illegal, including
actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and assault. Assault can extend to
non-physical harm. This Government has introduced stalking and harassment
legislation which can apply to coercive control and psychological abuse.
However, the Government will continue to consider what measures will drive
culture change in the police in response to the findings of the HMIC review.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "201084"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T16:08:31.7808637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_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 plans her Department has in response to the HM Inspector of Constabulary Inquiry into police response to domestic violence in creating a culture change towards domestic violence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1488", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Brooks Newmark"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Braintree"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Brooks Newmark"} ], "uin" : "201085"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62087", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62087/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on the police
response to domestic abuse, published in March 2014, clearly set out the
importance of using new technology to help protect victims of domestic abuse.
Whilst it is an operational matter for chief constables on procuring
technology, we are aware that the TecSOS system is used by 16 police
forces across England and Wales.
Through the National Oversight Group, set-up and chaired by the Home Secretary
to drive delivery against the HMIC recommendations, the Government is ensuring
that best practice on the use of new technology, like TecSOS, is identified and
shared so that the policing of domestic abuse is robust.
As part of its commitment to support high risk victims of domestic abuse, the
Government part-funds 144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisors and 54
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference co-ordinator posts. This funding
amounts to £3.4 million per year.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-02T11:13:06.2722676Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-16", "_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 assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the TecSOS system for high risk victims of domestic abuse; and what plans she has to rollout the programme to other areas of the country.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4243", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Jarvis"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Barnsley Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dan Jarvis"} ], "uin" : "200933"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61770", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61770/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Coalition Government takes the issue of domestic violence and abuse extremely seriously. That is why in 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned HMIC (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary) to undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with domestic violence and abuse and is chairing a National Oversight Group, on which I also sit, to oversee the delivery of HMIC's recommendations. Following the publication of HMIC's report, the College of Policing is updating its authorised professional practice for officers on domestic abuse.
The Metropolitan Police Service uses national CPS guidelines when referring cases for prosecution. The Director of Public Prosecution's Guidance on Charging clearly advises both police officers and prosecutors that the CPS will charge all domestic violence cases where the appropriate evidential standard has been met. The CPS is also currently revising its domestic violence policy - a revised policy was published for consultation on 14 May 2014. The CPS is also working closely with the police to assess how the criminal justice response can be improved together with the police consideration of the HMIC review.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/28", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Norman Baker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Norman Baker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-17T14:47:06.3242797Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_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 revise her Department's guidelines to the Metropolitan Police on whether domestic violence cases should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service before prosecutions can be initiated by the police; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/177", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gareth Thomas"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gareth Thomas"} ], "uin" : "200521"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 5, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }