UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, recently announced the launch of a new, ‘tackling domestic abuse plan’. With more than 2.3 million people across England and Wales experiencing some form of domestic abuse in 2021, the government is aiming to improve the processes that underpin society’s response to domestic violence…
The tackling domestic abuse plan was revealed just a day after a report was released by the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ), which found that women suffering domestic abuse are ‘unjustly criminalised’ in England and Wales, while finding that perpetrators of abuse were directly using the criminal justice system to exert control over their victims.
The question is why now, and how will the plan help those suffering domestic abuse?
Tackling domestic abuse a top priority
Domestic abuse reports surged amid the coronavirus lockdown, and the figures for the last year alone have been described as ‘shocking’. However, domestic abuse support charities have warned that many victims continue to suffer in silence and that those cases reported are the ‘tip of the iceberg’.
The government has been urged to act, particularly in the area of bringing perpetrators to justice and changing the narrative in society surrounding women and domestic violence. For too long women have been shamed by society and the legal system when trying to bring those harming them to justice.
Priti Patel has said that tackling domestic abuse is a top priority for the government, and the new plan aims to deliver provisions set out in the Domestic Abuse Act.
Features of the new plan for tackling domestic violence
As part of the new plan, Ms Patel is looking at options for a register of domestic abusers, which would require perpetrators to report to police when they move or open a bank account with a new partner.
As another measure, the Home Office is considering the electronic tagging of individuals who pose a threat to women and girls. Ms Patel said her government department is planning to invest £75 million on ‘directly addressing the behaviour of abusers’ as part of an overall £81 million package that aims to tackle perpetrators over the next three years.
The government also plans to fund 700 Independent Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Advocate roles, while funding will also be provided for an additional 300 roles, which will serve to refer and support abuse sufferers and survivors.
Announcing the launch of the new plan, Priti Patel said: “Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that ruins lives and tackling it is an important part of this government’s Beating Crime Plan. For far too long the focus has been on what the victim might have done differently, rather than on the behaviour of the perpetrators themselves.”
“This must now change. My Domestic Abuse Plan focuses on taking the onus off victims and making it easier for them to access the help and support they need, while taking tough action against perpetrators,” Ms Patel added.
However, while the plan has been widely welcomed by domestic abuse charities, they have urged Priti Patel to go even further.
A spokesperson for the NSPCC said: “The NSPCC has long highlighted that children experience domestic abuse and can also be victims. In 2020 the government amended its landmark Domestic Abuse Act to recognise this. We welcome the publication of the Domestic Abuse Plan, but believe this needs to go further in supporting the complex needs of child victims.”
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