ISSUES
: Domestic Violence
Chapter 1: Domestic violence
13
with each other, and could also cover abuse between
family members and ex-partners. The consultation,
which is open for eight weeks, defines domestic abuse
as “a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation
and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm,
punish or frighten their victim”.
A Home Office spokesman said the crime would be
prosecuted “along the same lines” as anti-stalking and
harassment offences. Under those laws, there must have
been at least two occasions when the victim was caused
distress.
She added that the worst cases of domestic abuse, where
there was intimidation “over a long period of time”, would
carry a jail term, although no maximum sentences had yet
been drawn up.
Less serious examples are likely to be dealt with by
community orders or fines.
The number of domestic abuse cases referred by police
for prosecution reached a record high of 103,500 last year.
Conviction rates for this type of crime have increased from
just under 60 per cent in 2005–06 to nearly 75 per cent in
2013–14, according to the Home Office. Polly Neate, the
chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “This is a vital step
forward for victims of domestic violence.
“Two women a week are killed by domestic violence,
and in our experience of working with survivors, coercive
controlling behaviour is at the heart of the most dangerous
abuse.”
Prof. David Wilson, a criminologist at Birmingham City
University, supported the move, but warned that the new
offence could pose initial legal problems.
“The dividing line between abuse and criminality is often
one that is difficult to measure,” he said.
Peter Lodder QC, a criminal barrister, added: “The law
can be a blunt instrument and if you are talking about
how people conduct their private lives the criminal law is
not always the best way to control that.
“Extreme cases may be obvious but the difficulty may
come with where one draws the line.”
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For advice on combating domestic abuse contact the
National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000
247. If you are a perpetrator of domestic violence and
wish to seek help call Respect on 0808 802 4040. For
advice on abuse within lesbian and gay relationships
contact Broken Rainbow on 0300 999 5428.
20 August 2014
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The above information is reprinted with kind
permission from
The Telegraph
. Please visit www.
telegraph.co.uk for further information.
© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2016
“I wasn’t allowed any money for
myself. He would spend £200 a
week at a strip club; I had to give a
comprehensive budget of everything
I was spending”
