28/03/2022: Tip-off plan to expose wife beaters as Priti Patel prepares to announce national register of domestic abusers
Women will be alerted by the police if they buy a house or open a bank account with a convicted domestic abuser. The move will be announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel this week under plans to tackle the growing problem of violence in the home. It will involve the establishment of the first national register of domestic abusers.
Read: Daily Mail
18/02/2022: SmartWater: The forensic spray helping keep women safe
The first person in the UK has been convicted and jailed for domestic abuse after being sprayed with SmartWater – a forensic liquid which shows up under ultraviolet light. The technology is being trialled by police forces in the hope of keeping women safe. The substance stays on skin for up to six weeks and on clothing for much longer and categorically links the perpetrator to the specific batch of water that was sprayed.
02/02/2022: Warning over gaps in support for child victims of domestic abuse
Early intervention experts are calling for improvements in support for young survivors of domestic abuse amid a rise in related child protection referrals. Figures released this week show an eight per cent rise in child protection referrals by police to social services over the last year relating to domestic abuse.
01/02/2022: Record numbers of children affected by domestic abuse leads to call for better recovery support
Police made almost 245,000 referrals to social services for domestic abuse in 2020/21 and we fear this could be the tip of the iceberg
Read: NSPCC
27/01/2022: Understanding Men Who Perpetrate Domestic Abuse
This post briefly summarises research which took place in 2021, by former Interventions Alliance researchers, Kerry Ellis Devitt, David Coley, Matthew Hockley and Jess Lawrence, and with freelance support from Dr Sarah Lewis.
Read: Russell Webster
26/11/2021: Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Need More Than A Criminal Justice Response
The Home Office is currently working on its Domestic Abuse Strategy, which is going to be released in the new year. We are pleased that the Home Office has announced that there will be a perpetrator pillar to the Domestic Abuse Strategy. We have previously set out our specific asks for the strategy in our report: “Building a robust response to perpetrators: recommendations for the new Domestic Abuse Strategy”.
Read: Russell Webster
28/09/2021: Cambridgeshire children to receive book on domestic violence
A book about domestic abuse is being sent to every primary school in Cambridgeshire in the hope of raising awareness of the issue. The Hideaway, by Cambridge writer and illustrator Pam Smy, tells the story of a boy who runs away as he cannot bear to see his mum abused by her partner. County councillor Bryony Goodliffe said the book had a strong message.
Read: BBC
25/07/2021: ‘You’d walk out if your husband hit you – you can’t when it’s your child’
Most parents never have to worry about being attacked by a violent child, but if it happens, they face a dilemma. They can’t just walk out – and they may fear that seeking help will have repercussions for their child. Research suggests the problem is often hidden, and far more common than we imagine.
Read: BBC
21/07/2021: Plan to tackle violence against women and girls to launch
Home Secretary Priti Patel is set to announce the strategy today (21 July) which includes the creation of a police position dedicated to keeping women and girls safe, a new 24/7 rape and sexual assault helpline commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and tougher measures to prevent sexual harrassment in schools and higher education settings.
07/07/2021: Epidemic of violence against women under way in England and Wales
Women and girls are being subjected to an epidemic of violence that requires a “radical and bold” shift in how authorities in England and Wales tackle crimes that disproportionately affect female victims, a police watchdog has warned.
Read: Guardian
07/07/2021: Crime Epidemic Against Women And Girls
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have today published an interim report of an inspection into how effectively the police engage with women and girls. The report says the police have made vast improvements over the last decade in how they respond to these crimes – but while this progress should continue, fundamental system-wide change is needed, and the police cannot achieve this alone.
Read: Russell Webster
23/05/2021: Experiencing domestic abuse through virtual reality
A film maker has created a virtual reality (VR) film to raise awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on victims. Lucy Baxter, the film’s creator, said she wanted to provide an immersive experience to train those who come into contact with abuse victims. Ms Baxter, director of domestic abuse charity Mental Abuse Matters and a film practice lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast is using Mental Abuse Matters as her PhD subject.
Read: BBC
12/05/2021: What new domestic abuse legislation means for social workers
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which became law last month, marks a significant step forwards and should transform our response to domestic abuse, which affected 2.3m people in England and Wales in 2019-20. All social workers should be familiar with the new legislation, but certain aspects of the act are particularly relevant to social care practitioners. Here is an outline of what they are and what they mean.
Read: Community Care
04/05/2021: Threats to Share Intimate Images Now Made Illegal with New Law
Last week the Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent in Parliament marking a huge step forward in protection for victims of domestic abuse and violence . One of the new provisions makes threats to share intimate images a crime with perpetrators facing prison if found guilty. There is also more definition around domestic abuse with non-fatal strangulation being made illegal and the so-called ‘rough sex’ defence outlawed. Until now, the sharing of intimate images without consent was illegal, the threat to share was not included yet carried serious impact for victims.
29/04/2021: Domestic Abuse Bill: Key measures for children and sector reaction
The Domestic Abuse Bill is set to become law, recognising children as victims of domestic abuse for the first time. The Bill, which will apply in England and Wales, today (29 April) received Royal Assent, meaning it will become law, after Lords backed down in a row over the monitoring of stalkers and abusers.
