SUELLA BRAVERMAN: Domestic abuse is evil and widespread but it is not inevitable.. Join me in the fight against these despicable crimes
Home should be a sanctuary, yet for far too many among us home is Hell.
Domestic abuse is a terrible betrayal that leaves people in fear of those supposed to love them the most.
Around one in five murders are related to it. Anyone can be affected, but women and girls are especially vulnerable. Stopping domestic abuse will take a whole-of-society effort.
The landmark Domestic Abuse Act of 2021 updated the definition of domestic abuse, in recognition of the fact that abusive behaviour comes in many forms, including physical, sexual, violent, threatening, psychological, emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.
It also recognised children as victims for the first time.
The Home Office will help develop a new risk assessment tool so that police forces can quickly identify those domestic abusers most likely to commit the greatest harm (file image)
Combatting domestic abuse is a top priority for me as Home Secretary. From today there will be a number of significant changes in our approach to these wicked crimes (file image)
The Act created new offences of non-fatal strangulation and threats to disclose intimate images.
It established a statutory duty on local authorities to support victims and survivors and their children in safe accommodation. But we need to do more.
Combatting domestic abuse is a top priority for me as Home Secretary.
From today there will be a number of significant changes in our approach to these wicked crimes.
READ MORE: Domestic violence abusers jailed for more than 12 months will now go on the sex offenders’ register so police can keep track of them
Police forces will have a new Strategic Policing Requirement that sets clear expectations – and puts violence against women and girls on the same threat footing as terrorism, child sexual abuse and serious and organised crime.
In addition, every force in England and Wales is being asked to target domestic abuse offenders in their area to prevent them from committing further crimes.
The Home Office will help develop a new risk assessment tool so that police forces can quickly identify those domestic abusers most likely to commit the greatest harm and stop them in their tracks.
I am changing the law so that dangerous offenders with a conviction for controlling or coercive behaviour, where they receive a sentence for a year or longer, will be automatically managed by the police, prison and probation services, as well as being added to the Violent and Sex Offender Register.
In the meantime police will begin work immediately to record these dangerous domestic abuse offenders on the register so that they can be monitored more closely.
Far too often when tragedy strikes, there is a real sense that it was avoidable, but because nobody intervened, it became inevitable. Inaction is not an option.
Those with a history of abuse are going to be watched more closely. The Ask for Ani scheme is already operational in over 5,000 pharmacies across the UK.
‘Ani’ stands for ‘action needed immediately’.
Anyone who is suffering from or fearful of domestic abuse can ask for Ani and receive emergency help from a trained staff member.
Far too often when tragedy strikes, there is a real sense that it was avoidable, but because nobody intervened, it became inevitable, writes Suella Braverman (pictured in Downing Street in February)
The new cross-jurisdictional orders will provide flexible, longer-term protection for victims, and any breach of the requirements will be a criminal offence (file image)
They will be guided to a safe and private space and offered advice about speaking to the police or accessing support services such as national or local helplines.
Ask for Ani will now be available in 18 Jobcentre and Jobs and Benefit Offices across the UK, too.
Victims can find their nearest location using our newly launched online postcode checker: enough.campaign.gov.uk/get-support/ask-for-ani.
We are piloting the new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders in Gwent, Greater Manchester, three London boroughs in the Met, and the British Transport Police.
The new cross-jurisdictional orders will provide flexible, longer-term protection for victims, and any breach of the requirements will be a criminal offence.
The court will be able to impose requirements such as attendance on a behaviour change programme, tagging, keeping a certain distance from a victim’s home, and mandatory notification of changes to name and address to the police.
We are talking about our wives, sisters, daughters, colleagues and friends. Domestic abuse is evil and it is widespread. Yet it is not inevitable.
I will take the fight to these despicable crimes and I urge everyone to join me.
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