DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
– AN OVERVIEW
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIME
AND VICTIMS ACT 2004
• Extension of the definition of ‘associated
persons’ (for civil remedies)
• Repeal of section (making common assault
an arrestable offence)
• Holding both parents accountable when a
child is killed
• Injunction breaches a criminal offence?
• Restraining Orders?
• Domestic Violence Murder Reviews?
Victim safety
or
performance management?
DVCVA – WHAT’S MISSING
• A national strategy
• Services for children
• Provision for women with no
recourse
• A national IDVA service
A NATIONAL STRATEGY –
WHAT’S MISSING
• an explicit commitment to increasing victim
safety and regular safety audits of policy and
practice
• minimum standards of provision, including
interventions with perpetrators, and good
practice guidelines based on human rights
principles for all relevant agencies, including
Government departments.
• a review of all legislation and policies to
establish shortfalls in both gender and race
equality
• full consultation with and participation of
domestic violence survivors and their
advocates
• a funding framework to ensure the continued
existence of current voluntary sector provision
• a strategic mechanism for co-ordinating,
implementing and reviewing legislative and
policy change
• mandatory domestic violence training
programmes across statutory and voluntary
agencies within a national standards framework
to ensure consistency of messages
• a national framework for perpetrator reeducation programmes which meet Respect
minimum standards
• national data collection and reporting systems
across a range of agencies
• targets, responsibilities, timescales and review
mechanisms
• resources to implement the above.
KEY SERVICES
•
•
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•
IDVA’S
Integrating legal systems
Increase housing options
Develop and sustain children’s services
Community based perpetrator
programmes
• Improve health sector responses
• Address complex / multiple needs
KEY PROCESS ISSUES
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•
•
•
•
Service user involvement
Accountability
Information sharing
Resourced co-ordination
Resources commensurate with the
scale of the issue