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Domestic Abuse Offences 2025-03-17
17 March 2025
Lead MP
Josh Babarinde
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementJustice & CourtsTaxation
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Josh Babarinde raised concerns about domestic abuse offences 2025-03-17 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
It is an honour to lead this debate on domestic abuse offences and share my personal experience of growing up in a household affected by domestic violence. I highlight the limitations of current legislation, such as the lack of a specific offence for domestic abuse which prevents proper exclusion from early release schemes. The Offences against the Person Act 1861, under which many abusers are convicted, was not designed with modern understandings of domestic abuse in mind. This leads to survivors receiving inadequate justice and recognition. I propose creating aggravated offences to address this gap.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends the hon. Gentleman for his courage and determination, agreeing that all domestic abusers must face full legal consequences.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
Agrees that current prosecution methods often target single acts rather than the totality of abuse, which does not reflect the severity or duration of abuse experienced by victims.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Asks if classifying domestic violence as domestic abuse would give it more attention and recognition in legal contexts.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Shares local statistics showing a dramatic increase in referrals to Women's Aid services, highlighting the severity of the issue in Staffordshire.
Alex McIntyre
Lab
Gloucester
Suggests considering sentencing reforms alongside aggravated offences to ensure equitable treatment for domestic abuse-related crimes.
Winchester
Commends the hon. Friend's speech on personal experiences and highlights the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse.
Agrees with the importance of addressing links between domestic abuse, child sexual abuse, and the need for better data collection.
Calum Miller
LD
Bicester and Woodstock
Supports the hon. Friend's speech on challenges faced by victims in accessing support services due to funding cuts and lack of legal aid.
Responds positively to the concerns raised about victim support funding, emphasising the need for more funds during a time of national emergency in domestic abuse cases.
Sarah Russell
Lab
Congleton
Raises the case of a constituent dealing with an abusive husband who is stalling divorce and dissipating assets. Discusses economic abuse not being prosecuted as fraud in family courts but treated as routine.
Supports the hon. Member for Eastbourne's campaign, mentioning a case of a wife left with a loan due to her husband securing it on a joint account and then leaving her financially responsible.
Calder Valley
I support the debate's importance, particularly in addressing rules around presumption of contact in family courts to better protect children from domestic abuse.
Government Response
The debate on domestic abuse offences highlighted the need for a more comprehensive legal framework. The Government acknowledges the limitations of current legislation and is committed to addressing them through primary legislation. This includes proposals to create specific aggravated offences for domestic abuse, similar to those for racial or religiously motivated crimes, to better reflect the unique circumstances of such cases. Additionally, there are ongoing discussions on improving data collection and sentencing guidelines to ensure that perpetrators face appropriate penalties while victims receive the justice they deserve. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice congratulates the hon. Member for Eastbourne on his dedication to tackling domestic abuse, noting that it is shaped by personal experiences and drives better support for victims and survivors. She acknowledges the Government's pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade, stressing the need to reform the justice system to support victims and ensure access to justice. The Minister highlights actions taken to address underreporting of domestic abuse cases and improving prosecution rates. We have introduced several measures to improve the justice system’s response to domestic abuse, including specialists in 999 call centres and a joint justice plan by the Crown Prosecution Service and National Police Chiefs’ Council. Funding has been increased for court sitting days, and legal aid changes are helping victims throughout the process. We also plan reforms based on Sir Brian Leveson's recommendations. In sentencing, we have implemented statutory aggravating factors for murders involving strangulation or related to relationship endings. New domestic abuse protection orders and management under multi-agency public protection arrangements are ensuring better victim protection. The Victims’ Code is improving service monitoring and accountability. Funding prioritises victims of violence against women and girls despite fiscal pressures. We will publish a new strategy later this year, use every lever in power, and engage extensively across Whitehall on prevention and support for victims. Regarding exclusions from early release measures based on offences rather than offenders, I am sympathetic but concerned about unintended consequences. However, we are considering better identification of domestic abuse offenders and an open-ended aggravation approach.
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