Domestic Abuse Offences 2025-03-17

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.

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.