Violence against Women and Girls 2025-11-17
2025-11-17
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Campaigners have long sought to change the presumption of parental contact in domestic abuse cases, which campaigners argue often allows post-separation abuse to continue.
Ending the presumption of parental contact in the family courts was a huge and long-overdue step that campaigners work hard for. That presumption often allowed post-separation abuse to continue. Although the Ministry of Justice is leading on that, can the Minister tell me what the Home Office is doing to make sure that we properly police and enforce other ways of tackling post-separation abuse so that it cannot continue?
I thank and give special mention to my hon. Friend and to my hon. Friend the Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Dr Tidball), who have worked tirelessly since they arrived in the House to join some of us who had been trying to get the Conservatives to change the presumption of contact in domestic abuse cases for 11 years—with no success. I work closely with the Victims Minister and with the Minister for Courts and Legal Services, and we will be making sure that this matter is part of a cross-Government package of security.
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Assessment & feedback
Work Closely
Cross-Government Package
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent reported being drugged and violently raped by a man she worked for; despite providing detailed evidence, her case did not proceed to the Crown Prosecution Service. Less than 4% of rape allegations result in summons or charge.
My constituent contacted me because she had been drugged and violently raped by a man she knew; she had worked for him, as a nanny to his children. She described this man as a high net-worth individual. Despite providing detailed evidence to the police, she said that ultimately it came down to her word against his, and she feels that his financial standing and influence meant that her case never went to the Crown Prosecution Service. The Minister will know very well that less than 4% of rape allegations result in summons or charge. At what point are we going to stop talking about how unfair the system is and actually do something that means that poor constituents like mine get the justice they deserve?
I would be happy to speak to my hon. Friend and her constituent about that case; I have heard similar cases with regard to high-worth, powerful rapists or alleged rapists. It is vital that we undertake a proper change to how our policing and justice system works for rape victims, whether through Operation Soteria or other interventions such as the new national centre for VAWG; we need to improve the situation across the country, not just see pockets of good practice.
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Assessment & feedback
Proper Change
Pockets Of Good Practice
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Specialist “by and for” organisations, such as Sikh Women’s Aid, play a crucial role in supporting victims from minority communities. They bring vital cultural awareness to the table.
The Minister will be aware of the important role played by specialist “by and for” organisations in supporting victims from minority communities and bringing crucial cultural awareness to the table. Sikh Women’s Aid recently held an all-women’s meeting in which it focused on the trauma and fear generated by recent racially aggravated attacks in the west midlands, including in my constituency. Will the Minister outline what steps the Home Office is taking to ensure that specialist community support services, including “by and for” organisations such as Sikh Women’s Aid, are properly resourced so that victims from all backgrounds—whether white working-class girls or Sikh women and girls—can receive culturally-sensitive support?
We recognise the vital role of specialist “by and for” services in providing tailored support to victims and survivors. It has been my personal pleasure over many years to work alongside the brilliant women at Sikh Women’s Aid, who operate so furtively in our local area. I meet regularly with Imkaan, the umbrella lead for such “by and for” services, to seek solutions to exactly the problem of ensuring that there is not a postcode lottery and that everybody can have specialist support.
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Assessment & feedback
Meet Regularly
Postcode Lottery
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
In March, the permanent secretary of the Home Office promised to publish a strategy on violence against women and girls before the summer recess. The Minister later committed it would be published in September. Six weeks ago, Alicia Kearns wrote for an update but has yet to receive a response.
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, commented that she fails to see where the momentum within government is coming from to ensure this commitment succeeds. What does the Minister make of these words? Can she please reiterate her commitment to publish the strategy before the end of the year?
As somebody who meets the Domestic Abuse Commissioner on a very regular basis, I cannot say that she would ever say that I did not have the enthusiasm to make this work—but perhaps I am wrong. I shall ask her what she meant by those comments. What I absolutely can say is that the strategy will come; it will be out very soon. It will be out when it is the best it can be, but we do not need to wait for a piece of paper to start our action.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific timeline or date for publishing the strategy as requested.
Response accuracy