Domestic Abuse Victim Support 2024-09-10
2024-09-10
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
First Light South-West and Hourglass have highlighted the challenges faced with short-term funding streams, leading to issues in recruitment and retention of staff which impacts service provision.
Devon and Cornwall-based charity First Light south-west and national charity Hourglass have highlighted challenges with short-term funding for their work. This results in recruitment and retention issues impacting service provision. Will the Minister commit to providing sustainable long-term funding for frontline domestic abuse services, including specialist services for older victim survivors?
The Ministry of Justice provides police and crime commissioners with annual grant funding. £1.2 million has been allocated over two years for the training and infrastructure of ISVAs and IDVAs to support organisations like Hourglass, but it is premature to pre-empt the funding announcement after March 2025.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to long-term sustainable funding was not specifically given
Cannot Agree That Before Spending Review
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Families are suffering from delays in having their cases heard and decided, with children waiting for conclusions.
What steps are the Government taking to try to expedite private children's cases in our family courts, working with other agencies across government including Cafcass and local authorities?
The Government recognise the importance of supporting separating families. My officials and I are working closely on this, but a more thorough review is needed before providing an update.
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Assessment & feedback
Details of specific steps taken to expedite cases were not provided
It Is Complex
More Thorough Review Soon
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Three women are murdered by domestic homicide each week, a statistic the Government aims to tackle.
What assessment has been made of the Killed Women campaign which raises awareness about the brutal nature of domestic murders?
Aware of the Killed Women campaign, aims are admirable. The Government recognises that three women a week being murdered is shocking and aim to tackle it.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific assessment or plans were not provided
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Campaigners are calling for a change to address the injustice of sentencing discrepancies between domestic and other murders.
Will the Minister commit to responding to calls from Carole Gould, Julie Devey and Elaine Newborough regarding the sentence starting point disparity for domestic versus other murder cases? Will this be included in the victims, courts and public protection Bill?
Meeting women imminently to discuss further. The Government have committed to a thorough sentencing review.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment was not specific or timely
Response accuracy