Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women and Girls

Monday 27 November 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government added violence against women to the strategic policing requirement in the last three years.
  • Specialist sexual violence support project is underway in Leeds, Newcastle, and Snaresbrook.
  • Minister does not have the number of forces not providing domestic abuse training to their officers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julie Marson
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

The question follows three years of new laws on domestic abuse, street harassment, and online safety. The Government added violence against women to the strategic policing requirement last year.

Question

What steps is he taking to tackle violence against women and girls? Last year, the Government added violence against women to the strategic policing requirement. What are the details of this initiative?

Answer from Laura Farris

In the last three years comprehensive new laws covering domestic abuse, street harassment, and online safety have been passed. The Government added violence against women to the strategic policing requirement placing it on equivalent footing to terrorism. The Home Office's Enough campaign is now entering its final phase with a focus on tackling perpetrator behaviour being rolled out across colleges and universities.

Answered
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Q2 Julie Marson
Justice & Courts
Context

A magistrate specialised in domestic abuse courts highlights the value of such courts for justice and victims. The questioner seeks details on initiatives to increase specialisation in court processes.

Question

Will my hon. Friend share her assessment of initiatives increasing specialisation in court processes for sexual offending and sexual violence?

Answer from Laura Farris

The specialist sexual violence support project is under way in Leeds, Newcastle, and Snaresbrook. It reports in early 2025. Section 28 procedures allow victims to give evidence privately ahead of trial. Over 1,000 independent sexual violence advisers engage with victims through the criminal justice system.

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Q3 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

A request is made to identify the number of police forces not providing domestic abuse training.

Question

How many forces are still not providing domestic abuse training to their officers?

Answer from Laura Farris

I do not have that answer. I will go back to the Home Office and write to the hon. Member.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific number of forces

How: Will Have To Go Back

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Q4 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities
Context

A new study found that more than 5 million women in the UK are controlled financially by abusers, highlighting a long-standing issue.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking today to tackle economic abuse? A shocking study has found financial control over 5 million women. What measures will be taken?

Answer from Laura Farris

Economic abuse is a derivative of coercive control, underpinning almost all domestic abuse according to Clare Wade KC's review. The Criminal Justice Bill will see serious coercive control offences placed under the multi-agency public protection arrangements and offenders on the violent sexual and terrorist offender register.

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