Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Domestic Violence: Victim Support

Monday 9 February 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Olly Glover raised concerns about poor processes and communication in domestic abuse cases leading to victim dissatisfaction and safety concerns.
  • Minister acknowledged rural communities' unique challenges in tackling domestic violence and committed to working with Members to address isolation issues.
  • Samantha Niblett inquired about the effectiveness of mixed-gender patrols in Europe, and the Minister committed to reviewing relevant studies.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage
Crime & Law Enforcement Women & Equalities Mental Health
Context

A constituent faced process and communication failures after coming forward to report domestic abuse, resulting in the perpetrator avoiding prosecution. This case highlights concerns about victim support and safety.

Question

I have a constituent who endured years of domestic abuse and came forward to Thames Valley police after seeking help. She was let down by poor processes and communication, leading to her abuser avoiding prosecution despite a positive charging decision. Now worried for her personal safety and with a PTSD diagnosis, what more can the Minister do to ensure victims are taken seriously so other cases like hers don't happen?

Answer from Jess Phillips

The Government have invested £13.1 million in a policing centre for tackling violence against women and girls, which aims to identify gaps in the system and establish nationwide standards for accountability. We are committed to improving processes so that victims do not face similar issues in future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific new measures or timelines for preventing cases like the one described

How: We Would Save Ourselves A Lot Of Time And People A Lot Of Harm If We Just Got It Right In The First Place

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Q2 Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Derbyshire Wish, a local organisation providing support services to domestic violence victims, operates from the MP's office. The isolation of rural areas can make abuse harder to detect and address.

Question

In my constituency, Derbyshire Wish offers vital support for domestic violence victims using my offices as a safe space. Rural communities face unique challenges in tackling this issue due to isolation. What specific steps is the Minister taking to ensure that police standards accommodate these rural needs?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I pay tribute to Derbyshire Wish and encourage others to do so. Rural communities face the same issues as urban ones, but with different needs. The Government will work with Members from rural areas to consider what needs to be done to ensure isolation is fully taken into account when writing police standards.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete actions or funding dedicated to tackling domestic abuse in rural areas

How: Rural Communities Experience Domestic Abuse The Same As Those In Urban Areas, But They Have Different Needs That Have To Be Met

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Q3 Samantha Niblett Lab South Derbyshire
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement

Question

How the police respond at the first instance of a domestic violence incident can be crucial for both criminal justice proceedings and on-ground interpretation. Given the Minister's interest in global best practices, will she consider looking into studies from Europe where mixed-gender patrols have been proven effective?

Answer from Jess Phillips

I thank the right hon. Gentleman and will ensure officials look up that study, committing to consider any evidence showing improvement in this area.

Answered
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Q4 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

While the Government's focus is on policing, only a minority of domestic violence victims interact with police services. The role of other judicial systems like family courts and civil courts is crucial.

Question

Welcoming the Government's commitment to tackle violence against women and girls, I ask whether improvements in our criminal justice system will be complemented by enhancements within the family justice system to address domestic abuse more effectively?

Answer from Jess Phillips

While questions are often Home Office related, only 10% of domestic abuse victims ever interact with policing. Therefore, all elements including family courts and civil courts play a crucial role in the violence against women and girls strategy.

Answered
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Q5 Pam Cox Lab Colchester
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

A constituent endured years of abuse, faced process failures when reporting to the police, resulting in her perpetrator avoiding prosecution. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of current support systems.

Question

My constituent endured years of domestic abuse and came forward to Thames Valley police after seeking help from local organisations. She was badly let down by poor processes leading to her abuser avoiding prosecution despite a positive decision. Worried for her personal safety with PTSD, what additional measures will ensure other victims do not face similar circumstances?

Answer from Jess Phillips

The Government have invested £13.1 million in a policing centre focusing on tackling violence against women and girls, seeking to improve accountability and address system gaps.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide new specific measures or timelines for preventing similar ineffective support cases

How: We Would Save Ourselves A Lot Of Time And People A Lot Of Harm If We Just Got It Right In The First Place

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