Key Facts

• The Domestic Abuse Bill is up for Second Reading.
• Domestic abuse is experienced by approximately 2.4 million people each year.
• On average, more than two individuals per week are killed in domestic homicides, predominantly women.
• The Government has provided an additional £2.6 million to ensure national helplines can respond to increased demand during the pandemic.
• The National Crime Agency has alerted the police to 1,300 potential child sexual abuse cases.
• The Metropolitan Police reported 14,093 arrests for domestic abuse offences in six weeks up to April 19th.
• The national domestic abuse helpline experienced a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help.
• The Bill sets a clear definition of domestic abuse.
• Domestic abuse increases during lockdown periods.
• Perpetrators have greater freedom to act, while victims find it harder to leave abusive situations during lockdowns.
• The announcement pertains to the House's procedure for the ongoing debate.
• Five-minute contributions are being implemented for the remainder of the discussion.
• The prohibition on cross-examination by litigants in person in family cases is welcomed as an important advance.
• Advocates must be properly remunerated and appointed timely for sensitive and difficult cross-examinations.
• Early legal advice should be reintroduced to flag issues at the earliest opportunity.
• The number of women and children killed as a result of domestic abuse has sharply increased.
• Calls to helplines have risen by 50% while visits to some support websites are up sevenfold.
• Funding for refuges has dropped despite high occupancy rates.
• Nicole Jacobs, the newly appointed Domestic Abuse Commissioner, has raised issues around housing and perpetrator programmes.
• The draft Bill scrutiny Committee reported a year ago.
• Edward Louis Grist was born on 5 December almost five months prior to the debate.
• The Government included in the Bill the duty on local authorities in England to provide support for victims and their children, along with funding promises.
• There will be a mandatory ban on cross-examination of domestic abuse victims by perpetrators in both criminal and family courts.
• A recent FOI request revealed that 27 out of 45 police forces routinely share details with the Home Office if victims have insecure immigration status.
• The Chancellor announced £750 million for specialist services supporting victims of domestic abuse.
• This is the first time a maiden speech has been given by an MP not physically present in the Chamber of the House of Commons.
• Britcliffe is the first female MP for her area and the youngest Conservative MP in the country.
• She mentions an increase in domestic violence due to lockdowns.
• The constituency has a history of innovation during industrial revolutions and wartime efforts.
• The speech by Stella Creasy was heard clearly in its entirety.
• Issues discussed include immigration status barriers, disabled women's rights, unsafe contact protection, and international leadership on tackling domestic abuse.
• Nearly 2.4 million people reported being subject to domestic abuse in 2019.
• 173 women and 13 men were killed by a partner or former partner in 2019, an increase of 32 from 2018.
• Calls to helplines have increased by some 50% during the coronavirus lockdown.
• The Bill represents a step forward despite room for improvement.
• Women of colour are particularly fearful and reluctant to report abuse due to immigration status concerns.
• 'No recourse to public funds' regulations prevent many victims from accessing support.
• Hotel chains have offered to provide accommodation for victims.
• The amendments aim to treat male and female victims equally.
• Economic abuse definitions may be improved by proposed amendments.
• Parental alienation is to be included in the definition of domestic abuse.
• False allegations of domestic abuse are to be classified as a form of domestic abuse.
• Calls to ManKind helplines have increased 30% during lockdown.
• Website visits to ManKind Initiative have risen by 50% since lockdown.
• One in three women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
• Calls to domestic abuse helplines have surged during lockdown.
• An attempted murderer can receive a £100,000 divorce settlement from the victim's assets.
• A review on family courts and domestic abuse was meant to be published in spring.
• The UK's domestic law allows children aged 16-18 to marry with parental consent.
• The number of calls to the national helpline has increased more than 100%.
• Calls to the forced marriage unit's helpline dropped from 72 referrals in April last year to only 15 this month.
• There is concern about a surge in cases once lockdown restrictions are lifted.
• Denise Keane-Barnett-Simmons was murdered by her former partner in Brent two weeks prior.
• The Government’s programme is described as a once-in-a-lifetime generational opportunity, but the Bill falls short of its vision.
• Domestic abuse charities turn away one in three people seeking support due to lack of resources.
• 50% of specialist refuges have closed in London due to funding cuts.
• The speaker asks for £50 million from the Chancellor’s fund to be made immediately available to domestic abuse charities.
• The £15 million tampon tax fund must be repurposed as grant funding for specialist businesses.
• Brent Council has seen a 9% drop in domestic abuse injuries through innovative use of IDVAs.
• Labour proposes 10 days of domestic violence leave.
• Universal credit split payments have been reviewed during lockdown, and the speaker asks for similar commitment from the Government.
• Dines has practised as a barrister in family law for over 25 years.
• Clause 59 prevents cross-examination in person where one party has been convicted of, given a caution for or charged with certain offences against the other party.
• There is an on-notice protective injunction extension to clause 59.
• The government’s programme has failed to recognise the impact on organisations across the sector.
• There is currently a 30% shortfall in refuge places.
• Nearly two thirds of referrals were turned away last year.
• Natalie Connolly's case is highlighted as an example of domestic abuse leading to death.
• The prosecution reduced charges from murder to manslaughter by negligence due to weaknesses in their case.
• Post-mortem abuse was conducted against Natalie after her death, traducing her reputation.
• SafeLives found anecdotal evidence of a strong crossover between domestic abuse and violence-affected young people.
• The Office for National Statistics data show that disabled, deaf, and blind women are at greater risk of gender-based violence.
• Only 0.9% of refuge vacancies were in wheelchair accessible rooms during 2018-19, with another 1% suitable for someone with limited mobility.
• The Bill aims to combat domestic abuse by sending a clear message that it will not be tolerated.
• One in five children aged under 18 experience domestic abuse at some point in their childhood.
• Three quarters of Barnardo’s frontline staff are working with children impacted by domestic abuse.
• The MP's speech went viral on social media, gaining international attention.
• Hundreds of emails have been received from survivors since her speech.
• There has been a huge increase in incidents of domestic violence during the pandemic.
• Funding for services such as Rising Sun, Refuge, Women’s Aid and SafeLives has been cut despite increased demand.
• The Bill aims to enshrine the definition of domestic abuse on the statute book.
• Nearly 2,000 households fleeing domestic abuse in England each year are not provided with assistance because they do not qualify for priority need housing.
• Calls to Refuge’s national domestic abuse helpline increased by almost 50% during the pandemic.
• In the first three weeks of lockdown, 16 women and children died due to domestic abuse.
• The MPs seek £195 million funding to expand rape crisis centres in the UK.
• Home Affairs Committee findings show a doubling of domestic abuse killings during lockdown.
• National helplines experienced a 49% increase in calls due to the pandemic.
• BAME communities are disproportionately affected by domestic abuse, especially migrant women.
• A workplace charter on domestic abuse was produced to ensure employer-provided protection for staff experiencing abuse.
• Victims of domestic abuse are twice as likely to be from the LGBTQ community compared to the general population.
• The National Crime Survey does not include victims over 74 in its statistics.
• Ministers have met with Southall Black Sisters and other groups representing migrant women.
• Last year, almost 24,000 families were homeless or at risk of homelessness due to domestic abuse.
• The number of women murdered in the UK increased to 214 in the 12 months to March 2019.
• Refuge’s helpline saw a 49% increase in daily calls during lockdown and a quadrupling of web traffic.
• The Domestic Abuse Bill aims to address domestic abuse in society.
• In 2019, approximately 2.4 million adults were victims of domestic abuse.
• Domestic abuse charities reported a 700% increase in calls during lockdown.
• Lockdown measures are anticipated to result in further increases in demand for support after restrictions ease.
• In 2018-19, the number of domestic violence-related crimes increased by a quarter.
• Since lockdown measures were introduced, calls to the national domestic abuse helpline have soared by 49%.
• Over 50% of migrant women surveyed believe that the Home Office and police would side with perpetrators over them.
• More than half of police forces in England and Wales share victims’ details with the Home Office for immigration control purposes.
• Domestic abuse includes coercion, psychological and financial abuse.
• Cases reportedly rose during lockdown due to increased proximity and limited escape routes.
• Children suffer emotionally, developmentally, socially, and behaviourally from domestic abuse.
• Pregnant women are often at increased risk of domestic abuse.
• The Bill aims to include a statutory definition of domestic abuse and a commissioner role.
• Bristol had more than 10,000 domestic violence and abuse incidents in 2018-19.
• In some wards of Bristol, the rate of domestic violence against women was double the national average.
• Around 14% of the population in one ward think that abuse is a private matter—compared with 7% across Bristol as a whole.
• Bristol City Council and partner organisations are doing excellent work to support victims.
• The Bill includes a new definition of domestic abuse that aims to encompass various forms of abuse.
• The MP highlights the under-reporting of male victims with an estimated 2.9 million men experiencing domestic abuse.
• An example is given of economic abuse where a constituent remained financially tied to her ex-husband for over seven years after separation.
• Welsh Women’s Aid has been supporting women and campaigning in Wales for more than 40 years.
• The Northern Ireland Assembly has given a Second Reading to its own related Bill.
• Women’s Aid provided refuge accommodation to 654 women, but 381 others could not secure necessary space.
• There is no legislative protection against stalking in Northern Ireland.
• Up to a third of victims are male.
• Reducing the Risk charity has trained 1,100 domestic abuse champions.
• Children exposed to domestic abuse can suffer from toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences.
• There was a 60% increase in DV-related calls to the police in Ilford.
• The National Domestic Abuse Helpline experienced a 49% increase in calls.
• Refuge reported a 25% increase in helpline calls and a 700% increase in website traffic during lockdown.
• Domestic abuse affects one out of every three women and girls over their lifetimes.
• ESDAS has reported an increase in physical violence, including head and face injuries inflicted by perpetrators.
• The average length of time for abuse is three years.
• Sixty-four percent of total refuge referrals in England were declined last year.
• A £16 million fund was provided specifically for additional refuge capacity in February.
• Surrey County Council funds self-contained units of accommodation and surrounding support.
• Replicating the scheme across the country would provide an extra 1,345 refuge spaces.
• Two women a week were murdered by their partner or ex-partner before lockdown.
• Five women are being murdered per week during lockdown.
• During lockdown, cases of domestic abuse escalated as victims were isolated and unable to seek support.
• Economic abuse is recognized as a significant form of control over survivors.
• 60% of domestic abuse survivors are in debt due to economic abuse.
• In 2016, 20 women per year died or were injured from defendants claiming rough sex consent.
• The MP appreciates conversations with safeguarding and Justice Ministers on matters raised in the Government response to the Joint Committee report.
• Clause 53 sets a statutory duty on local authorities in England to provide support and accommodation for victims of domestic abuse.
• The MP asks for confirmation that equivalent funding will be provided to Welsh local authorities from sums allocated to English local authorities.
• The sector has not received a single penny from £2 million or proposed £750 million in funds.
• Migrant women’s access to support was raised by Labour Members, indicating an ongoing concern.
• 70% of known victims accessing support do not receive it in refuge settings.
• The Bill enjoys cross-party support.
• Local authorities have access to a £3.2 billion support fund.
• A £750 million charitable support package was announced by the Chancellor for frontline charities.
• An additional £2 million and £600,000 were allocated for technological capability and longer helpline hours respectively.
• The Minister announces a £1.5 million pilot fund to cover costs of support in safe accommodation for migrant victims.