Home wants new domestic abuse law in place by year end

The new law would make domestic abuse a specific offence and campaigners and politicians hope it would protect victims and reduce re-offending.

The Home Affairs Committee, which has made domestic abuse a priority and attended the recent symposium on violence against women and girls, wants the new law in place by the end of the year.

‘This issue is incredibly important to this committee,’ said Home Affairs president Deputy Rob Prow.

‘The committee has been providing political support and increasing funding to key partners in the third sector, delivering tangible change for the benefit of the community through initiatives such as the implementation of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, and bringing forward further new laws and legislation.’

The new law would also provide the police and courts with powers to issue domestic abuse protection notices and orders to remove perpetrators from the home and keep them away.

A range of new offences would be created, including causing or allowing death or serious harm in a household, non-violent child cruelty and threatening revenge pornography.

Home Affairs is also considering a second phase of legislation which could create new offences such as non-fatal strangulation, stalking and drink-spiking.

It also wants to see a register of domestic abuse offenders.

‘The [new law] will go a long way towards protecting victims of these horrible offences and ensuring our courts and law enforcement have the powers to punish offenders,’ said Home Affairs member Deputy Sue Aldwell.

‘We continue partly to fund additional training right across the community, from schools to more extensive training for police and multi-agency teams on domestic abuse.’