Domestic abuse bill amendments offer more support
An East Kilbride MP has welcomed the positive progress the new Domestic Abuse Bill has made in parliament.
On Monday, the sexual violence and rape law reform reached the Report Stage and Third Reading.
In April, Dr Lisa Cameron MP, spoke on the second reading of this debate and joined over 80 other MPs from six parties to press for the significant amendment that would ban the ‘rough sex’ defence.
The pressure proved successful and in response Government Ministers have proposed an amendment to the Bill -‘new clause 20’, states: “consent to serious harm for sexual gratification’, is not a defence for causing serious harm. Shockingly, the rough sex defence is a claim that had been successfully deployed by 45 per cent of men who have killed women during so-called ‘sex games gone wrong’.
Currently, if someone is killed by another person during sexual activity, they could be charged with manslaughter alone. The amendment will enshrine in law that no one can consent to behaviour that would result in actual bodily harm, or worse; and is set to be approved by the Commons this week.
Dr Cameron MP said: “This change in the law is long overdue. It is a shocking fact that a significant number of men charged with sexual violence and rape offences have escaped conviction by successfully arguing that the woman involved had consented to ‘rough sex’ which had then gone too far by accident. “The campaign group, “We Can’t Consent to”, presented examples of 60 women who were killed in this way since 1972.”
This issue was highlighted by the death of Nathalie Connolly whose killer, John Broadhurst who was served a three-year jail sentence with parole. This means Broadhurst may be released in a few weeks’ time.
Dr Cameron MP added: “I would also like to thank the campaigners who have been wholeheartedly at the forefront of the legislation.
“I welcome the Government’s amendments and would like to credit all who have continued to press for change. This law will be an important step forward in protecting women from domestic and sexual violence across the UK.”