Tougher domestic abuse law

DOMESTIC abusers will be punished more harshly than criminals who commit street assaults under new rules announced today.

The guidelines on abuse in the home also mean those who use social media, email or messaging to control or attack their victims face tougher penalties.

The Sentencing Council said the changes would mean “an increase in sentence severity” for domestic abusers. There is currently no specific crime of domestic abuse with offences being deemed “no less serious” than those perpetrated elsewhere, meaning many abusers receive community sentences.

But the new rules – which will apply on or after May 24 – state that crimes which take place at home are “more serious because [they] represent a violation of the trust and security that normally exists between people in an intimate or family relationship”.

Theresa May said yesterday that the Government would bring forward a Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill and was consulting widely on its content.