Commissioner calls for domestic abusers to face jail for breaking bail

SUSPECTED domestic abusers and violent offenders should be jailed for breaking their police bail, the Victims’ Commissioner has said.

Dame Vera Baird wants the law changed to make contacting a victim or breaching an exclusion zone a criminal offence in order to protect victims from alleged offenders. She said it would deter suspects if they knew they would be sent to jail and get a criminal record.

She pointed to figures showing that more than half (55 per cent) of women killed by an ex-partner were killed within a month of separation, often when their abuser was on bail or had been released by police.

“The time has come to make breaching a no-contact condition or exclusion zone a criminal offence, that can result in a remand in custody, attract a custodial sentence and be marked by a criminal record,” said Dame Vera.

“This single measure is imperative if we are to send a clear message to victims that the criminal justice system is there to protect them. It will make clear to alleged perpetrators that they cannot intimidate and undermine the justice process with impunity.”

Dame Vera, who has submitted her proposal to Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, called for a presumption in favour of bail in all cases where a suspect is accused of serious sexual or violent offences and domestic abuse where there is a risk of abuse or coercive control.

She said that changes introduced by Theresa May which encouraged police to use “release under investigation” rather than bail were “misconceived”.

“I am concerned when I hear of suspects of sexual and violent offences, including domestic abuse, being released under investigation (RUI) and without any restriction on where they go and who they can contact,” she said.

“I am aware of cases where alleged perpetrators of domestic abuse have been RUI’D from police stations and back on the doorstep of the victim within minutes. These stories make victims of domestic abuse all the more reluctant to report as they fear they will be left unprotected. It is essential the presumption against pre-charge bail is removed from the statute book.”