May set to tighten up domestic abuse laws

NEW laws to tackle domestic violence will be developed to end the current “unacceptable” situation, which sees some areas of the country put more effort into the problem than others.

Theresa May will directly oversee work to develop a new Domestic Violence and Abuse Act aimed at addressing a lack of clarity in existing laws and raising public awareness.

The Prime Minister said domestic violence and abuse is “life-shattering and absolutely abhorrent” and insisted the Government’s new approach would deliver a system that increases convictions and works for victims.

The moves come amid concerns in Number 10 that the legal system often lets down victims.

Aides said the lack of clarity in the system had created an “unacceptable diversity” in terms of the degree of effort put in to try and tackle it, with inconsistency in the way laws had been applied.

Mrs May, who said she had attached “personal importance” to the issue while at the Home Office, will oversee a cross-Government effort to improve the situation.

The work, expected to take up to 18 months, will also hear the views of victims, charities and legal experts, but Mrs May is understood to be keen that any “quick wins” identified could be acted on in the interim period.

The Prime Minister said: “Domestic violence and abuse is a life-shattering and absolutely abhorrent crime... I am clear that we need to build on measures I introduced as Home Secretary – including the new offence of “controlling and coercive behaviour”, Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme – and ensure no stone will be left unturned in delivering a system that increases convictions, and works better for victims.”

Mrs May said the plan had the potential to “transform the way we think about... abuse”.

She said: “There are thousands of people who are suffering at the hands of abusers – often isolated, and unaware of the options and support available to them to end it.”

More than 100,000 defendants were prosecuted for domestic abuse in 2015/16, with more than 75,000 convicted – the highest volumes ever recorded – but there are concerns that not all victims feel prepared to come forward.

Women’s Aid chief executive Polly Neate said: “Survivors desperately need an approach across all agencies that genuinely responds to their needs and helps them truly recover.”