Register domestic abusers like sex offenders, say MPs
SERIAL stalkers and domestic abusers should be placed on a national register and monitored under the same arrangements as rapists and paedophiles, a new Commons report says today.
MPs are backing calls for a strengthened regime to ensure greater protection for victims who live in fear of their tormentors, as they also push for victims to have greater access to refuges and support.
The Commons Home Affairs Committee recommended that a national register of serial stalkers and domestic violence perpetrators be introduced “as a matter of urgency”.
Under the proposals, individuals on the register would be managed through multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa). This is the system used by police, probation and prison services to manage the risks posed by violent and sexual offenders living in the community.
The report said: “Stalking is a serious crime which can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims.
“Victims of stalking often endure years of abuse before the crime is taken seriously.
“We were told that existing criminal justice responses were often ineffective in stopping perpetrators.”
The Committee is also urging the Government to consult on introducing paid “domestic abuse leave” to help victims keep their jobs and maintain economic independence while escaping abuse.
Noting that legislation to introduce such a measure was recently passed in New Zealand, the report said: “We believe this has the potential to save lives.”
The MPs want to see the following:
1. National ring-fenced funding for refuges for victims of domestic abuse;
2. An end to single household payments of Universal Credit. The MPs fear this can make it harder for victims of domestic abuse to leave.
3. A “national register of serial stalkers and serial domestic violence perpetrators” with those on it monitored like registered sex offenders.
4. A new Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales to also cover “violence against women and girls”.
5. A consultation on paid domestic violence leave for victims of abuse. The MPs argue this could help people escape abuse and keep their jobs, and could save lives.
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who chairs the committee, said: “Domestic abuse is one of the most dangerous and the most common crimes there is. Millions of people are affected each year, and two women a week die at the hands of a partner or ex...
“Shockingly many refuges are turning away 60% of their referrals due to lack of space. We urgently need more refuge places – provision should be a requirement on local authorities, backed by national ringfenced funding.”
Ms Cooper added that Universal Credit is “making it much harder for women to maintain financial independence or to leave abusive relationships,” describing the single household payment system as a “serious retrograde step”.
She said: “Separate family payments to ensure some independent income for the parent at home caring for children have been a feature of the welfare system ever since the introduction of Family Allowance for very good reason, and they are still part of the Scottish system today.”
The MPs heard evidence that 90 women and 94 children are turned away from refuges every day.
A spokeswoman for Welsh Women’s Aid said: “Unfortunately we know, in 2016-17, that 500 survivors in Wales were unable to be supported in refuges when they needed help because of a lack of services resources or capacity... In Wales, we have welcomed the Welsh Government’s commitment to retaining a housing focused grant, which will potentially help survivors of domestic and sexual violence who need to access refuge or other supported housing.”
She backed the call for an end to single household payments of Universal Credit, saying: “Current welfare reforms are further enabling financial abuse and creating barriers to women being able to have longterm freedom from abuse by limiting the financial resources available to them to live independently.
“It’s critical that there is an end to the default payment to a single householder to ensure that women have access to their own financial resources and ensure Universal Credit does not enable perpetration of financial abuse.”
Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts said: “In 2012 Plaid Cymru MPs were the first to table legislation to criminalise stalking – an idea now firmly in statute. Last year I attempted to introduced a new law on abuse of process – the technique used by stalkers whereby they take out vexatious applications in the family or civil courts to further humiliate and distress their victims.
“I remain concerned however, that the Parliamentary logjam created by Brexit means important legislation, such as this, is put on the backburner.”
Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty, a member of the committee, said: “Throughout this inquiry, the sheer scale of domestic abuse and violence towards women, as well as controlling, stalking and other abusive behaviour, has been simply shocking.
“It is also clear how many cases the police are having to deal with and that the resources needed to both keep women safe but also prosecute those involved are substantial.
“This is particularly challenging at a time of continued police cuts... [It] is clear that the challenges remain huge and the consistency of response across of the whole of the UK is not there; we need to do much better for all the women who have been affected.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We introduced the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act to address many of the issues that the Home Affairs Committee has identified in its report.
“This recognises the gendered nature of domestic abuse, but goes further in tackling the causes of violence against women and girls and sexual violence, which has its roots in gender stereotyping and inequality.
“Our ambition is to make Wales the safest place in Europe for women.”