Part I of the Angiolini Inquiry, published last month, looked at the circumstances and failures that led to the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer in 2021. Today the government has announced that it has accepted all the government-led recommendations made by Part I of the inquiry. The government accepted recommendations include conducting a review into the way masturbatory indecent exposure is treated within the criminal justice system, to commission research to establish if there is an evidence-based link between active masturbatory indecent exposure and subs ..read more

The Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2022-2023 Report, released today, examining domestic abuse related deaths in England and Wales has shown the scale of domestic homicides, and for the first time has recorded an increase in suspected suicides by domestic abuse victims. The report examines all deaths identified by police as domestic abuse related to improve understanding of risk indicators, victim and perpetrator demographics. The unique dataset collects detailed information on these deaths not available from any other source to help police and partners improve their ..read more

Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has responded to the announcement of a new national line to root out corruption and abuse within the police. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “There should be no place in the police force for perpetrators of domestic and sexual abuse. That victims will have somewhere independent to report these awful crimes is a start. “But this hotline will only make a difference if complaints are properly dealt with. That requires a more consistent approach across all forces to ensure thorough and independent investigation of these crimes, and legisl ..read more

Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs launches VOICES, a virtual platform for victims and survivors of domestic abuse to influence change to improve the lives of other victims and survivors of domestic abuse. From today, victims and survivors, as well as friends and family bereaved by domestic abuse, can sign up to receive the VOICES email newsletter, which will include opportunities for victims and survivors to share their experiences, as well as providing relevant updates on the work of the domestic abuse sector, government and academics. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is als ..read more

The Angiolini Inquiry, an independent inquiry into how an off-duty Metropolitan police officer was able to abduct, rape and murder a member of the public, has published its Part I report findings today. The report is the first of three that will be published by Lady Elish Angiolini. In response to the report, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “Lady Angiolini’s findings are seriously damning. That major concerns were repeatedly ignored is a disgrace. “Police recruitment, vetting and investigation of allegations against police officers clearly fall far below the very basic ex ..read more

Domestic abuse services are at risk of disappearing as the local authority financial crisis spirals out of control, says the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Today Nicole Jacobs has written to Communities Secretary Michael Gove calling for urgent action to protect these lifesaving services. The safety of victims and survivors hangs in the balance, says the Commissioner. Jacobs says that victims will be left with nowhere to turn in crisis if services lose their funding, risking serious harm and even homicide. Since 2018, eight councils have issued a Section 114 notice – which effectively declares t ..read more

Today, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published the Second Annual Progress Report of the National Expert Steering Group on Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation National Expert Steering Group (NESG) was set up to monitor the delivery of the duty on local authorities to fund domestic abuse services, established in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The group agreed to publish an annual report summarising progress across the country – this is the second report. According to data from this year’s report: Between April 2022 and March ..read more

The Home Office has made changes to reviews conducted after fatal domestic abuse, so that they better recognise often hidden victims of domestic abuse who die by suicide, coercive and controlling behaviour, and economic abuse. This means that a review can be commissioned whenever there is a death that has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse.  As well as physical abuse, this includes controlling or coercive behaviour and emotional and economic abuse, in line with the legal definition of domestic abuse introduced in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The government has also announce ..read more

Today the government introduces significant changes to a scheme that supports migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse who have no recourse to public funds. For over a decade, the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC) has provided migrant survivors who have come to the UK on a spousal visa and have experienced domestic abuse with three months of access to public funds. This opens up a range of benefits that can provide migrant survivors with much needed safety from their abuser, including access to refuge via their entitlement to housing benefit under the scheme. The scheme has ..read more

Today the Ministry of Justice has published its response to the Private Family Law Early Resolution Consultation which sought views on measures to help families resolve disputes as swiftly and easily possible. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs says: “The Family Court is critical in keeping child and adult victims safe from abuse. I am delighted that the Pathfinder Court pilots will be extended to two further sites, with a view to national roll-out. These courts take a child-centred approach, supporting victims and embedding an understanding of domestic abuse throughout the proceed ..read more