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UK government unveils Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan

The £81 million scheme aims to prioritise prevention, better support victims, and build a stronger system against an issue that impacted 2.3 million people last year alone.

In the last year, around 2.3 million people in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse, with around one in five of the UK’s reported homicides during that time allegedly related to this form of violence specifically.

The issue is thought to have been exacerbated by pandemic-induced lockdowns, which saw a 61% increase in the number of calls and referrals to helplines between April 2020 and February 2021 alone.

For this reason, the government has just unveiled its Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, which aims to prioritise prevention, better support victims, and build a stronger system overall.

Announced on Wednesday, it came mere hours after a shocking report by the Centre for Women’s Justice which revealed that female survivors are being ‘irrationally criminalised’ across the nation as perpetrators continue to manipulate the justice system as a means of exerting their control.

‘Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that ruins lives,’ said Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is spearheading the £81 million scheme as part of the government’s Beating Crime initiative.

Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview - Office for National Statistics

‘For far too long the focus has been on what the victim might have done differently, rather than on the behaviour of the perpetrators themselves. This must now change.’

‘My Domestic Abuse Plan focuses on taking the onus off victims and making it easier for them to access the help and support they need, while taking tough action against perpetrators.’

Striving to deliver provisions set out in the Domestic Abuse Act, the plan is exploring options for a new register for domestic abusers, which could require them to report to the police when they move homes or open a bank account with a different partner.

Electronic tagging of anyone who poses a risk to women and girls is also being considered, with Patel adding that there are proposals to invest £75 million on directly addressing their behaviour as well.

Meanwhile, the Ask for Ani codeword scheme – which allows those at risk or suffering from abuse to discreetly signal that they are in need of immediate help – will now be piloted in Jobcentre offices countrywide.

One in four girls born today, on the International Day of the Girl, will grow up to have an abusive partner - Womens Aid

Not only this, but a total of 700 Independent Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Advocate roles are to be funded, with additional cash being given for 300 roles (which will refer and support victims and survivors) by the end of 2022.

However, despite how widely the move has been welcomed, various charities are concerned that it doesn’t go far enough and are critical of the notion that it should be a woman’s responsibility to ‘find out’ whether her partner has a history of abuse.

On this note, they are calling for more thorough measures, namely a guarantee that the criminal justice response will be robust enough to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

‘While the plan offers welcome steps forward, and provides cause for optimism, some of the announcements appear to reflect existing polices and unfortunately don’t offer anything new,’ said Ruth Davison, CEO of the non-profit organisation, Refuge.

‘We hope the government will use this plan as the start of an ongoing conversation with the sector about how to ensure women and girls are able to access the protection they need and deserve.’

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