Thank you for contacting me about violence against women and girls.
I have always been clear that protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims is of the utmost importance. I was glad to stand on a manifesto which pledged to continue the fight against the perpetrators of violence against women and girls.
I welcome the publication of the tackling violence against women and girls strategy to ensure women and girls are safe everywhere - at home, online and on the streets. The strategy will increase support for victims and survivors, increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice and to reduce the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the long-term.
A number of measures in the strategy are focused on practical action to increase physical safety in public places. This includes a £5 Million ‘Safety of Women at Night’ Fund, in addition to the Safer Streets Fund, that focuses on the prevention of violence against women and girls in public spaces at night, including in the night-time economy. This could include targeting parks and alleyways, and routes from bars, restaurants and nightclubs. I also welcome the appointing of two new Violence Against Women and Girls Transport Champions, to drive forward positive change and tackle the problems faced by female passengers on public transport. The creation of a new online tool 'StreetSafe' is also welcome. This platform will build on the Safer Streets Fund and provide women and girls with a way to anonymously and quickly pinpoint areas where they have felt unsafe and say why – be it from a lack of lighting or CCTV or because of the people around them.
It is also vital that good practice is shared and the new tackling violence against women and girls strategy will make this happen. The Government has introduced a new national policing lead on violence against women and girls. The lead will be the point of contact for every police force and will ensure, best practice is shared and that progress on improving the response to these crimes is being carefully monitored.
Following the tragic case of Sarah Everard, the Government reopened a call for evidence to further collect views from those with lived experience of, or views on, crimes considered as violence against women and girls. The Home Office received an unprecedented 160,000 further responses over two weeks, taking the total to over 180,000 responses which have helped shape the new strategy.
I will continue to follow this vital work as it progresses.
Sentencing
It is right that the most serious offenders, including those who have committed violent and sexual offences should spend more time in prison to match the severity of their crimes. The Prime Minister has been clear that the Government he leads will strengthen public confidence in the criminal justice system and I will support legislation designed to achieve this.
Ministers have now outlined plans to legislate, through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. This will extend the approach mentioned above by ending the halfway release of offenders sentenced to between four and seven years for serious crimes including rape, manslaughter and grievous bodily harm with intent. This change will mean that they will instead have to spend two-thirds of their time behind bars.
Misogyny & Hate Crime
Since the publication of the Hate Crime Action Plan in 2016 I have been encouraged by the progress that has been made, which has seen an increase in reporting and improvements in identification and recording of crime by the police. However, rates of attrition within the criminal justice system remain worryingly high and targeted online abuse continues to present a significant problem. While in contrast to overall trends, under-reporting still exists within specific groups.
You may be aware of the wide-ranging Law Commission review into hate crime. The review, which has now been published, includes a number of recommendations around levelling up the protection for disability and LGBT victims, tackling sex and gender abuse, and protecting freedom of expression. The Government is currently reviewing the report and recommendations and I look forward to its full response in due course.
While this is not making misogyny a hate crime, it can inform longer-term decisions once the Government has considered the recommendations made by the Law Commission.
Domestic Abuse
I very much welcome the Domestic Abuse Act. The Act creates a legal definition of domestic abuse to provide clarity that domestic abuse can be financial, verbal and emotional as well as physical and sexual and that critically it is about patterns of abuse over time. As part of this definition, children are explicitly recognised as victims if they witness abuse. It is good news that the controlling or coercive behaviour offence is being extended to include abuse where perpetrators and victims no longer live together. This change follows a review which highlighted that those who leave abusive ex-partners can often be subjected to sustained or increased controlling or coercive behaviour post-separation.
Measures in the Act also include the introduction of new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to further protect victims and place restrictions on the actions of offenders. I particularly welcome the fact that the Act will invalidate any courtroom defence of consent where a victim suffers serious harm or is killed.
Furthermore, a Domestic Abuse Commissioner has been appointed to stand up for victims and survivors; raise public awareness; monitor the response of local authorities, the justice system and other statutory agencies; and hold them to account in tackling domestic abuse.
I am pleased that the Government has announced an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that will change how the six-month time limit to commence a prosecution for common assault or battery involving domestic abuse is applied in England and Wales to run from the date of an offence being reported to the police through a formal witness statement or video recording given with a view to its use as evidence, rather than the date of the offence, subject to an overall limit of two years from the offence. This would give victims more time in which to seek justice given that domestic abuse is often reported late relative to other crimes, but with a two-year backstop to prevent the police from being inundated with historical reports.
I note the Government has continued to take action to combat these abhorrent crimes by significantly strengthening our laws and introducing new tools to protect victims. This includes the criminalisation of forced marriage, new stalking offences, an offence for failing to protect a girl from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), lifelong anonymity for victims of forced marriage and FGM, a mandatory reporting duty on FGM, the national roll-out of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (also known as ‘Clare’s Law’), making Domestic Homicide Reviews mandatory and a new offence of domestic abuse covering controlling and coercive behaviour.
It is welcome news that Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will deliver access to justice by continuing to invest across the justice system and expanding the support available for those that use it. The settlement will bolster support for victims of crime by increasing annual funding for Ministry of Justice victim support services to over £185 million by 2024-25, an uplift of 85 per cent from 2019-20. This will increase the number of Independent Sexual and Domestic Violence Advisors to over 1,000 and fund other key services such as crisis helplines.
Coronavirus
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is staffed 24 hours a day and can be reached on 0808 2000 247.
Non-Fatal Strangulation
It is very welcome that a new offence of non-fatal strangulation has been introduced as part of the Domestic Abuse Act. I am encouraged that the Government has listened to concerns raised that perpetrators were avoiding punishment as the practice can often leave no visible injury, making it harder to prosecute under existing offences such as Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).
Non-fatal strangulation has been made a specific criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in prison. The act typically involves an abuser strangling or intentionally affecting their victim’s breathing in an attempt to control or intimidate them.
The inclusion of this new offence reflects a Government providing greater protections for victims and clamping down on perpetrators.
The Ask for ANI scheme
I welcome the Government's scheme to allow those at risk or suffering from abuse to discreetly signal that they need help and access to support. Domestic Abuse victims will now be able to access this support from thousands of pharmacies across the UK. By asking for 'ANI', a trained pharmacy worker will offer a private space where they can understand if the victim needs to speak to the police or would like help to access support services such as a national or local domestic abuse helplines. Almost half of all pharmacies across the UK, including Boots, are now participating in the scheme, following the launch in January 2021.
Faith
It is important to consider that the Domestic Abuse Act creates a legal definition to include financial, verbal, emotional as well as physical and sexual abuse. I believe this is a well-balanced definition to cover patterns of abuse over time. I do believe that for many, faith is the first place people turn when in need. That is why faith leaders in communities across our country have a role to play. You may be aware that Faith Action, a national network of faith-based and community organisations, have published recommendations and information to help faith leaders address domestic abuse. You can find further information here - https://www.faithaction.net/working-with-you/health-and-care/our-projec…
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
January 2022