Improving our response to domestic abuse

Today the Government has announced the pilot of new protective orders to safeguard victims of domestic abuse. We have long been aware of the limitations of existing protective orders, with victim-survivors and charities calling for a simplified and more effective process for obtaining a protective order that will be enforced if breached by a perpetrator.

Protective orders are designed to offer immediate protection for victims of domestic abuse by placing restrictions on a perpetrator’s behaviour. However, we know that enforcement has been inconsistent across the country, and the orders do not always go far enough to stop the abuse from happening.

The new orders will adopt a case-by-case approach that takes the victims’ individual circumstances and needs into consideration, with longer-term, more robust safety measures. It’s an encouraging milestone in improving the protection available to victims when they report abuse.

Improving our response from start to end

The domestic abuse protection order pilots are one of the many steps we are taking to make sure that every victim is heard, protected and empowered to seek help, whether from police or a support agency.

We have recently initiated the national roll-out of Rapid Video Response (RVR), a video call software that offers a discreet, quick and specialist police response to non-urgent reports of domestic abuse. The initiative was developed by Kent Police, where it has led to a decrease in the average response time from 32 hours to just three minutes, and a 50% increase in arrests. By using a simple piece of technology, we are already seeing a hugely positive impact on the trust and confidence of victim-survivors.

After a victim reports domestic abuse, they must have confidence that they will be protected by the criminal justice system, which can be a long and complicated process that retraumatises victims. Many cases do not result in a criminal justice outcome because victims withdraw support for the process. We need to change that.

Focusing on improving the timeliness of investigations to secure swifter justice for victims, we recently launched the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan with the Crown Prosecution Service. The plan aims to improve the quality of investigations to ultimately charge more suspects in quicker time and provide a more joined-up approach to victim support as they journey through the criminal justice system.

The bigger picture

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to stopping domestic abuse. It is complex and woven into the tapestry of society. I have no doubt that the improvements we are making in policing will help to protect victims and tackle perpetrators, but we cannot move the needle alone.

Domestic abuse can no longer be a crime that happens in secret, behind closed doors where a perpetrator can hide.

There is a role for us all to play, and one of the most effective things we can do to help is prevent young people from developing the harmful behaviours that trigger a cycle of abuse in adulthood.

We can’t shy away from asking uncomfortable questions as a society, silence and passivity allows violence against women and girls to perpetuate. The United Nation’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is a time to shine a light on the reality faced by women and girls everywhere, and ask ourselves what part we can play in ending this epidemic.

Let’s keep the momentum for change alive and do everything we can together to end domestic abuse.