Women’s Aid respond to the introduction of the Victim’s and Courts Bill

Isabelle Younane, Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, said:

“Women’s Aid welcomes the introduction of the Victim’s and Courts Bill today, and the long overdue opportunity that this legislation presents to improve the support available for survivors of domestic abuse, and other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Sadly, we know that for far too long, women and children have been let down by the complex criminal justice system, which fails to recognise and prioritise the needs of survivors.

Barriers throughout the criminal justice system, including a lack of understanding about the complexities of domestic abuse by professionals, poor support for survivors, and discrimination, leaves many unable to receive justice. In fact, a long history of failing within the criminal justice system has destroyed survivors trust, with less than 1 in 5 women feeling able to report their experience to the police.

The government has committed to halving violence against women and girls in the next decade, but if they are serious about doing so, we need to see root-and-branch reforms to the criminal justice system that reflect the needs of survivors. Commitments need to be made to deliver long-awaited reforms to the family courts so that they prioritise the safety of children, and to ensure proper investment in specialist domestic abuse services – as these chronically under-funded services are crucial to women and children continuing through the justice system and to recovering from their experiences. Women’s Aid also urges the introduction of a new aggravated offence for domestic abuse to improve the visibility of this prevalent issue in the criminal justice system.”