Yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service released its quarterly report of domestic abuse prosecution rates.

Lucy Hadley, head of policy at Women’s Aid, comments:  

“For years now, we have seen a continued drop in the number of domestic abuse prosecutions and convictions, which not only leaves survivors feeling like they are not being believed but often fails to protect them from ongoing abuse from the perpetrator.  

“Women’s trust in the criminal justice system is severely damaged. Urgent action is needed to improve the response to domestic abuse, so that survivors feel believed and supported, while perpetrators are held to account. To improve prosecutions and convictions, we must ensure that all those working with survivors undergo specialist training on domestic abuse – particularly coercive and controlling behaviour – to ensure that investigations are robust. Fully funding specialist domestic abuse services for women is also critical for supporting women throughout the criminal justice system, which can be a traumatic experience where they face ongoing risk and harm from the perpetrator. 

“It is only by feeling safe and supported that survivors can pursue a prosecution, and that women and children can be kept safe.”