Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas is asking Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp, to support a new survivor’s charter on domestic violence.

The survivor’s charter sets out what survivors of domestic abuse should expect as a minimum from the police and justice system.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Domestic and Sexual Violence published the charter as part of their report on women’s access to justice which was published this week.

Caroline is urging every criminal justice agency and government department to sign up to the charter, and pledge to implement the report’s recommendations, to ensure that women and children are not being left at the mercy of perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence.

Caroline, a Member of the APPG, who took evidence for the report, said:

“Domestic violence is a terrible crime, and we need far stronger action to increase rates of reporting and conviction and better training for everyone in the criminal justice system.

”I have sent the report on women’s access to justice to Nev Kemp and Katy Bourne in the hope that they can build on best practice and increase the rates of recording and prosecuting domestic abuse in Brighton and Hove”.

The report highlights that on average two women are killed a week as a result of domestic violence. Because most abuse usually takes place behind closed doors, the police are rarely called to the first incident. It takes on average 35 incidents before the police are called.

In light of these shocking facts, the report recommends that first responders in the police and justice systems are key to stopping abuse in its tracks and should receive domestic violence awareness training.

The report also calls on government to review domestic violence legislation and consider criminalising coercive control and patterns of abusive behaviour. In addition, the police should gather evidence of abuse when they first attend the scene to build a case against perpetrators of domestic violence that is not solely reliant on victims’ witness statements.

The charter sets out that survivors of domestic abuse should be respected, believed and protected in the first instance. They should also be supported, updated on their case’s progress and asked if they want to make a statement about how the violence has affected them. If they have to give evidence in court, they should be kept safe and away from the perpetrator. They should also be informed of any sentence given to the perpetrator and  survivors should be empowered through the process.

Caroline co-sponsored an Early Day Motion supporting a new law, and has raised concerns about low levels of reporting of, and convictions for, domestic abuse.

There is currently no specific criminal offence of domestic violence in the UK.  Instead offenders are prosecuted for crimes such as rape or assault, whilst in many cases previous abusive behaviour is not taken into account.

Caroline has also co-sponsored a Bill in Parliament that would create a legal framework around domestic violence. It would mean patterns of abusive behaviour – not just isolated incidents – could be taken into account by the police and courts. 

Notes to Editors

1.   In the year ending 31 October 2013, Sussex Police received 17,899 incident calls relating to allegations of domestic abuse, of which 6,097 resulted in specific criminal offences being recorded.

2.     Full text of Early Day Motion:

That this House believes that the level of domestic abuse in the UK is unacceptable, that the number of victims reporting incidents is extremely low and that the number of alleged perpetrators convicted is unsatisfactory; further believes that all criminal justice professionals should receive training on the subject of domestic abuse; and asks the Government to consider introducing a specific law of domestic abuse, which would take into account courses of conduct and repetitive abusive behaviour.