Abigail Ampofo, interim CEO of Refuge, mentioned:
“Refuge welcomes Josh Babarinde MP’s proposal for home abuse to be legally recognised as an aggravating consider sure offences to deal with the gaps in present laws. The Authorities has pledged to halve violence in opposition to girls and women (VAWG) inside the decade, so we strongly advise that this proposal is taken ahead to raised defend survivors of home abuse by the justice system.
“Josh Babarinde’s proposed Invoice places ahead a framework for home abuse to be formally acknowledged as an aggravating consider assault instances. Whereas home abuse is outlined within the Home Abuse Act 2021, it’s prosecuted beneath basic offences equivalent to widespread assault. This loophole implies that the seriousness of home abuse is commonly underestimated. Now we have seen this shortcoming in motion lately, after some home abuse perpetrators have been launched from jail early beneath the SDS40 scheme.
“Refuge has raised considerations across the SDS40 scheme beforehand because of gaps within the exemption checklist which imply that some home abuse offenders, and people with a historical past of home abuse who’re serving sentences for unrelated offences, are nonetheless eligible for early launch.
“When the justice system fails to recognise the actual dangers that abusers pose to survivors’ security, this will have devastating penalties. We’ve lengthy known as for all perpetrators of home abuse and VAWG to be exempt from early launch schemes and for the sufferer contact scheme to be expanded to incorporate all survivors of home abuse. The proposed invoice might show very important in serving to to attain these adjustments, whereas additionally bettering knowledge assortment and authorized recognition of home abuse throughout the board.
“Too usually, survivors have their experiences trivialised by the very system that must be defending them. Not solely is that this extremely damaging to a survivor’s wellbeing – it may be a significant barrier in guaranteeing that survivors obtain sufficient authorized protections, placing their security in jeopardy. Whereas the Home Abuse Act 2021 marked an vital step in reworking our society’s response to home abuse, we nonetheless have an extended option to go. We assist Josh Babarinde MP’s ask for the proposed laws to be included within the upcoming draft of the Victims, Courts and Public Safety Invoice, and urge the Authorities to assist this transfer as a part of its wider aim to sort out VAWG.”
