News

Commissioner responds to the government’s evaluation of Pathfinder Family Court pilots.

News / March 27, 2025

Today, 27th March 2025, the government has released its evaluation of the Pathfinder Family Court approach, outlining the positive impact of domestic abuse informed, child-inclusive and efficient proceedings.   The Pathfinder Courts have acted as trials for a nationwide model to replace the current model which has been criticised for being adversarial, minimising domestic abuse and …

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Commissioner responds to the number of domestic abuse related suicides overtaking intimate partner killings for the second year in a row

News / March 25, 2025

Today, 25th March 2025, findings from the Domestic Homicide Project show that that for a second year in a row, suspected suicides following domestic abuse have overtaken the number of homicides involving current or previous partners. Responding to these findings and the wider report the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said: “Every life lost …

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Greater clarity from UK government needed on reform to the criminal justice system to better protect survivors

News, Statement / March 19, 2025

Today, the UK government has published its initial response to my report – Shifting the Scales – that lifted the lid on the criminal justice system and its response to domestic abuse.   Instead of being a lifeline to victims – who in the face of incredible trauma seek justice – I found a system that …

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Commissioner responds to introduction of Crime and Policing Bill

News, Statement / March 18, 2025

Today the Crime and Policing Bill will be introduced in Parliament. Responding, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said: “I’m pleased to see the Crime and Policing Bill being introduced today with an emphasis on tackling violence against women and girls and providing greater protection to victims of stalking. It …

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Commissioner calls to end justice lottery for domestic abuse victims

News, Press release / March 18, 2025

Read the Commissioner’s new report Shifting the scales: Transforming the criminal justice response to domestic abuse. Full report here, Executive summary here. Domestic abuse victims are being failed by the criminal justice system at every stage – from police to probation – according to a report published today by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. The report …

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Commissioner responds to the Family Justice Council’s new guidance

News, Statement / March 18, 2025

Last week the Family Justice Council published guidance to help the Family Court respond to a child’s unexplained reluctance, resistance or refusal to spend time with a parent. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs says, “The Family Justice Council’s new guidance has been long awaited and addresses the contentious issue of a child’s reluctance, resistance …

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Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to tougher homicide sentencing measures

News, Statement / March 18, 2025

Today the Ministry of Justice announced two new statutory aggravating factors for murder sentencing, along with a review of homicide law and sentencing. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs says, “I am pleased that strangulation and killing at the end of a relationship will become statutory aggravating factors for murder sentencing, …

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All domestic abuse perpetrators must be exempt from SDS40, says Commissioner

News, Statement / March 18, 2025

“I am deeply concerned to hear that 37 prisoners – who were serving sentences for breaching restraining orders – were released in error under the SDS40 early prison release scheme. “Anyone who breaches a restraining order is likely to be a high risk individual who may be fixated on their victim, undeterred by legal restrictions …

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Domestic Abuse Commissioner publishes immediate priorities for criminal justice system

News / March 18, 2025

Today, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has published a briefing highlighting her immediate priorities for change in the criminal justice response to domestic abuse. The briefing includes early findings from her report into this subject which will be published and laid before Parliament at the end of the year. This week we have seen perpetrators of …

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Commissioner warns early release scheme puts domestic abuse victims at risk

News, Statement / March 18, 2025

Today, an early prison release scheme comes into effect that will see some offenders released after serving 40% of their sentence. The ‘SDS40’ scheme is a temporary measure, designed to ease the prison overcrowding crisis. But despite some exemptions for domestic abuse related crimes, the scheme doesn’t go far enough to protect victims from their …

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