News

Majority of Family Court cases involve domestic abuse but system still not responding

News, Press release / October 14, 2025

A damning new report by the Domestic Abuse Tsar has revealed that domestic abuse is ‘everyday business’ for the Family Courts, yet a pro-contact culture and dismissive attitudes towards victim-survivors are contributing to decisions that may be putting children’s safety at significant risk.   The new research led by academics at Loughborough University  – based on …

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Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to the publication of updated RSE guidance   

News / July 15, 2025

Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said: “I’m extremely pleased to see that the government has listened to child victims of domestic abuse and taken the necessary action to ensure all children can learn about abusive behaviours in schools.   “It’s a deeply uncomfortable fact that hundreds of thousands of children are …

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Government Tsars issue stark warning that PM’s personal commitment to tackle violence against women and girls is at risk without urgent investment

News / June 4, 2025

In an unprecedent intervention, Government Tsars Dame Nicole Jacobs and Baroness Newlove have issued a stark warning to the Prime Minister that his personal commitment to tackle violence against women and girls will not succeed, unless urgent investment is provided at the Spending Review next week. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, the Domestic …

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Statement from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in response to the Lord Chancellor’s statement on the Gauke review

News, Statement / May 22, 2025

Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said: “Following the Lord Chancellor’s statement on the Gauke review, I am encouraged to hear the government recognising the unique risk domestic abusers and stalkers pose to their victims. “It’s right that any perpetrator who breaches a stalking or domestic abuse protective order should still be eligible for a …

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Statement from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in response to the publication of the Gauke review

News / May 22, 2025

Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said: “By adopting these measures the government will be sending a clear message to domestic abusers that they can now offend with little consequence. “I recognise the difficult situation ministers are in and that our approach to sentencing must change to address the prison capacity …

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Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to emergency changes to recall measures to ease prison capacity crisis

News, Press release / May 14, 2025

Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said: “I cannot stress the lack of consideration for victims’ safety and how many lives are being put in danger because of this proposed change. “You are not sent to prison for four years if you do not pose significant risk to your victim or the wider public. Perpetrators …

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Thousands of children facing domestic abuse alone as support services risk financial collapse

News, Press release / May 14, 2025

Domestic Abuse Commissioner warns that the government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) is at risk without urgent funding for specialist domestic abuse services. Over a quarter of domestic abuse services (27%) surveyed in England and Wales are having to turn children away from vital support amid severe funding shortages, new research …

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

News / April 30, 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 / April 14, 2025

Today, 25th March 2025, findings from the Domestic Homicide Project show 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 to …

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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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