“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 …
All domestic abuse perpetrators must be exempt from SDS40, says Commissioner Read More »
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 …
Domestic Abuse Commissioner publishes immediate priorities for criminal justice system Read More »
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 …
Commissioner warns early release scheme puts domestic abuse victims at risk Read More »
Contact [email protected] for access to the survey Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner is calling on professionals who support child victims of domestic abuse to help her map provision across England and Wales. To do this she has developed a 30 minute survey, and responses will help improve the funding and services for child victims of …
Help us improve funding and services for child domestic abuse victims Read More »
In response to the ongoing prison overcrowding crisis, magistrates were yesterday requested to temporarily delay the imprisonment of some individuals. This move is intended to alleviate pressure ahead of the upcoming ‘SDS40’ early release program which aims to free up prison spaces. The SDS40 scheme allows some prisoners to be released after serving 40% of …
Commissioner responds to new measures to temporarily delay some imprisonments Read More »
Today the new Government has announced plans to temporarily reduce the point at which prisoners are automatically released from 50% to 40% of their sentence, in response to the overcrowding crisis. This will exclude anyone convicted for a sexual offence, stalking, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation, breaches of restraining or non-molestation orders, or who …
Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs has written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent action to address the prison capacity crisis. The letter urges Government to act now or risk failing in its ambitious pledge to halve violence against women and girls over a decade. This warning follows new analysis from the Commissioner, …
Commissioner warns Prime Minister: Victims must not suffer consequences of prison crisis Read More »
Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has set out her priorities for a new Government, including recommendations across: This follows a piece in The Sun today where the Commissioner discussed the bold, ambitious manifesto commitments needed to tackle the scourge of domestic abuse
Responding to reports that the NPCC has sent a letter to police chiefs asking them to consider “pausing” “non-priority arrests”, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “Reports that police chiefs are being asked by the National Police Chiefs Council to consider arresting fewer people are sobering. As violence against women and girls is now …
A report published today by HM Inspectorate of Prisons into HMP Lewes found that the implementation of the government’s early release scheme was “undermining good, safe release planning and risk management”, including: Responding to the report, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, says: “When measures for potentially dangerous offenders are rushed out without proper planning, …
