Press release

The Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner voice their support for Baroness Newlove’s amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill, which would create an offence of strangulation or asphyxiation. As the Domestic Abuse Bill returns to the House of Lords on 5 January 2021, there are fresh moves to make non-fatal strangulation a specific criminal offence …

Commissioners endorse non-fatal strangulation amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill Read More »

Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner say “little progress” has been made since the HMICFRS Honour Based Abuse inspection recommendations in 2015 and call for a follow-up inspection. Dame Vera Baird, QC, the Victims’ Commissioner and Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner have issued a joint letter to the Home Secretary on Honour Based Abuse …

Commissioners issue joint letter to Home Secretary on Honour Based Abuse Read More »

The Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner respond to the announcement of government funding for domestic abuse in the Spending Review. Vera Baird QC, Victims’ Commissioner and Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner said in a joint statement: “We’re delighted the government has listened to our calls for further funding and we welcome this extra money …

Joint statement on Spending Review Read More »

Ahead of the upcoming Spending Review, the Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner write a joint letter to the Prime Minister and Chancellor highlighting the “inadequacy of current funding arrangements” for domestic absuse services. Dame Vera Baird QC, the Victims’ Commissioner, and Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, have written a joint letter to the …

Joint letter calls on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to commit to longer-term, sustainable funding for domestic abuse services Read More »

The winter funding is “much needed” but both Commissioners call on the government to provide longer-term funding to enable services to continue their “critical work” past March 2021. On Sunday 15 November 2020, the government announced almost £11m in funding to support rape and domestic abuse services amid a rise in demand during the coronavirus …

The Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner respond to the announcement of nearly £11m to support domestic abuse services during the winter Read More »

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Vera Baird QC, and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, have called on the government to provide essential funding to support victims’ services through to the end of the financial year. The 3 November 2020 letter calls on the Ministry of Justice to launch a second round …

Joint letter from Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner calls for second round of extraordinary COVID-19 funding Read More »

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be a uniquely dangerous time for those subjected to domestic abuse and rape, and it is vital that they can access the justice they deserve. Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service published data showing that from April to June 2020 we saw a 39% drop in prosecutions for domestic abuse cases, and …

Victims’ Commissioner and Domestic Abuse Commissioner express concerns about the drop in domestic abuse and rape prosecutions and cases charged Read More »