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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Commissioner responds to introduction of Crime and Policing Bill Read More »
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 …
Commissioner calls to end justice lottery for domestic abuse victims Read More »
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, …
Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to tougher homicide sentencing measures Read More »
“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 »
