Davina James-Hanman sees an average of three women a week killed by a partner or former partner, including a reduction in statutory grants (& # 39; No Secret Abuser Handbook. Mainstream Culture & # 39 ;, October 10).
However, I wonder if she considered the devastating effects of the Malicious Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, which made a violation of the Family Court Non-Infringement Injunction a criminal offense. This example of the law of this unintended consequence, enforced in 2007, actually undermines the protection of such orders given to victims by prohibiting judges from exercising their arrest rights. Prior to this, when the applicant reported a violation, the police had to arrest the respondent for immediate disdain and return it to court on the next working day. With up to two years of custody of the violation, 90% of the orders were obeyed, providing the necessary calm, while the court resolved long-term preparation for life, finances, divorce, and, consequently, the child's trapped problems. Now, in the event of a violation, the victim loses the court's protection and legal aid and can resort to criminal proceedings. Is there enough evidence and can face these problems?
As a former family law attorney, I sit on the home abuse investigation panel of the former local police and criminal commissioners and watch the police struggle to meet the victim's needs. To safely end an abusive relationship, desperately victims (when most deaths occur) rarely do criminal proceedings help. This is why civil protection was first developed and why the new criminal bill makes little difference.
Having family judges reassign arrest rights to a protective order will be a wise and important step in reducing the number of home kills.
Jan Williams
Effective Family Abuse Law Campaign
• An article about Rosie Duffield's tenoral Commons account of domestic abuse highlights the importance of the draft family abuse bill (MP left Commons by moving the story of family abuse on October 3).
Unfortunately, domestic violence is still widespread throughout the UK and Wales, and it is estimated that by the end of March 2018, 2 million adults aged 16-59 are experiencing domestic violence (National Statistical Office).
The bill has the potential to change millions of lives, and many proposals, such as the creation of family abuse commissioners, the prohibition of cross-examination of victims of alleged abuse, and extended justice for family abuse, have long since expired. But in order for this bill to be effective in protecting victims, governments must invest the necessary funds in legal assistance, support services, education and broader government policies.
We urge the government to hand over the domestic abuse bill to the next Congress, which, along with the necessary funds, helps victims of home abuse access to the justice they can get.
Simon Davis
President, England and Wales Law Association
• Join the discussion-email [email protected]
• More Guardian Preface – Click Here to Visit gu.com/letters
• Have a picture you want to share with Guardian readers? Click here We upload it and we will publish the best submissions to the letter spread of the print edition
.
