Family Law

The Metropolitan Police Service has carried out an operation to help victims of domestic violence by targeting known domestic abusers.

The home secretary has announced that police forces in Greater Manchester, Gwent, Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire are to pilot a new domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS).

Victims of domestic violence will have an additional source of help when new domestic abuse guidance for general practices is released this June.

A new law is now in force to tackle cases of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child or vulnerable adult. The offence, part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012, came into effect on Monday.

A new report from think tank the Centre for Social Justice has called for a widening of the offence of domestic abuse to include cruel mind games.

Women’s Aid is calling for a joined-up response to domestic violence from police, schools, and Government in response to the Home Secretary’s demand that police forces improve the way they deal with abuse.

A study from Lancaster University has found evidence of a link between England’s World Cup football matches and incidences of domestic violence.

Women’s Aid has welcomed the news that domestic violence will be considered ‘one of the most serious crimes’ under the newly released Victims’ Code, but warns that police responses to domestic violence are still failing women in many areas.

Clare's Law – a scheme allowing police to disclose details of an abusive partners’ past – is to be rolled out across England and Wales.

Two domestic violence charities have highlighted that local public sector commissioners of services for domestic violence victims are facing a more difficult decision making process because of financial cutbacks.

Pressure is increasing on Government to criminalise coercive control, psychological harm, and patterns of abusive behaviour, following a survey released by the Domestic Violence Law Reform Campaign.

Domestic violence charity Women’s Aid has launched an SOS campaign, calling on the Government to commit to a national funding solution for specialist refuges for women survivors of domestic violence.

A recent survey conducted by YouGov has revealed that as many as one in three women in Britain have been the victim of domestic violence.

Domestic violence charity Women’s Aid has called on all politicians to commit to answering the charity’s SOS campaign call for specialist refuges.

Amendments made by the Government to criminalise coercive and controlling patterns of behaviour and psychological abuse in relationships have been welcomed by domestic violence charity, Women’s Aid. However, the charity has warned that the defence included in the offence could too easily be manipulated by perpetrators.

The Government has announced funding of £10 million to help support refuges across the country and boost provision for vulnerable victims of domestic violence and their families.

The hidden misery of women trapped in financially abusive relationships has been revealed in a recent report by the TUC and Women’s Aid. According to the report, many of these women are trapped in poverty without any access to money for essentials, emergencies or for their children.

A recent study has found that men visiting their GP with symptoms of anxiety or depression are more likely to have experienced or carried out some form of behaviour linked to domestic violence and abuse.

Just two in five UK adults are aware that domestic abuse can include a financial element, according to recent research from Citizens Advice.

Just under a third of people in Britain know someone who is a victim of domestic abuse, but most do not feel equipped to help them, new findings from Citizens Advice have revealed.