North East charities welcome new protection for people in abusive relationships
The Domestic Abuse Bill has been made law after years of campaigning
Domestic abuse charities in the North East are confident victims will have more faith in the justice system when a new bill is passed in parliament.
Changes to the law will see more protections for victims and harsher punishment for perpetrators.
Elaine Langshaw is from Newcastle's Women's Aid:
"In a world where there is two women a week killed by their partners or their ex partners, we really need to get this right. All victims and all survivors must get the same opportunities in relation to their safety.
"There is going to be a legal duty on local authorities but it will only really work if they are supported by sustainable funding for specialist services to carry out this life-saving work.
"We have been waiting almost three years now so we welcome it very much. It's really got the potential to create a change to the national response which is urgently needed."
For the first time in history there will be a wide-ranging legal definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including:
Emotional control
Coercive or controlling behaviour
Economic abuse
The measures include important new protections and support for victims ensuring that abusers will no longer be allowed to directly cross-examine their victims in the family and civil courts, and giving victims better access to special measures in the courtroom to help prevent intimidation – such as protective screens and giving evidence via video link.
Richinda Taylor from EVA's Women's Aid in Redcar:
"It's good to see that the bill has some positive changes and additions that will give victims the confidence that this issue is being taken seriously and if they do report abuse then they will be taken seriously."
"We need a commitment from the police and local authorities that they are going to implement the requirements and the funding that follows will be spent in the best way possible to support victims.
"We know there's still work to be done and we all need to take responsibility."
Years of campaigning
Under the Domestic Abuse Act Police will be given new powers including:
In recent weeks, the Government has added new measures to the Bill to further strengthen the law, including creating a new offence of non-fatal strangulation, extending an offence to cover the threat to disclose intimate images, and clarifying the law to further clamp down on claims of “rough sex gone wrong” in cases involving death or serious injury.
End of the "Rough Sex" defence
The Act will outlaw the use of the rough sex defence, which is often used by offenders to suggest the victim was complicit with acts of violence against them.
Grazia Magazine has campaigned for it to be included in the legislation after working with the group We Can't Consent To This (WCCTT).
Writer Rhiannon Evans told us:
"While it might seem the rough sex defence is something that doesn't happen that often, its is something that could affect any woman at anytime. It's an important law change and we're glad to say men cannot do this anymore."
Fiona McKenzie from WCCTT told us the new rules must be enforced:
"It's so important police are trained in this, that they're given the resources to investigate and there are clear pathways for women to report, and that has to happen all the way through - police, prosecutors, judges, the whole criminal justice system has to work together."
Act given Royal Assent
Speaking on the new law, Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
"Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls are utterly shameful. As Home Secretary, I am determined to work tirelessly to keep vulnerable people safe and bring crime down.
“The Domestic Abuse Act is long overdue. This landmark Act will transform the support we offer across society. This includes the support Government provides to victims to ensure they have the protection they rightly need, so that perpetrators of these abhorrent crimes are brought to justice.”
Helplines
You can find out more about where to turn if you, or someone you know, is in an abusive relationship.
See the Refuge website for more information or call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.