The Domestic Abuse Bill had its second reading this week in the House of Lords and we were fully behind Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s proposed amendments to the Bill. Club members sent an astonishing 210 letters to quite a few Baronesses. This action was initiated by a request that Southern England Soroptimists send letters to all Baronesses in order to highlight crucial points in the Bill and request that they be included.
The letters sent by SI Epsom & District called for the following amendments:
- Making non-fatal strangulation an offence in its own right
- To update coercive control laws to allow abusive behaviour, which has continued even after a relationship has ended, to also be prosecuted
- To add specific protections for migrant women and anyone regardless of their immigration status
- To provide further protection through the family courts like prohibiting unsupervised contact for a parent who is embroiled in ongoing criminal proceedings over domestic abuse
- The inclusion of community-based services in the statutory duty, which goes beyond accommodation-based services
For more information about the Bill see: Nicole Jacobs – Guardian Article “Tough new domestic abuse tsar prepares to shape laws to protect threatened women”
It is still possible for you to have your say in addressing the gaps in the Bill by signing: No Victim Left Behind Petition
