Domestic Violence
National Plan for Domestic Violence
This document is published for archival/historical purposes. It will not be updated.
Domestic violence costs the lives of more than 2 women every week. Following the advent of new laws and March's month of action to raise awareness of domestic violence, a national action plan has been published that sets out the progress made so far in tackling the crime and outlines future proposals to further improve support to victims and bring more perpetrators to justice.
Title: Domestic violence: a national report
Author: Home Office
Number of pages: 29
Date published: March 2005
Availability: Download national plan 
PDF 127Kb
The plan sets out 5 key Government goals for the coming year:
reducing the prevalence of domestic violence
increasing the rate that domestic violence is reported
increasing the rate of domestic violence offences that are brought to justice
ensuring victims of domestic violence are adequately protected and supported nationwide
reducing the number of domestic violence related homicides.
Reinforcing the plan, front-line service providers and stakeholders have been invited to come together at a series of seminars organised in conjunction with Women's Aid. These seminars will cover the full range of powers that have been recently introduced, and the role of the independent domestic violence advisors (IVDAs) in delivering effective services to victims of domestic violence. IVDAs effectively 'walk' beside the victim through the process, providing one point of contact both inside and outside the criminal justice system for the duration of a case and are key to gaining and sustaining victim confidence. Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IVDAs) were previously referred to as 'advocates'.
The seminars will be held in Birmingham, Exeter, London, Manchester and York throughout April and May. Following the seminars there will be a series of conferences, one in each of the 10 regional office areas.
The new Act
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 introduced new powers for the police and courts to deal with offenders, while bolstering support and protection that victims receive.
Making common assault an arrestable offence.
Significant new police powers to deal with domestic violence including making it an arrestable, criminal offence to breach a non-molestation order, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Strengthening the civil law on domestic violence to ensure cohabiting same-sex couples have the same access to non-molestation and occupation orders as opposite sex couples, and extending the availability of these orders to couples who have never lived together or been married.
Stronger legal protection for victims of domestic violence by enabling courts to impose restraining orders when sentencing for any offence. Until now, such orders could only be imposed on offenders convicted of harassment or causing fear of violence.
Enabling courts to impose restraining orders on acquittal for any offence (or if a conviction has been overturned on appeal) if they consider it necessary to protect the victim from harassment. This will deal with cases where the conviction has failed but it is still clear from the evidence that the victims need protecting.
Putting in place a system to review domestic violence homicide incidents, drawing in the key agencies, to find out what can be done to put the system right and prevent future deaths.
Providing a code of practice, binding on all criminal justice agencies, so that all victims receive the support, protection, information and advice they need.
Allowing victims to take their case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman if they feel the code has not been adhered to by the criminal justice agencies.
Setting up an independent Commissioner for Victims to give victims a powerful voice at the heart of Government and to safeguard and promote the interests of victims and witnesses, encouraging the spread of good practice and reviewing the statutory code.
Giving victims of mentally disordered offenders the same rights to information as other victims of serious violent and sexual offences.
Giving the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority the right to recover from offenders the money it has paid to their victims in compensation.
A surcharge to be payable on criminal convictions and fixed penalty notices which will contribute to the Victims Fund. For motoring offenders the surcharge will only apply to serious and persistent offenders.
Closing a legal loophole by creating a new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult.The offence establishes a new criminal responsibility for members of a household where they know that a child or vulnerable adult is at significant risk of serious harm.
Bringing in the Law Commission recommendation for a two stage court trial to ensure that high volume crimes like fraud and internet child pornography can be punished in full.
Getting a copy
Download Domestic violence: a national report PDF 127Kb
Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2008