I have always been clear that protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims is of the utmost importance. It is completely unacceptable that anyone in our society should live in fear of intimidation or violence. The Conservative Government has been committed to the prevention of violence against women since we resumed office in 2010. Throughout this period, the Conservative Government has introduced a wide range of measures to protect and support women.
Some of the key victim protection measures include:
- Outlawing ‘upskirting’
- Creating offence of “coercive control”
- Strengthening ban on “rough sex” defence
- Outlawing non-fatal strangulation
- Creating offence of stalking - and then doubling maximum sentence
- Criminalising sending of revenge porn images, and threatening to do so
- Introducing measures to make it easier for victims to give evidence in court
- Passing Modern Slavery Act
- Increasing funding for Rape Support Centres by 50%
- Creating a new Victims’ Code, setting out twelve key rights for victims - from complaint through to trial and sentence
- Significant funding boost for domestic abuse helplines
- Cash increase for refuge spaces
- Government Campaigns, including #itstillmatters and #youarenotalone
- Previous Foreign Secretary William Hague’s work to stop sexual violence as a weapon of war
I was proud to support the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which builds on other measures, such as the controlling or coercive behaviour offence and the domestic violence scheme, known as Clare’s law. Clare’s law enabled individuals to ask the police whether their partner has a violent or abusive past. We also introduced new preventative tools and powers to tackle crimes including stalking, female genital mutilation and so-called upskirting, but we can never be complacent.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 includes a new offence of non-fatal strangulation, outlaws threats to disclose intimate images and extends the controlling or coercive behaviour offence to cover post-separation abuse. This is in addition to the measures the Bill has already included, such as a new statutory definition of domestic abuse that recognises the many forms abuse can take (psychological, physical, emotional, economic and sexual). This act also recognises the effects abuse can have on children and includes new rules to prevent victim from having to go through the pain of being cross-examined by their abusers in family and civil courts.
For any more information relating to the Domestic Abuse Act, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/domestic-abuse-bill.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2021 is another example of our commitment to protecting women and girls. This Act ended the halfway release of those convicted for sexual offences such as rape. Instead, vile criminals responsible for these terrible crimes will spend at least two thirds of their time behind bars. This law extends the scope of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 regarding abuse of positions of trust, predominantly affecting young girls.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act includes several measures to protect women from violent and sexual crime that have been campaigned for and warmly welcomed. The Government hope that this will now provide reassurance and additional protection for alleged victims in high harm cases such as domestic abuse.
For any more information relating to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-police-crime-sentencing-and-courts-bill.
