Domestic abuse and sexual offences to be treated as seriously as knife crime

The Government said this would “raise the bar’ as it continues driving forward action to end violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Changes to legislation currently being considered in Parliament will make clear that a new legal duty requiring public bodies to work together to tackle serious violence can also include domestic abuse and sexual offences.

Introducing a Serious Violence Duty will improve wholesale understanding of the drivers of serious violence and help prevent future crime and tragedy, says the Government. It will mean that police, government, and health bodies must collaborate locally, so that they can develop more holistic strategies to protect people from harm, including through early intervention.

The Government said the proposals bolster its recently-published strategy for ending VAWG, which takes “a whole-system approach to tackling this abhorrent crime”.

It added: “The Government has been clear that all responsible parts of the public sector must raise the bar in the handling of domestic abuse and sexual violence cases.”

The change to the Serious Violence Duty will be made via an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, following careful consideration and widespread support from campaigners – including the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

Previously the Duty did not include domestic abuse, sexual violence and domestic homicide in the definition of ‘serious violence’.

Ms Patel said: “Any instance of violence towards another human being is sickening and it is incumbent upon all in authority to try and prevent it from occurring.

“There are numerous public sector bodies and agencies with a responsibility to protect young and vulnerable people from harm – and they must get better at working together to deliver for them. That is exactly why the Serious Violence Duty is so important.

“Following tireless work on this important issue by Baroness Bertin, I am bringing forward changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to make clear that domestic abuse and sexual offences – which do untold and often long-term damage to victims – can be included in local strategies for tackling serious violence.”

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, said: “I am delighted that the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has listened and taken this decision which marks a huge step forward in the government’s approach to tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence.

“It sends a very clear message to victims and survivors that tackling and preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence are top priorities and not optional extras. This amendment will ensure there is an early intervention, public health focused approach to tackling serious violent crime.”

Nottinghamshire’s police and crime commissioner Caroline Henry welcomed the decision, which recognised that “serious violence cannot be tackled in isolation”.

She said: “This amendment ensures every area of England and Wales knows and understands its full responsibilities in tackling domestic abuse and that prevention work is not optional.

“Serious violence cannot be tackled in isolation. We must work not as single agencies or individuals but as whole systems to prioritise preventing and tackling domestic abuse as both a form of serious violence and a cause of trauma for the children and young people who witness it.”

Ms Henry had previously briefed the House of Lords alongside the Domestic Abuse Commissioner on the need for domestic abuse and sexual violence to be considered as part of the new Duty.

Natalie Baker-Swift, interim head of Nottinghamshire’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “This amendment is a positive step forward and sends out the right message to victims and survivors that their safety is a top priority.

“Domestic abuse represents a large proportion of violent crime, with many victims experiencing domestic abuse more than once in their lifetime.”