Women’s Aid responds to Stephen Bear sentencing

Farah Nazeer, chief executive at Women’s Aid, said:  

“Image based sexual abuse, which can also be known as ‘revenge porn’, has a long-lasting and traumatic impact on women. We are pleased to see that a prison sentence has been given in this case, as we know that so many domestic abuse cases are not prosecuted or even reported at all. This is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to support women and girls facing abuse. Image based sexual abuse is traumatic and humiliating for survivors, and it is unacceptable that there are online pornography websites who are profiting from this abuse, we need to ensure that these sites are effectively sanctioned and held responsible.

This outcome sends the right message to young people, that this abuse is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated. We admire Georgia Harrison for speaking so openly about her experiences and for giving other women and girls the courage to find the support they need. If you are worried about your relationship, please reach out to Women’s Aid.”

Investing to save: the economic case for funding specialist domestic abuse support

This report presents research by Women’s Aid and economic analysis by ResPublica. Women’s Aid finds that the economic case is clear for the UK Government to commit to investing £427 million per year, as a minimum, to fund specialist domestic abuse services for women and their children across England. As an economic analysis commissioned by Women’s Aid shows, for every pound invested in domestic abuse support services we will see a saving to the public purse of at least £9.

To ensure provision is available and accessible to all who need it, this investment should come with a portion of funding ring-fenced for specialist services led ‘by and for’ Black and minoritised women, d/Deaf and disabled women, and the LGBT+ community. This level of funding will not only provide these services with the minimum level of resources they need to carry out life-saving work, but bring significant cost savings to other public service.

Women’s Aid responds to new government measures to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls

Farah Nazeer, chief executive at Women’s Aid, said:  

“At a time when the police response to violence against women and girls is an urgent public priority, it is positive to see the government step up efforts to coordinate action to tackle it.

“These measures, however, need to go further still to create the systemic change needed to keep women safe, and fail to hold any agency to account. The regular publication of data on police responses to violence against women and girls, as well as the Home Office monitoring of police compliance to existing standards, such as the Istanbul Convention, would be an important start.

“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is not only a criminal justice issue – only one in five survivors of domestic abuse report to the police. So we urgently need all government departments to work together, alongside VAWG experts, to tackle this issue of women’s inequality and human rights. This must be a priority for all relevant government ministers. Women’s lives depend on it.

“There is also not enough funding for domestic abuse support services for survivors, and we have serious concerns that existing funding is falling to larger, more generic services that are ill-equipped to provide the expert support that survivors urgently need. We recommend that the government commit to a minimum of £427m annually for specialist services in England, with ring-fenced funding for specialist services led ‘by and for’ Black and minoritised women, d/Deaf and disabled women, those with No Recourse to Public Funds and LGBT+ survivors.”

Women’s Aid responds to police misconduct cases over indecent exposure reports

Lucy Hadley, head of policy at Women’s Aid, said:

 

“These reports are yet another appalling example of police failing women. The fact that inquiries about a police officer committing sexual offences in public were not adequately investigated shows the lack of severity with which these crimes are considered. Indecent exposure can —  and did — escalate to much more serious offences and this should have raised a grave warning about the sort of man that Couzens was. He should have been suspended immediately but the dismissive attitude that we have seen time and again highlights deep-seated issues with misogyny and misconduct within the Met.

 

“This permissive culture must end: as the Couzens case shows, women’s lives depend on it.

 

“We urgently need the full implementation of reforms on vetting, misconduct and misogyny in policing as called for by the police inspectorate, and police forces must be held accountable for progress by the government.” 

Women’s Aid welcomes Mayor of London’s investment in women and girls impacted by violence

Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said:

 

“Economic abuse and domestic abuse go hand in hand. Almost three quarters of (73%) of women sharing housing and finances with their abusers have told us that the increased cost of living has either prevented them from leaving or made it harder for them to leave an abusive home. Women’s Aid has been calling for a ‘Help to Flee’ fund to help women and children leave unsafe environments. While more funding and support are needed, the Mayor of London’s investment is a step in the right direction, and a signal to survivors everywhere that they are seen.

 

“Nobody should feel forgotten or like their life is worth less – society cannot afford to leave these families behind. We look forward to continuing our work with decision makers to ensure financial hardship doesn’t risk women’s lives.”

Charities urge Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to guarantee better protection for women in Family Courts

28 signatories highlight flaws and call for urgent reform

The Family Courts are failing survivors of domestic abuse, according to 28 leading women’s charities, solicitors and survivors.

A letter signed by the group has been delivered to Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab today, calling for urgent action to stop the practice of perpetrators of domestic abuse from cross examining their victims in court.

Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid:

 

“It is appalling that women are being subjected to what is essentially state-sanctioned abuse within court settings, with perpetrators cross-examining their victims. No one would expect a burglar to be allowed to question the person they held at knifepoint.

“We welcomed the government’s announced commitments in 2017 to ban this abhorrent practice, but we remain unconvinced these measures are protecting survivors of domestic abuse effectively. Without proper scrutiny, women are left unprotected, terrified and subject to further abuse.

 

“We urge the Ministry of Justice to establish robust monitoring and evaluation to ensure the legislation is consistently implemented. The legislation must be extended to cover all child-contact cases in the system, not only those that have begun since July 2022, and we want assurances that enough qualified legal representatives are taking on this critical work.”

The letter has been sent ahead of the sixth anniversary of the government’s commitment to ban what the group have called an ‘abhorrent’ practice. The commitment, made in February 2017, was legislated only last year, in July 2022, under the Domestic Abuse Act and applied only to new cases, meaning that women already in the system have not been protected. Other critical flaws identified include the fact that  too few qualified legal representatives are signing up to undertake the cross examination in domestic abuse cases. Campaigners also highlight major concerns that without monitoring, there are no guarantees to ensure that the mandatory ban is actually implemented and suggests that without checks, perpetrators of domestic abuse can still/subject their victims to further abuse and trauma.

A 2020 report published by the Ministry of Justice identified ‘deep-seated and systematic issues’ which impede and obstruct the family court’s ability to respond consistently and effectively to domestic abuse. The signatories to the letter call urgently for the full implementation of the harm panel’s recommendations to protect women and children experiencing abuse.

Olive Craig, Senior Legal Officer, Rights of Women:

 

“It is unacceptable that after waiting 6 years for this legislation to be introduced, the way in which it has been implemented continues to leave survivors of domestic abuse at risk of further trauma and abuse in the court room. Many women will have experienced this state-sanctioned abuse in the years we have waited for this legislation. It is appalling that some will continue to experience it despite Parliament legislating otherwise. The Ministry of Justice must take steps to ensure Parliament’s intention is properly implemented including making provision for the necessary training for representatives, ensuring there are enough representatives in place and monitoring that it is actually working.”

Carmel Offord, Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS):

 

“Many of the people we support tell us how traumatising the family courts are for them, made even worse by being interrogated by their abuser. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 promised the practice of cross-examination by an abuser would be banned. However, the measures only apply to new cases from July 2022, leaving thousands of women, whose cases are already in progress, to face further abuse in a court room. In cases where the new measures can be applied, the implementation must be monitored and evaluated robustly to ensure that it is keeping people safe from this appalling practice. The pace of change in family courts is too slow, endangering children and risking the court system being controlled by abusers. We need action now to evidence the changes that have been promised and protect people from harm.”

Zoe Dronfield, survivor of domestic abuse:

 

“I was cross-examined by my abuser, and it was worse than the attack by my ex-partner that almost killed me. To be branded a bad parent is the worst thing that can happen to a mother. I did not do anything wrong other than find myself a victim of horrific domestic abuse and violence, but I was dragged through the family court and cross examined by him to justify his abuse.

 

It is often used as a continuation of abuse right under the nose of a judge, yet victims can be goaded, triggered and further traumatised.

 

This process allows perpetrators of domestic abuse to cross examine their victim in a court environment, which not only gives them a perceived power but allows them to legally continue emotional abuse of their victim which has a detrimental effect on their testimony.  This is abhorrent and stands in the way of a right to fair justice.”

Jenny Beck KC, Solicitor and Director, Beck Fitzgerald:

“Until we properly tackle the ability of perpetrators to use the court process to abuse, access to justice will be compromised. The recommendations of the harm review need to be properly implemented with commitment to funding a process which is both trauma informed and keeps victims safe.”

Here is the letter that has been sent to Dominic Raab MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice And Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Bellamy KC:

Former Police Officer sentenced to minimum of 30 years

Former Met Police Officer David Carrick abused his status to commit 48 rapes, amid a total of 85 sexual offences, against 12 courageous women, over 17 years. He has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years and 239 days.

Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive, Women’s Aid:

“This sentence will not diminish the fear and trauma that this dangerous predator inflicted on his victims, who will have to live with the consequences of his brutal and dehumanising actions for the rest of their lives. It will not restore the grave lack of trust that women currently have in the police and criminal justice system to protect them.

 

Carrick was a serving police officer who abused his authority to commit the worst crimes against women over a 17 year period; he had come to the attention of the Met and three other forces nine times but was still not considered a high-enough risk to warrant a thorough investigation into his conduct.

 

The women whose testimonies have put this violent perpetrator behind bars must be commended for their courage and bravery. We hope that their strength will show other women who have been silenced by fear and intimidation that justice is possible.

 

Apologies must be accompanied by urgent reforms to ensure that dangerous and predatory men do not belong in any police force, and a robust commitment must be made that women who report sexual assault and domestic abuse will be believed, supported and that they will receive justice. We have had enough and the time for change has long passed.

 

We need nothing short of complete, system-wide holistic reform of the police and across all sectors of the justice system to ensure women are protected from predatory men. This must range from recruitment and vetting policies, to management and misconduct process, to leadership and of course training which aims to eradicate sexism and misogyny. Change must be led from the top. All police forces must prioritise the reforms needed, and ultimately responsibility for the policing response to women lies with the Home Office – we need ministerial oversight and action to drive change.”

Change That Lasts Impact Briefings

The first briefing includes early findings of the our new approach, Change That Lasts detailing the awareness raising activities and support provided by ambassadors and professionals.

© Women’s Aid, 2018

The second briefing includes further findings from our delivery of Change That Lasts. It details the support provided by ambassadors and professionals.
© Women’s Aid, 2018

The third briefing includes further findings from our delivery of Change That Lasts. It details the support provided by ambassadors and professionals.
© Women’s Aid, 2019

The fourth briefing includes findings from the delivery of our Change That Lasts programme from December 2018 to December 2019. The Change That Lasts approach aims to increase the number of women and children living free from abuse by improving the community, professional and specialist responses they receive, from the very first time they speak about the abuse to freedom and long-term safety.
© Women’s Aid, 2020

Rail to Refuge: impact briefing

The Rail to Refuge scheme offers free train travel to women, children and men fleeing domestic abuse, who have been given an offer of a place in refuge.

This impact briefing outlines the evidence base behind the Rail to Refuge scheme, the inception of the scheme, the impact on survivors so far, learnings and how the scheme can be taken forward beyond March 2022. This report covers the time from the scheme’s launch in April 2020 to 12th September 2021.

The Women’s Aid Annual Survey

Women’s Aid conducts a survey of all domestic abuse services in England each year.

The findings of this survey make up the largest collection of such data in the country, giving invaluable insights into the work of the domestic abuse sector and the experiences and needs of the women and children it supports.