The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Current affairs

New domestic abuse guidelines issued by government

New domestic abuse guidelines issued by government
20 September 2012
Annalisa Ratti
Avatar
Annalisa Ratti
20 September 2012

The government has unveiled a new and broader definition of domestic abuse to cover psychological intimidation and controlling behaviour. 

This new definition, announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, will include: “any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality”.

As a result, actions such as preventing partners from leaving the house or having access to a phone could lead to prosecution. The general hope is that this broadened definition will help raise awareness of different kinds of domestic violence. 

Deborah McIlveen, of Women’s Aid, welcomed the new definition of domestic violence, which also considers the domestic abuses suffered by young people aged 16 to 18, and recognises the enormous impact of coercive control.

Domestic violence is not a specific criminal offence and has often been prosecuted in reference to “incidents of threatening behaviour, violence and abuse”, according to a definition adopted in 2004.

However, with one incident of domestic violence reported to the police every minute and with an average of 35 assaults before the police are called, according to Women’s Aid figures, this new definition would be key in raising awareness and enabling prevention. 

Minister for crime prevention Jeremy Browne said: “We want to raise the profile of domestic violence as an issue.” 

Nick Clegg echoed this, saying: “When you say domestic violence, people think that’s one act of physical violence, but actually psychological and emotional coercion, abuse over a long period of time is just as unacceptable.”

Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary and Labour’s spokeswoman for women and equalities, said: “Action on domestic abuse should recognise wider abuse and control and the impact on younger people too”. However, she also expressed her concerns over access to legal aid and support as a result of the cumulative cuts to domestic violence services perpetrated by the Coalition Government.

The changes into the definition of domestic violence will come into force in March 2013 following the advice of police, local authorities and charities.

Annalisa Ratti

Related Items

More in Current Affairs

Changes to expect during menopause

The editorial unit
Read More

Why Equity Linked Savings Schemes is a preferred tax saving?

The editorial unit
Read More

How the world’s top designers would rebrand political parties

The editorial unit
Read More

Royal baby furore: Proof that the British monarchy is still popular?

Eoin O’Sullivan-Harris
Read More

World Mental Health Day 2018: Raising awareness and combating stigma

The editorial unit
Read More

Seven political personalities you should know about

The editorial unit
Read More

Donald Trump: An enemy of the arts?

The editorial unit
Read More

Trump’s fortune: Where did the money come from?

The editorial unit
Read More

Snapchat Spectacles come to the UK

The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Weezer with the LA Philharmonic and YOLA at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • A Splinter of Ice at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Race to Save the World
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Motherhood Project: An interview with creator and curator Katherine Kotz
    Theatre
  • The Mitchells vs the Machines
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Shadow and Bone
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • 50 Next unveils the new generation of food industry pioneers
    Food & Drinks
  • 50 Next unveils the new generation of food industry pioneers
    Food & Drinks
  • Arlo the Alligator Boy
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • London’s Michelin-starred restaurants open al fresco right now – and all those re-opening in May
    Food & Drinks
  • Campfire in Kings Cross: Two Tribes deliver everything you’ve been missing with a night of beer, BBQ and live music
    Food & Drinks
  • Live from the Barbican: Moses Boyd
    ★★★★★
    Live music
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Complaints about doctors increase by 23% in one year
Pakistan on lockdown as protests over anti-Islam film flare