What is the new Domestic Abuse Act in the UK?

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is a landmark piece of legislation introduced in the UK to provide better protection and support for victims of domestic abuse and to improve the response of the justice system.

The Domestic Abuse Act received Royal Assent on April 29, 2021.

The purpose of the Domestic Abuse Act is to strengthen protections for victims of domestic abuse, increase accountability of perpetrators, and improve the effectiveness of the legal and support systems.

Yes, the Act provides a statutory definition of domestic abuse that includes physical violence, emotional abuse, coercive control, and economic abuse.

Coercive control is a pattern of behavior by a perpetrator over a victim designed to isolate, control, or frighten them, and is recognized as a form of domestic abuse under the Act.

The Act recognizes children as victims of domestic abuse if they see, hear, or experience the effects of abuse, and emphasizes the need for their protection and welfare.

The Act introduces measures to protect victims in court, including preventing cross-examination by their abusers in family and civil proceedings, and allowing for more special measures to support vulnerable witnesses.

The Act introduces Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) that police can issue immediately to provide victims with immediate protection by imposing conditions on the perpetrator.

A Domestic Abuse Protection Order is a flexible and longer-term order that courts can impose, designed to offer victims better protection from abusive behavior and include both prohibitions and requirements for the perpetrator.

Yes, the Act places a duty on local authorities in England to provide support and accommodation to victims of domestic abuse and their children.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is an independent official appointed under the Act to monitor the response of all agencies tackling domestic abuse and to ensure victims’ voices are heard.

The Act explicitly recognizes economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse, where perpetrators control a victim’s access to money, resources, or financial independence.

Yes, the Act creates a specific offense of non-fatal strangulation, reflecting its seriousness and providing more appropriate prosecution pathways and penalties.

The Act introduces a duty on specified public authorities to cooperate with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and support their work in combating domestic abuse.

Yes, the Act includes provisions ensuring that victims of domestic abuse have access to secure housing and that they are given priority need for accommodation.

The Act includes provisions for conducting a pilot to better understand the needs and barriers faced by migrant victims of domestic abuse and how best to support them.

Yes, the definition of domestic abuse in the Act covers abuse by an ex-partner or family member, reflecting the extended relationships where abuse can occur.

The Act primarily applies to England and Wales, though some provisions may extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Act encourages a unified response by requiring various agencies and departments to collaborate and produce a cross-governmental strategy on domestic abuse.

The Act emphasizes the importance of education in preventing domestic abuse and supports measures to raise awareness and provide training on identifying and addressing domestic abuse.