Commissioner warns England and Wales government on domestic abuse

The domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, has expressed serious concerns about government plans to address domestic abuse. She fears these plans may keep failing victims due to inadequate responses from ministers. Dame Nicole’s comments came after the government did not fully accept all the recommendations from her January review. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that includes more funding to improve victims' experiences in the justice system. The government argues it has already implemented significant measures to enhance police responses and protect victims. They plan to reveal more initiatives in a strategy focused on violence against women and girls, according to a source from the Home Office. Dame Nicole's review highlighted "systemic failures" in the justice system. It pointed out the low conviction rates and lack of funding, which have damaged victims' trust in police and courts. The review included twelve recommendations and warned that failing to address these issues could jeopardize goals to reduce violence against women and girls. In a response, the government accepted two of Dame Nicole's recommendations to improve policing related to domestic abuse. However, they rejected her call for new legislation that would make it easier for victims to claim self-defense if they are facing violence from an abuser. The government stated that self-defense can already be used in cases involving domestic abuse, and an ongoing review by the Law Commission might address the issue further. They also partially accepted nine other recommendations for better training and data sharing among law enforcement and justice agencies. Despite these responses, Dame Nicole criticized the government for merely relabeling existing programs and urged them not to overlook the need for sufficient funding and a clear strategy. She stressed that the current criminal justice system is failing domestic abuse victims and warned that without significant changes, the situation is unlikely to improve. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice promised to consider support for victims in their upcoming spending review.