Michael has written for The Times about the importance of collaboration when tacking domestic abuse, and how the role of independent domestic abuse advisers is vital in helping perpetrators be brought to justice:
"Home is expected to be a safe-haven — but for families living with domestic abuse that is simply not the case. In the year to March 2020, 2.3 million adults were affected, cases that represented 13 per cent of the Crown Prosecution Service workload.
This number does not cover the wider impact of the offence — children who witness abuse and the family who seek to pick up the pieces.
Supporting those who have endured domestic abuse — and seeking justice and protection for them — is a government priority.
Skilful collaboration between agencies through the life of a domestic violence case is important
Despite a rise in incidents and reports of domestic abuse, the number of cases referred to the CPS has reduced and so the volume of cases charged has fallen. I’m pleased to say referrals are now beginning to increase.
The reasons for the fall are not simple, but what has become clear through conversations with prosecutors and police is how complex domestic abuse cases are to see through the justice system. Helping victims to engage when they have experienced controlling abuse is difficult — helping them to stay engaged requires skilled and targeted support.
The role of independent domestic abuse advisers is instrumental in guiding victims through the court process and helping to secure special measures during this extremely difficult time. I am in no doubt that for us to succeed in helping more victims see justice, agencies must come together, as they have done to tackle cases of rape and serious sexual abuse.
Since the joint national action plan for rape was launched at the beginning of 2021, adult rape referrals from the police to prosecutors have increased 69 per cent and charges by 86 per cent. This approach works.
That is why I am heartened to hear that the CPS and police are joining forces to drive improvements in their collective handling of domestic abuse cases. The joint justice plan, which is expected later this year, will build on the collaborative approach to serious crimes requiring a specialised response.
Skilful collaboration between agencies through the life of a case is vital. Victim engagement begins from the police report and the CPS must continue to bring their expertise to charging.
Currently, the CPS charge around 75 per cent of cases and the chief inspector’s report found that their decisions are almost always correct. But casework needs improvement — as does support for victims — and the CPS and police must come together to make this happen.
Systems are falling into place to track persistent offenders. Strangulation — a known feature of domestic abuse — is now an offence in its own right. Guidance now affords victim status to children who witness domestic abuse.
Collaboration has yielded meaningful justice for victims of rape — this same team focus is needed to tackle the scourge of domestic abuse."
You can also read the article online here: Tackling Domestic Abuse
