There is a desperate lack of refuge spaces for victims of domestic abuse -refuge provision should be a statutory obligation, backed by national ring fenced funding.
This is from the October 2018 report from the Home Affairs Committee on the forthcoming Government Bill on Domestic Abuse.
The report finds:
- Some of the Government’s welfare reform policies are making it harder for victims to leave or to avoid economic abuse and control. Single household payments under Universal Credit are a “retrograde and backward step”. Split payments for couples should be the standard instead.
- A national register of serial stalkers and serial domestic violence perpetrators should be introduced.
- The proposed new Commissioner should cover both Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls; the strategy should cover all victims of domestic abuse but must reflect the gender inequality underlying domestic abuse.
- The Government should consult on introducing paid domestic violence leave for victims of abuse.
