The domestic violence bill doesn’t go far enough, say its critics. Those at risk shouldn’t feel they have to stay home and suffer
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As a new national lockdown comes into force in England, organisations working with people facing domestic abuse are making renewed calls for long-term funding, and pushing for further amendments to the domestic abuse bill, as it makes its way through the Lords.
The impact of the pandemic on those facing domestic abuse was evident almost immediately during the national lockdown in March. The Counting Dead Women project told MPs that between 23 March and 12 April, at least 16 domestic abuse killings had taken place – much higher than the average for the time of year – while calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline were running at 49% higher than normal three weeks after lockdown was introduced.
