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New Legislation Introduced to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls

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Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced new plans to strengthen the police’s abilities to tackle violence towards women and girls.

The government will fund a pilot across certain police forces from early 2025. In this article, we will explain what changes are due to be implemented at the start of the new year.

While we hope this information is useful, please note that it should not be taken as legal advice. If you need legal support with allegations related to violent crimes, then please get in touch and our team can advise you.

What changes will be introduced?

From November, those accused of domestic abuse may be ordered to stay away from their victims and face longer penalties if they breach certain rules, as a result of the new domestic abuse legislation.

The new orders will introduce certain measures, such as a legal obligation for alleged offenders to notify the police of any changes to their name or address, the use of electronic tagging, and mandatory assessments for behavioural change programs. These orders will not have a maximum duration.

What are the current laws surrounding domestic violence?

Domestic Violence Protection Notices can currently be issued by the police when attending incidents of alleged domestic violence. They are an immediate and short-term measure used to remove the suspected perpetrator from the property for 48 hours.  This is designed to give the victim a degree of safety and space by removing the suspected perpetrator and preventing them from molesting the victim.

The police can then apply to the magistrates’ court for a Domestic Violence Protection Order – this is not to be confused with the above-mentioned notice – which extends the notice for a further 14 to 28 days.

The pilot scheme will build on the powers that the police have when dealing with cases of domestic violence, as the police can order suspected perpetrators not to make contact with or go within a certain distance of a particular individual.

What crimes will be covered by this legislation?

The orders will address all types of domestic abuse, including violence, stalking, and controlling behaviour.

These orders will also allow more agencies to apply for and enforce them. It will not just be the police or the criminal courts which can impose such orders; the family and civil courts will also have the power to apply such orders.

Third parties, such as local authorities, charities, and social services, will also be able to implement these orders, and victims can apply for the order directly.

What are the penalties for breaching this legislation?

Breaching one of these new orders will be a criminal offence and will be punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

What should you do if you are accused of a violent crime?

When they are introduced, the potential punishments for breaching these orders will be serious, meaning that having expert legal advice on your side when facing such an accusation is essential.

Our specialist criminal defence solicitors have over 45 years of experience in handling complex and serious cases, including those related to violent crimes.

Regardless of your circumstances, our team will be on hand to provide tailored legal representation.

We are highly skilled at reviewing all forms of evidence that are used in these types of cases, including forensic and digital evidence. We have all of the tools and knowledge to build a strong defence case.

We have also been accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation, which has allowed us to establish strong relationships with many of the country’s leading criminal defence barristers.

Fees and funding

When dealing with fees and funding, we will always be clear and upfront about your options.

Legal Aid may be available in some cases, but this depends on the seriousness of the case and whether it will justify the grant of public funding.

To find out more about the way we handle fees (both Legal Aid and private fees), please use the links provided below:

Related offences

We also provide support and guidance on various other matters that are related to domestic violence, including:

Related cases

Contact our criminal defence lawyers today

If you are due to attend the police station, require any urgent specialist advice, or immediate representation for allegations of violence, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact our dedicated criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you quickly.

24/7 legal representation for domestic violence allegations

Please contact us for a free initial consultation with one of our criminal defence lawyers for immediate advice and representation.

For urgent representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556 and we will provide you with the assistance you need.