Domestic abuse victims will receive a wide range of new measures to protect them in what ministers say will be landmark legislation.
New laws will for the first time create a legal definition of domestic abuse, to include economic abuse and control.
The long-awaited legislation will also ban abusers from cross-examining victims in family courts.
Campaigners say the measures are a “once in a generation” opportunity to combat the impact of abuse.
Government experts estimate domestic abuse cost society £66bn in 2016/17 and it’s hoped the changes will improve the response.
The draft bill going before MPs will also:
- Create new powers to force perpetrators into behaviour-changing rehabilitation programmes
- Make victims automatically eligible for special protections when they are giving evidence in criminal trials
- Set up a national “domestic abuse commissioner” tasked with improving the response and support for victims across public services
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46939735
