A minister has urged domestic abuse victims “suffering in silence” to seek support as the government rolls out strict new restraining orders to stop abusers from harassing their victims.
Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for victims and violence against women and girls, told The Independent the new measures recognise the issue is often happening behind closed doors.
Her interview comes as domestic abuse protection notices and orders (DAPNs and DAPOs) are due to be tested out in parts of England and Wales before being implemented across the country.
The orders - which criminal, civil and family courts are able to implement - can impose exclusion zones and force abusers to attend programmes aimed at tackling their behaviour.
Infringing an order will be a criminal offence that can be punished by up to five years in prison. Unlike some orders that only last for 28 days, they will have no time restrictions.
“There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country. I believe as a society, we have sadly become desensitised to it,” Ms Davies-Jones said.
She backedThe Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign, which was launched in partnership with the leading domestic abuse charity Refuge, to raise funds to build two houses for women and children escaping abusive partners.
The initial £300,000 target was surpassed thanks to generous donations from readers. More than £500,000 in donations have flooded in so far, and plans are already underway for a second home.
Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15
“The work The Independent are doing on this campaign is incredible and all the praise to you for raising awareness about this issue and this plight,” Ms Davies-Jones added. “More media needs to do that.”
The MP for Pontypridd warned children can normalise domestic abuse if they have witnessed it growing up as she called for the “cycle of abuse” to be broken.
She urged victims “suffering in silence” to talk to a friend, colleague, or anyone at all, or ring a confidential helpline for domestic abuse victims.
Ms Davies-Jones reiterated Labour’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
She said: “We have a prime minister who has worked in this field previously. He takes this very seriously. We have a home secretary and a justice secretary who are all leading from the front on this, and that is what it is going to take to make the change.”
Police officers will immediately impose DAPNs after incidents of domestic abuse, which then provide the police with time to apply for a DAPO so the victim is further protected.
The initiative will mark the first time the family courts have been able to force abusers to wear tags - electronic devices which monitor their movements.
There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls in this country. I believe as a society, we have sadly become desensitised to it.
Domestic abuse commissioner Nicole Jacobs said the new orders can be imposed by any court and bring together powers in other protective orders to provide “flexible and long-term protection” for victims of domestic abuse.
The orders - which were legislated for by the former Tory government in 2021 - are intended to cover all forms of domestic abuse.
Family courts will also be able to impose tagging for up to 12 months in the most serious cases, something that previously could only be done by criminal courts or the police.
A victim’s friends and family will be able to apply for an order on their behalf, which victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said would “reduce the pressure on victims”.
She added: “It takes tremendous courage for victims of domestic abuse to seek help. Our role in government is to make this as straightforward as possible.”
The new orders will be trialled in Greater Manchester, three London boroughs and by the British Transport Police, with further pilots in Cleveland and North Wales early in 2025 before being rolled out nationally.
The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men’s advice line on 0808 8010 327
Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise another £300,000 to build a second safe space for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make a new future. Text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15.
