A Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner is to be appointed
to help the government transform its response to domestic
abuse.
Today (Tuesday 4 December) the Home Office has announced it
is launching recruitment for the new Commissioner, who will
be charged with standing up for victims and survivors,
providing public leadership on domestic abuse concerns and
driving the response to issues.
The candidate will also give recommendations to the
government and local bodies on how provisions could be
improved and highlight where best practice is taking place.
The Commissioner will also look at the needs of victims and
survivors from minority or marginalised groups, and
children affected by domestic abuse.
Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerabilities Minister said:
I am absolutely committed to transforming the response to
domestic abuse to ensure victims and their loved ones who
are affected by this devastating crime receive the
support they need.
Having a Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner to focus
solely on domestic abuse issues will be a turning point
in how we respond to this crime.
Domestic abuse is a complex and hidden crime so I am
confident that the Commissioner will help shine a light
on the issues.
The Designate Commissioner will be placed on a statutory
footing once the Domestic Abuse Bill passes through
Parliament. The position was created ahead of the Bill’s
introduction to ensure the government’s response to all
domestic abuse issues is as robust as possible.
The Designate Commissioner will also be required to
establish an Advisory Board, composed of civil society
groups, service providers, victims and experts, and a
Victims and Survivors Advisory Group composed entirely of
victims and survivors.
Both groups will provide expert advice and ensure that the
Designate Commissioner is carrying out the job in an
appropriate manner.
The role has also been designed to complement work
undertaken by other advisors within government and because
of the specific need to tackle domestic abuse issues. The
Designate Commissioner will work collaboratively with
others, such as the Victims’ Commissioner, when there are
overlapping issues.
This is part of the government’s work to transform the
response to domestic abuse and go further to support the 2
million people who suffer the crime each year.
The public consultation ahead of the Domestic Abuse Bill
received approximately 3,200 responses.
Measures the government consulted on included:
- plans for a statutory government definition of domestic
abuse so that no one is in any doubt of the range of
behaviours it entails
- introducing new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders
(DAPOs), to give courts the power to place conditions on
domestic abuse perpetrators
- putting the guidance on which the Domestic Violence
Disclosure Scheme is based into statute
When the government held a public consultation on the
creation of a commissioner as part of the Domestic Abuse
Bill it was supported by two thirds of respondents.
For further information
on the recruitment campaign visit the Cabinet
Office website.
The Victims’ Commissioner is required to promote the
interests of all victims and witnesses, encourage good
practice in their treatment, and keep under review the
operation of the Victims’ Code.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be put in place
early next year to formalise the working relationship
between these roles.
