Ellie Reeves responds to the government’s announcement on plans for tougher sentences for domestic killers

Ellie Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, commenting on the government’s announcement on plans for tougher sentences for domestic killers, said: 

“Domestic abuse is a blight on our society. We welcome any policy that tackles violence against women and girls.

“However, the Conservatives are failing to protect domestic abuse survivors leaving perpetrators going unpunished. With a record courts backlog, prosecution rates for domestic abuse have halved whilst reports have more than doubled since 2015. Vulnerable women don’t need more dither and delay - they need action.

“Labour is the party of law and order. The next Labour Government will speed up justice with more prosecutors to put criminals behind bars and introduce longer jail terms for rapists. That’s how we will prevent crime, punish criminals, and protect communities.”

Ends

Notes:  

To ask the Attorney General, how many people charged with domestic abuse offences had been previously convicted of such offences in each of the last 30 years for which figures are available:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-01-17/125374/

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold any data which shows the number of suspects charged with domestic abuse offences after having been previously convicted of similar offences. The CPS does not hold any data on recidivism. Proven reoffending statistics are held, maintained, and published by the Ministry of Justice. 

CPS domestic abuse charge volume:  

Number of domestic abuse-related crimes recorded by the police and percentage of offences that were domestic abuse-related in England and Wales:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/domesticabuseprevalenceandtrendsenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2022