As you may have seen on our blog and social media channels in recent months, the Domestic Abuse Act has officially become law and is in the process of being implemented.
A timeline has recently been published, highlighting when the various provisions in the Act will be introduced. In today’s blog post, we’ll outline what has already been introduced as well as what we can expect over the coming weeks and months.
Already Implemented
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, was appointed into her post in September 2019, around a year and a half before the Act officially became law. The role has not yet been placed on a statutory footing though, although this is expected to be formally commenced from November 2021.
Around the same time, legal additions were introduced banning the “rough sex” defence that perpetrators have often used, as well as an extension of the existing revenge porn laws to cover the threat to disclose private sexual photographs and films with the intention to cause distress. (Previous laws only addressed the action of disclosure, not the threat.)
Those who are homeless as a result of domestic abuse will now be granted ‘priority need’ status for local authority accommodation, thanks to guidance set out in the Domestic Abuse Act.
Coming Soon
The Government has held a consultation around the definition of domestic abuse and the accompanying guidance that will go out to organisations outlining what is expected of them. This is expected to be published later this year, but part of the definition – sections outlining the different forms it can take – has already been implemented at the start of October.
Also expected to be introduced in the coming months is guidance around local authority support for refuges, special measures in the family courts, and a prohibition for GPs to charge survivors for letters supporting legal aid applications.
Future Plans
The aim is for all of the Act’s provisions to be introduced by 2023, with a further proportion of measures expected to become effective from the start of 2022. This is to allow time for consultations around the key issues, giving organisations time to have their say on how the Government can provide the best possible support for survivors.
We will keep supporters updated with the progress of the Act, as well as campaigning to ensure that it works to support everyone experiencing domestic abuse.
Read the governments full implementation timeline.
