Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Accepted
Include reference to child domestic abuse victims and mandate needs assessments in guidance.
Recommendation
We recommend that clause 8(3) also includes reference to section 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, namely that children can be victims of domestic abuse in their own right. Doing so will provide assurance that commissioners of support services must also consider the specific needs of child victims of domestic abuse and the adequacy of the provision of referral pathways. We further recommend that the statutory guidance advises the authorities to undertake a needs assessment for child victims in their community and addresses the difficulties child victims of abuse experience in accessing pre-trial therapeutic support. (Paragraph 102) 56 Pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Victims Bill
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to amend the Bill to include reference to Section 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to capture children as victims in their own right. It will also update the Bill to require commissioners to specifically consider the needs of child victims when preparing their joint commissioning strategy.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
44. It has always been the Government’s intention to capture children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right as part of this duty. Therefore, we agree with the Committee that the Bill should align with the full Part 1 definition of domestic abuse as it appears in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and will implement this change ahead of introduction. 45. As set out in paragraph 42 we recognise the Committee’s concern that the needs of child victims should be considered by commissioners, and we will update the Bill to require commissioners to specifically have regard to the needs of child victims when preparing their joint commissioning strategy. We will consider how guidance can support authorities in fulfilling this requirement, and will consider how to include any relevant background to services that agencies may want to commission, including pre-trial therapy and the CPS’s relevant updated guidance.