PCCs welcome Domestic Abuse Act, but want sustainable funding for victims’ support services
The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent today.
Julia Mulligan - Joint Victims Lead for the APCC and the outgoing Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire - said: ‘Domestic abuse has always been a priority for Police and Crime Commissioners. Throughout the pandemic we have worked incredibly hard to support victims of domestic abuse - raising awareness of the services we commission, and reassuring victims that support continues to be available to them.
‘On behalf of all PCCs, I welcome the Domestic Abuse Bill today receiving Royal Assent and becoming the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. PCCs have already been engaging with the Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner and we look forward to continuing to work with her to protect victims now that her role has been enshrined in law.
‘We are pleased Parliament agreed to amendments which make non-fatal strangulation a specific offence, and which recognise an abuser can exert controlling or coercive behaviour on a victim even if they do not live together.
‘PCCs also welcome commitments to review the support available to migrant victims and those with insecure immigration status; and we hope the community-based services we commission will in time be given the same status as accommodation-based services.
‘But above all, we want to see sustainable funding for support services made available to victims of domestic abuse, through PCCs local commissioning budgets. This would provide sustainability, stability, and enable local victims’ services to build capacity and resilience.’