Theresa May pledges electronic tagging for domestic abusers in tough new crackdown
2 min read
Domestic abuse suspects face being electronically tagged and banned from taking alcohol under tough new measures aimed at ending their behaviour, Theresa May has announced.
Theresa May said the proposed Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) would allow the early intervention of courts to protect victims.
Breaching any of the conditions of the new civil orders would be a criminal offence.
The creation of a domestic abuse commissioner, tougher sentences for abuse that impacts children and giving abuse victims the same status in court as those who have suffered sex offences are all currently under consideration.
The new plans would also recognise economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse, punishable by law.
Writing in The Sun, the Prime Minister said: “This despicable crime isn’t just physical. Domestic Abuse can take many forms, which is why we also need to wake up to controlling and coercive behaviour to better spot it and take action.
“If you have your finances withheld, are denied access to employment or transport, or are forced to take out loans – that’s simply not right.”
The new consultation builds on work that the Mrs May started during her time in the Home Office. Current Home Secretary Amber Rudd said that the plans were about protecting individuals and families at the earliest opportunity.
“I want to fundamentally change the way we as a country think about domestic abuse, recognising that it is a crime that comes in many forms – physical, emotional, economic”, she said
Katie Ghose, chief executive of Women’s Aid welcomed the new plans, saying: "We want to see the Bill encompass and go beyond changes to the criminal justice system to include policies on housing, education, health, immigration and the welfare system to name but a few, to ensure that every survivor and her child can safely escape domestic abuse."
But Diane Abbott, Labours Shadow Home Secretary, said there was much more the Government should be doing.
“"Any measures to combat domestic violence are welcome however this Tory Government have spent the last eight years cutting the very services those fleeing abuse rely on.
“Domestic violence is one of the toughest crimes to police effectively and it’s become much more difficult because of the Tories’ cutting 21,000 police and support for women’s refuges.
“There is much more this Government could and should do."
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