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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Domestic violence law 'worrying' | Domestic violence law 'worrying' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The government says it wants an "urgent" meeting with a top judge over fears changes to the law have stopped victims reporting domestic violence. | The government says it wants an "urgent" meeting with a top judge over fears changes to the law have stopped victims reporting domestic violence. |
| Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division, has said the Domestic Violence Act's impact concerned him. | Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division, has said the Domestic Violence Act's impact concerned him. |
| Another judge told the Times that since the 2007 law was introduced, up to 25% fewer victims had come forward. | Another judge told the Times that since the 2007 law was introduced, up to 25% fewer victims had come forward. |
| Women fear the new law means their partners will get criminal records, Judge John Platt told the paper. | Women fear the new law means their partners will get criminal records, Judge John Platt told the paper. |
| 'Very worrying' | 'Very worrying' |
| In a paper drawn up for Sir Mark, he said that figures extrapolated from six courts across the country suggested there had been a drop by 25% in the number of victims who had sought non-molestation orders - equivalent to 5,000 a year. | In a paper drawn up for Sir Mark, he said that figures extrapolated from six courts across the country suggested there had been a drop by 25% in the number of victims who had sought non-molestation orders - equivalent to 5,000 a year. |
| "Either offenders have changed their behaviour - which seems extremely unlikely - or the victims do not want to criminalise the perpetrators," he told the newspaper. | "Either offenders have changed their behaviour - which seems extremely unlikely - or the victims do not want to criminalise the perpetrators," he told the newspaper. |
| "It is obviously very worrying." | "It is obviously very worrying." |
| However, the Ministry of Justice said Home Office statistics showed an increase in the reporting of domestic violence. | |
| It said this was "testament to the growing confidence victims have that they will be listened to and their reports effectively investigated". | |
| Changes in the legislation meant breaching the orders is now a criminal, rather than a civil, offence. | Changes in the legislation meant breaching the orders is now a criminal, rather than a civil, offence. |
| Offenders can be jailed for up to five years. | Offenders can be jailed for up to five years. |
| A spokesman for Sir Mark said: "The president is very concerned that, for whatever reason, the legislation appears to have led to a reduction rather than an increase in the protection afforded to victims of domestic violence as a result of the change of the law." | A spokesman for Sir Mark said: "The president is very concerned that, for whatever reason, the legislation appears to have led to a reduction rather than an increase in the protection afforded to victims of domestic violence as a result of the change of the law." |
| A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said it was seeking an urgent meeting with Sir Mark Potter to discuss his concerns. | |