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We stormed the Baftas because the domestic violence bill is dangerous We stormed the Baftas because the domestic violence bill is dangerous
(35 minutes later)
Mon 19 Feb 2018 11.07 GMTMon 19 Feb 2018 11.07 GMT
Last modified on Mon 19 Feb 2018 11.22 GMT Last modified on Mon 19 Feb 2018 12.14 GMT
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Not many people would choose to spend their Sunday evening risking arrest to jump onto the red carpet at the Baftas, but then again not many people recognise the desperate state of domestic violence in the UK. Not many people would choose to spend their Sunday evening risking arrest to jump on to the red carpet at the Baftas, but then again, not many people recognise the desperate state of domestic violence in the UK.
Sisters Uncut was founded three and a half years ago in protest against Conservative austerity measures that have cut and closed life-saving domestic violence support services across the country. As domestic violence support workers and survivors, we’ve seen first-hand how this brutal removal of specialist support has left survivors trapped in danger. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse, and we have campaigned relentlessly to push the government to take state responsibility for keeping survivors safe. Sisters Uncut was founded three and a half years ago in protest against Conservative austerity measures that have cut and closed life-saving domestic violence support services across the country. As domestic violence support workers and survivors, we’ve seen first-hand how this brutal removal of specialist support has left survivors trapped in danger. Since then, the situation has only got worse, and we have campaigned relentlessly to push the government to take state responsibility for keeping survivors safe.
The solutions and support that survivors truly need are not being offered and the stakes are too high now for us to not take actionThe solutions and support that survivors truly need are not being offered and the stakes are too high now for us to not take action
Without our continued pressure over the past three years, there probably wouldn’t even be a domestic violence and abuse bill on the table right now. But we’re not celebrating. This piece of legislation is a dangerous distraction. Instead of refunding refuges, reinstating legal aid and providing desperately needed housing for domestic violence survivors, Theresa May continues to turn her back on both survivors and the solutions they need. She has made clear that she intends the bill, which is still under consultation in parliament, to bring in tougher sentences and “deliver more convictions”. This bill will criminalise survivors while distracting from devastating funding cuts to domestic violence services nationwide. Instead of using this opportunity to strengthen support for domestic violence survivors fleeing abuse, the government intends to pump further powers into prisons and policing. Without our continued pressure over the past three years, there probably wouldn’t even be a domestic violence and abuse bill on the table right now. But we’re not celebrating. This piece of legislation is a dangerous distraction. Instead of refinancing refuges, reinstating legal aid and providing desperately needed housing for domestic violence survivors, Theresa May continues to turn her back on both survivors and the solutions they need. She has made clear that she intends the bill, which is still under consultation in parliament, to bring in tougher sentences and “deliver more convictions”. This bill will potentially criminalise survivors while distracting from devastating funding cuts to domestic violence services nationwide. Instead of using this opportunity to strengthen support for domestic violence survivors fleeing abuse, the government intends to pump further powers into prisons and policing.
Laying on the red carpet, we linked arms and chanted “the DV bill’s a cover-up, Theresa May your time is up”, because we know that this bill will leave survivors locked up in prison, locked out of refuges, and locked in to violent relationships. Can you imagine calling the police for help and ending up in a police cell yourself? It’s already a reality for domestic violence survivors in the UK, as highlighted in recent reports about the death of Katrina O’Hara, who was murdered after being wrongly investigated by the police instead of her violent partner. This bill will only make such tragic cases more likely. Lying on the red carpet, we linked arms and chanted: “The DV bill’s a cover-up, Theresa May your time is up,” because we know that this bill will leave survivors locked up in prison, locked out of refuges, and locked in to violent relationships. Can you imagine calling the police for help and ending up in a police cell yourself? It’s already a reality for domestic violence survivors in the UK, as highlighted in recent reports about the death of Katrina O’Hara, who was murdered after being wrongly investigated by the police. This bill will only make such tragic cases more likely.
In the US, similar policies to those that the bill is expected to introduce have led to an increase in the number of survivors being arrested, especially black and minority ethnic and poorer survivors. Recent research by the Prison Reform Trust in the UK has already found that survivors report being repeatedly arrested by the police despite their partner being the primary aggressor. In the US, similar policies to those this bill is expected to introduce have led to an increase in the number of survivors being arrested, especially black and minority ethnic and poorer survivors. Recent research by the Prison Reform Trust in the UK has already found that survivors report being repeatedly arrested by the police despite their partner being the primary aggressor.
Already, 57% of women in prison are survivors of domestic violence who should have received support, not sentences. If the government’s domestic violence and abuse bill centres on the criminal justice system, support services will be left to crumble and survivors will remain trapped. The solutions and support that survivors truly need are not being offered and the stakes are too high now for us to not take action. Already, 57% of women in prison are survivors of domestic violence; they should have received support, not sentences. If the government’s domestic violence and abuse bill centres on the criminal justice system, support services will be left to crumble, and survivors will remain trapped. The solutions and support that survivors truly need are not being offered, and the stakes are too high now for us to not take action.
This bill is a distraction from the Conservative austerity cuts that have ripped the domestic violence safety net to pieces. Refuges are beyond breaking point, and stand to be lost almost completely if the government proceeds with plans to remove their housing benefit funding. If Theresa May really cared about domestic violence, she would refund these services immediately. This bill is a distraction from the Conservative austerity cuts that have ripped the domestic violence safety net to pieces. Refuges are beyond breaking point in England, and stand to be lost almost completely if the government proceeds with plans to remove their housing benefit funding. If Theresa May really cared about domestic violence, she would refund these services immediately.
We chose to target the Baftas because the Time’s Up movement has made gains in fighting gender-based violence in the entertainment industry, and we’re extending the message to call Time’s Up on our own government. The police and prisons are no solution to domestic violence. The prime minister must give power back to survivors by funding domestic violence refuges and specialist services.We chose to target the Baftas because the Time’s Up movement has made gains in fighting gender-based violence in the entertainment industry, and we’re extending the message to call Time’s Up on our own government. The police and prisons are no solution to domestic violence. The prime minister must give power back to survivors by funding domestic violence refuges and specialist services.
• Sisters Uncut is a feminist direct action group made up of non-binary people and women protesting against cuts to domestic violence services• Sisters Uncut is a feminist direct action group made up of non-binary people and women protesting against cuts to domestic violence services
Domestic violenceDomestic violence
OpinionOpinion
Baftas 2018Baftas 2018
WomenWomen
AusterityAusterity
ConservativesConservatives
Theresa MayTheresa May
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