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| Domestic violence law planned, says Labour's Yvette Cooper | Domestic violence law planned, says Labour's Yvette Cooper |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| New laws on domestic violence would be introduced by a Labour government to prevent abusive partners avoiding prosecution, the shadow home secretary has said. | New laws on domestic violence would be introduced by a Labour government to prevent abusive partners avoiding prosecution, the shadow home secretary has said. |
| Yvette Cooper says a commissioner would also be appointed by Labour to oversee "national standards" in such cases. | Yvette Cooper says a commissioner would also be appointed by Labour to oversee "national standards" in such cases. |
| Ms Cooper says more offenders are now avoiding court action as "community resolutions" are instead being used. | Ms Cooper says more offenders are now avoiding court action as "community resolutions" are instead being used. |
| Police have disputed the claim they are not taking violence seriously. | Police have disputed the claim they are not taking violence seriously. |
| The Home Office, meanwhile, said the use of the resolutions - which can include apologies or compensation - for serious crimes was "not acceptable". | The Home Office, meanwhile, said the use of the resolutions - which can include apologies or compensation - for serious crimes was "not acceptable". |
| Community resolutions are used by police to resolve low-level or minor offences through "informal agreement between the parties involved", instead of through the court system. | Community resolutions are used by police to resolve low-level or minor offences through "informal agreement between the parties involved", instead of through the court system. |
| They are aimed at first-time offenders and can be used where there has been an admission of guilt and after the victim's views have been taken into account. | They are aimed at first-time offenders and can be used where there has been an admission of guilt and after the victim's views have been taken into account. |
| Data compiled by Labour from 15 of the 43 police forces showed there were 3,305 uses of community resolutions for domestic violence in 2013 - up from 1,337 in 2009. | Data compiled by Labour from 15 of the 43 police forces showed there were 3,305 uses of community resolutions for domestic violence in 2013 - up from 1,337 in 2009. |
| In a speech in Birmingham to mark Labour's summer campaign, Ms Cooper said the data is "deeply worrying" and suggests ministers are "turning their backs" on victims of domestic violence. | In a speech in Birmingham to mark Labour's summer campaign, Ms Cooper said the data is "deeply worrying" and suggests ministers are "turning their backs" on victims of domestic violence. |
| She also repeated Labour's promise to ban the use of the resolutions for domestic and sexual violence. | She also repeated Labour's promise to ban the use of the resolutions for domestic and sexual violence. |
| 'Harder to escape' | 'Harder to escape' |
| Speaking earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Cooper said the aim of Labour's planned legislation was to ensure police intervened in cases of domestic violence. | Speaking earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Cooper said the aim of Labour's planned legislation was to ensure police intervened in cases of domestic violence. |
| Ms Cooper said in her speech that community resolutions can be "very effective", but added that they should not "be used for violent offences, and especially not for domestic violence". | Ms Cooper said in her speech that community resolutions can be "very effective", but added that they should not "be used for violent offences, and especially not for domestic violence". |
| She also accused the government, saying it "just doesn't take violence against women seriously". | She also accused the government, saying it "just doesn't take violence against women seriously". |
| "For the police to simply take a violent abuser home to apologise risks making domestic violence worse and makes it even harder for victims to escape a cycle of abuse," she said. | "For the police to simply take a violent abuser home to apologise risks making domestic violence worse and makes it even harder for victims to escape a cycle of abuse," she said. |
| Advice from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) suggests community resolutions are suitable for crimes such as criminal damage, minor theft and anti-social behaviour. | Advice from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) suggests community resolutions are suitable for crimes such as criminal damage, minor theft and anti-social behaviour. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan from Greater Manchester Police, Acpo's lead on restorative justice, told Today community resolutions were given in less than 1% of cases categorised as domestic violence. | Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan from Greater Manchester Police, Acpo's lead on restorative justice, told Today community resolutions were given in less than 1% of cases categorised as domestic violence. |
| He added the method is "specifically attuned to low level domestic abuse particularly where victims want that course of action". | He added the method is "specifically attuned to low level domestic abuse particularly where victims want that course of action". |
| A Home Office spokeswoman said a review had already been conducted into the inappropriate use of community resolutions. | A Home Office spokeswoman said a review had already been conducted into the inappropriate use of community resolutions. |
| She also said every police force in England and Wales had been written to by Home Secretary Theresa May instructing them to produce a domestic violence action plan. | She also said every police force in England and Wales had been written to by Home Secretary Theresa May instructing them to produce a domestic violence action plan. |
| "It is not acceptable for the police to use out-of-court settlements for serious criminality and that is why the government is already reviewing how they are used," the spokeswoman said. | "It is not acceptable for the police to use out-of-court settlements for serious criminality and that is why the government is already reviewing how they are used," the spokeswoman said. |
| The Home Office is yet to respond to a consultation on the use of out-of-court disposals, which ended in January. | The Home Office is yet to respond to a consultation on the use of out-of-court disposals, which ended in January. |
| Sandra Horley, chief executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge, said: "These types of remedies may be effective for some crimes - but domestic violence is not one of them". | Sandra Horley, chief executive of national domestic violence charity Refuge, said: "These types of remedies may be effective for some crimes - but domestic violence is not one of them". |
| "When women make the extraordinarily brave step of reporting their partners to the police, they must feel confident that they have the full weight of the law behind them." | "When women make the extraordinarily brave step of reporting their partners to the police, they must feel confident that they have the full weight of the law behind them." |
| Hilary Fisher, of the charity Women's Aid, said: "Women tend not to call and ask for help until they've experienced violence for over five times, sometimes up to 30 times." | Hilary Fisher, of the charity Women's Aid, said: "Women tend not to call and ask for help until they've experienced violence for over five times, sometimes up to 30 times." |
| She said weak punishments would not deter these serial perpetrators who would think "if the police don't take it seriously why should I?" | She said weak punishments would not deter these serial perpetrators who would think "if the police don't take it seriously why should I?" |