Domestic Violence Against Children

Lord Sandhurst Excerpts

Monday 19th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

The noble Baroness makes a very good point. Again, one of the areas that the violence against women and girls strategy is looking at is how we can improve training for professionals who come into contact with people who may be involved in that type of abuse. The particular point she mentions related to people of colour is extremely important, and I will take it away.

[Lord Sandhurst (Con)]

My Lords, a Guardian article last week said, in reference to the Sentencing Bill, that the Victims’ Commissioner feared that

“plans to radically change sentencing could leave victims of domestic abuse in danger”.

Is the Victims’ Commissioner wrong?

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

The Victims’ Commissioner has a statutory duty to comment on any issues that she wishes. She made representations regarding the Sentencing Bill. This House has completed its proceedings on that Bill, and the Minister for Justice, the noble Lord, Lord Timpson, has reflected on the comments that the Victims’ Commissioner made at that time. That point is self-evident but one that I do not wish to comment on further.