Written Question
Thursday 26th June 2014
Asked by:
Brooks Newmark (Conservative - Braintree)
Question
to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to bring forward proposals to criminalise coercive control and psychological abuse for the purpose of protection of victims of domestic violence.
Answered by Norman Baker
Last September, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Constabulary to conduct a review of the response to domestic abuse
across all police forces. HMIC published its findings in March 2014,
emphasising that the key priority is a culture change in the police so that
domestic violence and abuse is treated as the crime that it is and that the
police use the full range of tools already available to them.
In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a new national
oversight group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to oversee delivery
against each of HMIC's recommendations. Their first meeting was held
on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear
that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014.
There are a number of offences that make domestic abuse illegal, including
actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and assault. Assault can extend to
non-physical harm. This Government has introduced stalking and harassment
legislation which can apply to coercive control and psychological abuse.
However, the Government will continue to consider what measures will drive
culture change in the police in response to the findings of the HMIC review.
Written Question
Thursday 26th June 2014
Asked by:
Brooks Newmark (Conservative - Braintree)
Question
to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has in response to the HM Inspector of Constabulary Inquiry into police response to domestic violence in creating a culture change towards domestic violence.
Answered by Norman Baker
Last September, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Constabulary to conduct a review of the response to domestic abuse
across all police forces. HMIC published its findings in March 2014,
emphasising that the key priority is a culture change in the police so that
domestic violence and abuse is treated as the crime that it is and that the
police use the full range of tools already available to them.
In response to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a new national
oversight group, which she is chairing, and on which I sit, to oversee delivery
against each of HMIC's recommendations. Their first meeting was held
on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear
that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014.
There are a number of offences that make domestic abuse illegal, including
actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and assault. Assault can extend to
non-physical harm. This Government has introduced stalking and harassment
legislation which can apply to coercive control and psychological abuse.
However, the Government will continue to consider what measures will drive
culture change in the police in response to the findings of the HMIC review.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Domestic Violence (Police Response)
"Does my hon. Friend agree that coercive control is often a pathway to violence, and far more debilitating than anything else? Should the Government consider at least criminalising coercive control in the same way as physical abuse is now criminalised?..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Violence (Police Response)
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Domestic Violence (Police Response)
"I am not sure whether my hon. Friend has addressed the fact that policing, or the legal system—perhaps the Minister can clarify this—do not make it possible to pick up a behaviour pattern. Domestic violence is brought to court on the basis of an individual case, whereas problems could be …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Violence (Police Response)
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Domestic Violence (Police Response)
"I thank my hon. Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton), who demonstrated why he was excellent as a Children and Families Minister; he brought his experience to bear in this debate. I thank in particular my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod) …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Violence (Police Response)
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Domestic Violence (Police Response)
"I do not mean to undermine the Minister, but training is about more than simply an attitude; one has to invest, which means some real money, perhaps a reallocation of resources. He is absolutely right, there has been a fall in crime and I have seen that locally in Braintree, …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Violence (Police Response)
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Domestic Violence (Police Response)
"From speaking to women’s groups, my impression is that the problem is that there is no legislative framework. Simply saying that it will be taken into account does not deal with the substantive issue. The Minister said that it is low-level, but coercive abuse can sometimes be far more pernicious …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Violence (Police Response)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 30 Jan 2014
Immigration Bill
"On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. It has just come to my notice that my name is on the list of those supporting the new clause and amendment tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton (Mr Raab). I would like to make it clear …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Immigration Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Jan 2014
UN Syrian Refugees Programme
"I congratulate the Government on all that they have done for refugees outside the country. I recently visited the Nizip refugee camp, which is on the Syrian border in Turkey. The Turks do a tremendous job in delivering support, and it is far more cost-effective for the Government to provide …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: UN Syrian Refugees Programme
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 19 Dec 2013
Immigration (Bulgaria and Romania)
"I realise that my hon. Friend is trying to make progress, but he makes an important point about the contradiction between people coming from Europe, eastern Europe in particular, because they believe jobs are here, and the perception of people locally that they are taking jobs. The reality is that …..."Brooks Newmark - View Speech
View all Brooks Newmark (Con - Braintree) contributions to the debate on: Immigration (Bulgaria and Romania)