Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to prevent sensitive data relating to a victim of (a) domestic violence and (b) other crimes being disclosed during a court hearing.

This question relates to the disclosure of sensitive information in the civil courts, where robust measures are already in place.

Judges have the power to order non disclosure of details, to have cases heard in private or evidence given via video link or from behind a screen, and to make other orders as necessary to preserve the address or other personal details of a victim of domestic abuse, harassment or stalking. For this to happen it is important that the victim brings any issues to the attention of the judge at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate care can be taken throughout the case.

More broadly, in its 2014 Action Plan, A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls, the Government has committed to develop a code of practice to ensure “safe addresses” and other personal information about the identity and whereabouts of victims of domestic and sexual violence are properly protected.