Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to (a) financially and (b) emotionally support victims of domestic abuse (i) when seeking a non-molestation order and (ii) in other circumstances, in the context of seeking a non-molestation order.

It is incredibly important that victims of domestic abuse get the support they need to apply for protective orders. The Ministry of Justice funds FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors), a free and confidential service delivered by RCJ Advice, which helps survivors apply for a non-molestation order in the family court. Legal aid is also available to eligible victims of domestic abuse for the new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) currently piloted in selected areas, and for non-molestation orders.

It is equally important that victims of domestic abuse receive emotional and practical support to recover from abuse and rebuild their lives. The 42 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales receive annual grant funding from the Ministry of Justice to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims of all crime types. This includes ring-fenced funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse community-based services and Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisers.  In addition, the Home Office runs the Flexible Fund, administered by Women’s Aid Federation, which can offer financial support to victims in specific circumstances.