Question to the Home Office:

Her Majesty's Government what measures will be contained in the domestic violence legislation announced in the Queen's Speech.

As announced in the Queen’s Speech, the Government will bring forward legislation to protect the victims of domestic violence and abuse.

The Bill will contain a number of measures designed to protect victims and will give the justice system greater guidance and clarity about the devastating impact of domestic violence and abuse on families.

It will establish a Domestic Violence and Abuse Commissioner, to stand up for victims and survivors, raise public awareness, monitor the response of statutory agencies and local authorities and hold the justice system to account in tackling domestic abuse.

It will also define domestic abuse in law, and create a consolidated new domestic abuse civil prevention and protection order regime. The Bill will ensure that if abusive behaviour involves a child, then the court can hand down a sentence that reflects the devastating life-long impact that abuse can have on a child.

The Bill is part of a programme of work designed to transform our approach to domestic violence and ensure that victims have the confidence to come forward and report their experiences, safe in the knowledge that the state and justice system will do everything it can to both support them and their children, and pursue their abuser.