News

• All news
• Announcements
• News releases
• Speeches

Search area:

Government announces a new tranche of specialist domestic violence court systems

02 April 2008

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the victims of domestic violence with the announcement of more than 34 new specialist domestic violence court systems across England and Wales.

Tackling domestic violence has been one of the government's key priorities since 1997. The 34 new specialist domestic violence court systems will bring the total number to 98.

Specialist domestic violence court systems are a fundamental part of the government's efforts to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic violence. A multi-agency approach is central to the success of these innovative courts: police, prosecutors court staff, the probation service and specialist support services work together to identify, track and risk assess domestic violence cases, support victims and share information so that more offenders are brought to justice. Amongst the pioneering features are:

• specially trained magistrates in dealing with domestic violence
• separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so that victims don't come into contact with their attackers
• cases clustered on a particular day or fast-tracked through the system, limiting the likelihood of further incidents
• tailored support and advice from Independent Domestic Violence Advisors

Justice Minister, Bridget Prentice said:

'Since 1997 this government has done substantial work in trying to tackle this particularly appalling crime. Domestic violence deeply affects victims, regardless of gender, race, class, age and sexuality.

'This work is a continuation of the joint National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence which sets out clear aims and objectives and is proving to be effective in protecting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.

'Their success shows that where victims of domestic violence have confidence in the criminal justice system to report these crimes, the system will help them.'

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

'Improving the support available to the courageous victims of these devastating crimes is crucial in encouraging people to come forward. The success and expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts system will ensure that we continue to bring more perpetrators to justice and improve the support and safety of victims.

'We have made good progress on domestic violence over the last ten years but we know there is more to do and I want to reassure women everywhere that keeping them safe from harm is a top government priority.'

The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC said:

'The specialist domestic violence courts are a fundamental part of our effort to improve the support and care we provide for victims of domestic violence. We are committed to providing a first class prosecution service.

'By providing specialist training for prosecutors and better support systems for victims we are seeing a tangible difference in performance. In the last four years we have seen marked success - and we need to keep aiming higher.

'Perpetrators must be brought to justice, and when they are our specialist prosecutors and support services will be there to assist victims every step of the way.'

In a review of the first 23 specialist domestic violence court systems systems, published on 8 March, it is clear that they have contributed to improvements in both justice and safety for domestic violence victims. Ten of those achieved a successful prosecution rate of over 70%, with one reaching over 80% and the remaining 12 achieving an average rate of 66%.

Other key findings of the Review, conducted jointly by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, which analysed the data and performance of the 23 specialist domestic violence court systems in England and Wales from October 2006 until March 2007 are:

• An improvement in the responses of individual agencies: in relation to the police, a high level of domestic violence crimes being arrested (an average of over 80%);
• Just under 6,000 victim referrals were made to Independent Domestic Violence Advisers - an average of 269 referrals per IDVA service; and, around three-quarters (74%) of clients involved in the court process were supported by Independent Domestic Violence Advisers at court.

We are delighted that these courts are proving successful and hope to continue rolling them out nationally.
 

Notes to editors

1. The full list of the new selected specialist domestic violence court systems areas:

Region	Local justice area	Courthouse
East Midlands	Mansfield LJA	Mansfield MC
Eastern	Beds and Mid Beds LJA	Bedford MC
Eastern	Luton and South Beds LJA	Luton MC
North East	Gateshead District LJA	Gateshead MC
North West	South Cheshire LJA	Crewe MC
North West	Furness and District LJA, South Lakeland LJA	Barrow-in-Furness MC and Kendal MC
North West	West Allerdale and Keswick LJA, Whitehaven LJA	Workington MC and Whitehaven MC
North West	Fylde Coast LJA	Fylde Coast MC in Blackpool
North West	Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale LJA	Burnley MC
North West	Lancaster LJA	Lancaster MC
North West	Preston LJA	Preston MC
North West	South Ribble LJA	Leyland MC
North West	Ormskirk LJA	Ormskirk MC
South East	Central Kent LJA	Maidstone MC
South East	Sussex Central LJA	Brighton MC
South East	Sussex Eastern LJA	Hastings MC, Eastbourne MC and Lewes MC
South East	Sussex Western and Northern LJAs	Worthing MC and Crawley MC
South East	Maidenhead - East Berks LJA; Reading - Reading LJA; Newbury - West Berks LJA	Reading MC, Maidenhead MC and Newbury MC
South East	Milton Keynes LJA	Milton Keynes MC
South East	Oxford LJA	Oxford and Southern Oxfordshire MC
South West	Bath and Wansdyke LJA	Bath MC
South West	Bristol	Bristol MC
South West	North Somerset	North Somerset MC
South West	North Devon LJA	Barnstaple MC
South West	East Cornwall LJA	Bodmin MC
South West	West Cornwall LJA	Truro MC
South West	South Devon LJA	Torquay and Newton Abbot MC
South West	North Wiltshire LJA and Swindon LJA	Chippenham MC
South West	Swindon LJA	Swindon MC
Wales	Flintshire LJA	Mold MC
West Midlands	Shrewsbury LJA	Shrewsbury MC
West Midlands	Telford and Bridgnorth LJA	Telford MC
West Midlands	Warwickshire LJA	Nuneaton, Rugby and Stratford Upon Avon MC
Yorkshire/Humberside	Wakefield LJA	Wakefield and Pontefract MC
South East	Southampton	Southampton MC

2. The Specialist Domestic Violence Review

3. Further information on Specialist Domestic Violence Courts

4. Details of Sexual Assault Referral Centres

5. More information on the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

6. More information on International Women's Day

7. The Ministry of Justice Press Office can be contacted on 020 7210 8695.