Early evaluation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Domestic violence

by Marianne Hester, Nicole Westmarland, Julia Pearce and Emma Williamson

Published on: 14 August 2008

This study was commissioned to provide an early evaluation of some of the measures of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

The report focuses on the three measures of the Act that were implemented during the evaluation period:

  • making common assault an arrestable offence*
  • making it an arrestable, criminal offence to breach a non-molestation order
  • extending the civil law on domestic violence (to ensure cohabiting same-sex couples have the same access to non-molestation and occupation orders as opposite sex couples, and non-molestation orders are available to couples who have never cohabited).

* Although this measure was superseded by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, which amended the list of arrestable offences making all offences arrestable, this is still included within the scope of this evaluation.