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Welsh MP hopes to criminalise all forms of domestic abuse

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March 28, 2024

Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd presented a private member’s bill in the House of Commons earlier this week that would criminalise all forms of domestic abuse.

In March last year, the government adopted an expanded definition of domestic abuse that included coercion and intimidation, as well as financial and emotional abuse. However, under current legislation, not all of this behaviour is a criminal offence.

Mr Llwyd’s bill would give the expanded definition of abuse full legal force. It was sponsored by trade union Napo and by the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group, which represents justice sector professionals in parliament.

He said:

“Domestic violence is pervasive in our society. Every minute, police across the country will receive a domestic violence-related call. These are not trivial incidents, yet according to Women’s Aid, only 6.5% of reported domestic violence incidents result in a conviction. Many domestic violence cases which are passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service result in no action being taken. This cannot be right.”

The MP continued:

“At present, our criminal system is too focused on the physical evidence of violent crimes committed against a victim. Coercive control and emotional blackmail, on the other hand, do not leave scars or bruises – but they are every bit as debilitating. This bill provides that a person could be found guilty of an offence if they display behaviour which is covered by the government’s definition of domestic violence.”

The blog team at Stowe is a group of writers based across our family law offices who share their advice on the wellbeing and emotional aspects of divorce or separation from personal experience. As well as pieces from our family law solicitors, guest contributors also regularly contribute to share their knowledge.

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Comments(5)

  1. Andrew says:

    Absurd. Every raised voice and angry comment being treated as criminal. We would need an awful lot of prisons and not all of them for men.

  2. Paul says:

    They could simplify things to make just breathing a criminal offence, being born even. Reductio ad absurdum.

  3. Stitchedup says:

    Guess who lives in Wales??!!! I’m already a victim of the Welsh courts and the political influence within them. The “intention” they talk about has actually been played out in practice for quite some time… I’m living proof of that!!

  4. Stitchedup says:

    Domestic violence is pervasive in our society. Every minute, police across the country will receive a domestic violence-related call. These are not trivial incidents, yet according to Women’s Aid, only 6.5% of reported domestic violence incidents result in a conviction. Many domestic violence cases which are passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service result in no action being taken. This cannot be right.”

    Women’s Aid again!!, you get bet your bottom dollar men will be the targets. Elfyn Llywd is a disgrace, I just hope he becomes a victim of this own policies.

  5. Andrew says:

    It’s a Ten Minute Rule Bill. That is, a chance to indulge in political posturing and grandstanding. It’s been thirty years since an uncontroversial Ten Minute Rule Bill has been passed into law and this nonsense is not going to be the next.

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