The recent case of BU, Re [2021] EWCOP 54 concerns a lady (BU) who is 70 years old and suffers from vascular dementia. BU had been in a relationship with a man (NC) for 5 years. During this time, a number of family members raised concerns that NC was coercively controlling BU.

​In order to qualify for legal aid, survivors are required to provide evidence of domestic abuse taking place. This is to ensure that legal aid funding is targeted at those who are most in need. From 1st October 2021, health professionals will no longer be able to charge for providing this evidence in accordance with Section 80 of the Domestic Abuse Act.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and Home Secretary Priti Patel have expressed how they feel “deeply ashamed” of the low conviction rates for rape cases in England and Wales.

The long-awaited Domestic Abuse Bill shall become law after the House of Lords approved the bill just days before the end of the parliamentary session this week.

Last month the Government has confirmed their plan to make non-fatal strangulation a specific criminal offence under the new Domestic Abuse Bill.

This week we’re supporting ‘UK Says No More week - a national campaign aimed at ending domestic abuse and sexual violence across the UK.

The chancellor has announced a £15million package for support for domestic abuse programmes. This follows a previous increase in funding for domestic abuse services during the first national lockdown last year amid the huge rise in domestic abuse and has almost doubled the funding towards domestic abuse in the 2020 budget.

For many victims of domestic abuse, work is a place of respite. However the covid-19 lockdowns have meant victims have had to work from home, or those on furlough have had to stay at home with the abuser.