Home Office seeks responses to domestic abuse guidance

The Home Office has issued a consultation on draft statutory guidance for implementing the definition of domestic abuse and is calling for responses from relevant user groups.

On 29 April the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent and the aim of the consultation is to gather views on the domestic abuse guidance, to support the implementation of the definition of domestic abuse within sections 1 to 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The guidance extends to England and non-devolved matters in Wales with the key objectives of providing clear information on what domestic abuse is in order to assist with its identification, and providing guidance and support to frontline professionals who have responsibilities for safeguarding and supporting victims of domestic abuse. Additionally the guidance hopes to improve the institutional response to domestic abuse by conveying best practice and standards for commissioning responses.

The Home Office is therefore seeking responses to the consultation from the following groups:

• English local authorities
• criminal justice services including courts and prisons
• local housing and homelessness teams
• healthcare sector
• employers and job centres
• financial services
• community and faith groups
• any other interested stakeholders, including victims and users of support and prevention services

Responses to the consultation can be made online here, or by completing a response form and emailing it to domesticabuseconsultation@homeoffice.gov.uk.

The consultation closes at 11.45pm on 14 September 2021.

More information can be found here.