Domestic Violence – is Further Criminalization the Answer? (UK)

The Home Office has recently launched a Domestic Violence lawbook “public consultation on whether a specific crime of domestic violence should be created in order to strengthen existing law in this area. However, is the focus on criminalization as a way to improve existing provisions to tackle domestic violence misplaced?

The Home Office published a non-statutory definition of domestic violence which highlights that a distinctive feature of this form of behavior is its coercive and controlling nature. The lack of specific legislation to address this type of behavior has been put forward as a reason to create a specific crime of domestic violence, as it would arguably make it easier for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prosecute offenders. The benefits of such an initiative are however not straightforward.

Source: Social Science Space

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