The Domestic Abuse Bill 2019-21 has moved through the Second Reading stage in Parliament, have been debated by MPs on 28th April. The Bill has now moved on to the Committee Stage, where the Committee will look through the Bill line by line and report to Parliament by 25th June 2020. You can follow the progress of the Bill here.

The Bill as currently drafted intends, amongst other things, to set out a statutory definition of domestic abuse not confined to violent or sexual abuse and to address the way domestic violence is dealt with in Family Court, including special measures to protect victims and prohibiting cross-examination in person in certain circumstances. A specialist panel has also been established to examine how effectively family courts respond to allegations of domestic abuse. It is expected the Panel’s recommendations along with the Government’s response will be published shortly.

The Bill is welcomed by professionals working in the family courts and all of us at Philcox Gray.

Philcox Gray remains able to help victims of domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic. Family Courts continue to operate and we continue to be able to obtain urgent Court Orders to protect victims of abuse and remove perpetrators from the family home.

We can be contacted at all times via directors@philcoxgray.co.uk or on 07940 731095. The police continue to respond to incidents of domestic abuse and anyone in immediate danger should call 999.