31/10/2019

Improvements to the Domestic Abuse Bill

Gordon Nardell QC and Hogan Lovells International LLP are working pro bono with the domestic violence charity Hestia and national campaign UK Says No More to propose improvements to the Domestic Abuse Bill currently before the UK Parliament. The Bill modernises the definition of “domestic abuse” to include economic, psychological and emotional coercion and establishes a Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Hestia has welcomed the Bill, but is urging parliamentarians to add provisions which would:

• Protect access to NHS services and school places for children affected by domestic abuse.
• Ensure people who have suffered abuse are properly supported in the workplace.
• Extend the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession in UK immigration law to people whose relationships break down as a result of abuse.
• Improve healthcare practices where a person affected by abuse presents for treatment.

The Bill has cross-party support. It received a Second Reading without a vote in the last session of Parliament and was carried over to the current session. Together with Hogan Lovells’ London pro bono team, Gordon is preparing amendments for consideration at the Bill’s Committee stage.