On 29 April 2021, four years after it was included in the Queen's Speech, the Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent and was signed into law.
For the first time there will be a wide-ranging legal definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.
The measures include new protections and support for victims ensuring that abusers will no longer be allowed to directly cross-examine their victims in the family and civil courts, and giving victims better access to special measures in the courtroom to help prevent intimidation, such as protective screens and giving evidence via video link.
Surrogacy reform moves up the agenda
Surrogacy reform has moved a step closer with the news that the government met the Law Commission last month to discuss recommendations which had appeared to
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel publish Annual Report
On 12 December 2024 the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published its ‘Independent annual report for serious child safeguarding incidents, 2023 to 2024’. Read the
Plan to register children not in school takes shape
A register to identify children who are not in school in England will be part of a bill introduced to Parliament on Tuesday. Read the
