If everything goes according to plan, and not a lot has done since March, Nicole Jacobs will soon be the first domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales. On Tuesday, the domestic abuse bill, which includes the creation of her role, will reach its final stages in the House of Lords. After a three-year delay, caused by two general elections and the coronavirus pandemic, can this new legislation tackle an epidemic of abuse?
“This is a window of opportunity,” Jacobs says. “We have a postcode lottery for victims of domestic abuse. We’ve had refuges for over 50 yearsand greater awareness, but the public is always surprised to learn that progress in a range of areas including health, housing and policing isn’t where it should be. We have a lot to do.”
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