Found: of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and domestic abuse offences defined under section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: MINUTES Session 2026-27 DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT 2021 COMMITTEE Minutes of the 1st

Found: 1 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 post-legislative

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 post-legislative

Found: 1 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 post-legislative

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 post-legislative

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: I would joke that part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act made women’s safety and refuge matter as much as

Found: and defective drafting18 SI title Department/ Quango Reason for reporting S I 2025/515: THE DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/domestic-abuse-act-statutory-guidance/domestic-abuse-draft

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Economic abuse is a form of domestic abuse as defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the controlling

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (the sponsoring Minister was the Home Secretary) 2.

Found: DAA0003 - Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Imkaan Written Evidence

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 legislated for automatic eligibility for victim-survivors of domestic abuse

Found: Although the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act received Royal Assent in 2023 and would allow

Found: Question 2: What impact will the Government’s refusal to implement the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Protection Order where the subject has ‘been abusive’ within the meaning of s1 Domestic Abuse Act

Found: While the definition of domestic abuse comes from the Domestic Abuse Act and so includes sexual

Found: suggestion beyond intimate partners to domestic abuse within the meaning of sections 1 and 2 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: experiences and cases before the Harm Panel Report in 2020 and therefore also predating the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 further supports risk identification in family proceedings. 3.3 International

Found: assessing-risk-harm-children-parents-pl-childrens-cases-report_.pdf (Accessed: 09 March 2026) Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021, c. 17. (2021).

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Uncorrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee Corrected oral evidence: Domestic Abuse Act post- legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021: provided additional protection to women experiencing homelessness, suitability

Found: It will mirror the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Stalking Protection Act 2019.

Found: SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE DOMESTIC ABUSE ACT 2021    DECLARATION OF INTERESTS as of 6 March 2026   

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of accommodation provided by local authorities for survivors of domestic abuse; and what information his Department holds on the number of local authorities that provide accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, every Tier One local authority in England must assess local need for, and commission, support for victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation. To support delivery of the duty, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will provide £499m to local authorities over the next three years through the ringfenced Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant.

The Department collects information from all Tier One authorities England and monitors delivery through mandatory annual data returns and publishes this data. The most recent data on Support in domestic abuse safe accommodation: 2024 to 2025 can be found here.

Statutory guidance strongly encourages local authorities to give priority for social housing to victims and their families who have escaped abuse and are homeless, including those being accommodated in a refuge or temporary accommodation. We have also taken action to remove barriers for victims moving as a result of domestic abuse, who no longer need to meet a local connection or residency test in order to access social housing.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 101253, in which categories of private‑law children cases Cafcass or the family courts apply a domestic‑abuse‑first assessment as the initial step in their safeguarding or case‑analysis process; and what other circumstances automatically trigger domestic‑abuse screening as the primary explanatory framework.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones

Practice Direction 12J (PD12J) sets out what the court should do in any case in which domestic abuse is alleged or admitted or there is other reason to believe that a child or party has experienced abuse perpetrated by another party or that there is a risk of such abuse.

Cafcass’ Domestic Abuse Practice Policy sets out the actions that Cafcass practitioners and managers must undertake when working with children and adults who have or may have experienced domestic abuse and for whom, therefore, the requirements and definitions of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and its accompanying statutory guidance apply. It is informed by Practice Direction 12J and by our understanding of the impact of domestic abuse and harmful parenting on a child and the child’s primary and protective carers. The protection of children from harm or further harm is the central and fundamental purpose of this policy.

Cafcass’ Domestic Abuse Practice Pathway and Guidance supports practitioners in applying a structured, sensitive approach to assessing domestic abuse in Family Court proceedings. It reflects the statutory responsibilities outlined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and is aligned with the Cafcass Domestic Abuse Practice Policy (2025) and Practice Quality Standards.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department will publish the full list of case types, behavioural indicators, or presenting circumstances in which Cafcass or the family courts are instructed to prioritise domestic‑abuse considerations as the initial step in their assessment; and to specify the statutory or policy basis for each such trigger.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones

Practice Direction 12J (PD12J) sets out what the court should do in any case in which domestic abuse is alleged or admitted or there is other reason to believe that a child or party has experienced abuse perpetrated by another party or that there is a risk of such abuse.

Cafcass’ Domestic Abuse Practice Policy sets out the actions that Cafcass practitioners and managers must undertake when working with children and adults who have or may have experienced domestic abuse and for whom, therefore, the requirements and definitions of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and its accompanying statutory guidance apply. It is informed by Practice Direction 12J and by our understanding of the impact of domestic abuse and harmful parenting on a child and the child’s primary and protective carers. The protection of children from harm or further harm is the central and fundamental purpose of this policy.

Cafcass’ Domestic Abuse Practice Pathway and Guidance supports practitioners in applying a structured, sensitive approach to assessing domestic abuse in Family Court proceedings. It reflects the statutory responsibilities outlined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and is aligned with the Cafcass Domestic Abuse Practice Policy (2025) and Practice Quality Standards.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of victim support services for women in Great Yarmouth, including access to crisis accommodation, counselling, and legal advice, and whether any additional funding has been provided.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognising the need to meet the rising cost pressures of delivery.

In addition, £6 million will be invested over the next two years to deliver free, independent legal advice for victims and survivors of adult rape across England and Wales, to help them understand their legal rights.

The Ministry of Justice provides all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales with core grant funding to commission support services, such as counselling, for victims of all crime types. In addition, they receive ring-fenced funding for domestic and sexual abuse services. PCCs are best placed to understand their local communities, and to commission appropriate support to meet the needs of victims in their area.

The Department’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund (RASASF) provide grants to over 60 specialist organisations. Funded activities provide holistic, trauma-informed support to victims within the Norfolk area.

Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England are required to assess local need for, and commission, support for victims of domestic abuse and their children within relevant safe accommodation, for example, refuges. To support delivery of the duty, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has provided £499 million to local authorities over the next three years.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities are applying statutory guidance on housing support for survivors of domestic abuse.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England are required to assess local need for, and commission, support for victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation. To support delivery of the duty, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has provided £499m to local authorities over the next three years.

Statutory guidance sets out how local authorities should carry out their functions and which they are expected to consider when making commissioning decisions: Delivery of support to victims of domestic abuse in domestic abuse safe accommodation services - GOV.UK

MHCLG monitors delivery through mandatory annual data returns and publishes this data. The most recent data is available here: Support in domestic abuse safe accommodation: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.

The Department continues to work closely with local authorities, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and sector partners to support delivery and promote best practice.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the sufficiency of the level of refuge accommodation provision for victims of domestic abuse.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to ensuring victims of domestic abuse and their children can access the support in safe accommodation they need to rebuild their lives. This is part of the Government’s strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls, with improved support for victims.

Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, local authorities must assess the need for and provide support to victims and their children in safe accommodation. It is for each local authority to determine the right mix of safe accommodation, including refuges, dispersed accommodation, and sanctuary schemes (in which a victim’s own home is made safe) to meet local needs. To support delivery, MHCLG provided authorities in England with £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year. In the recent Local Government Finance Settlement, MHCLG committed to increase investment by a further £19 million to £499 million over the next three years.

The department collects data on the number of refuge bedspaces and the number of individuals supported in safe accommodation. This data is published annually, the most recent data is available here: Support in domestic abuse safe accommodation: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for refuge accommodation under the Safe Accommodation Duty.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to ensuring victims of domestic abuse and their children can access the support in safe accommodation they need to rebuild their lives. This is part of the Government’s strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls, with improved support for victims.

Under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, local authorities must assess the need for and provide support to victims and their children in safe accommodation. It is for each local authority to determine the right mix of safe accommodation, including refuges, dispersed accommodation, and sanctuary schemes (in which a victim’s own home is made safe) to meet local needs. To support delivery, MHCLG provided authorities in England with £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year. In the recent Local Government Finance Settlement, MHCLG committed to increase investment by a further £19 million to £499 million over the next three years.

The department collects data on the number of refuge bedspaces and the number of individuals supported in safe accommodation. This data is published annually, the most recent data is available here: Support in domestic abuse safe accommodation: 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many instances of an individual being charged relating to domestic abuse was there also charges laid for animal abuse in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions by offence through the Outcomes by Offences data tool on GOV.UK. It is not currently possible to separately identify prosecutions for domestic abuse, as such cases are prosecuted under a range of different criminal offences. However, the Government recognises the importance of consistently identifying domestic abuse offenders at every stage of the system. That is why we are moving at pace to implement a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases, delivering on a recommendation made in the Independent Sentencing Review.

Statutory guidance on the definition of domestic abuse under Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is clear that domestic abuse can include harming or threatening to harm animals, for example as a form coercive and controlling behaviour. In our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published last December, we committed to ensuring all victims and survivors are protected, including those with pets, including to:

• Work with the veterinary profession to support initiatives designed to help vets and practice staff recognise potential signs of domestic abuse through non-accidental injuries
• Strengthen the pet microchipping regime to prevent the records of domestic abuse victims and survivors being accessed inappropriately
• Work with charities to increase the awareness of services available for the pets of domestic abuse victims and survivors to support more victims to escape abuse

As part of this work, Defra has also commissioned research, led by the University of Bristol, into the relationship between animal abuse and domestic abuse, and will consider the findings once the research concludes.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has received advice on the potential link between domestic abuse and animal abuse.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions by offence through the Outcomes by Offences data tool on GOV.UK. It is not currently possible to separately identify prosecutions for domestic abuse, as such cases are prosecuted under a range of different criminal offences. However, the Government recognises the importance of consistently identifying domestic abuse offenders at every stage of the system. That is why we are moving at pace to implement a domestic abuse identifier at sentencing in criminal cases, delivering on a recommendation made in the Independent Sentencing Review.

Statutory guidance on the definition of domestic abuse under Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is clear that domestic abuse can include harming or threatening to harm animals, for example as a form coercive and controlling behaviour. In our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published last December, we committed to ensuring all victims and survivors are protected, including those with pets, including to:

• Work with the veterinary profession to support initiatives designed to help vets and practice staff recognise potential signs of domestic abuse through non-accidental injuries
• Strengthen the pet microchipping regime to prevent the records of domestic abuse victims and survivors being accessed inappropriately
• Work with charities to increase the awareness of services available for the pets of domestic abuse victims and survivors to support more victims to escape abuse

As part of this work, Defra has also commissioned research, led by the University of Bristol, into the relationship between animal abuse and domestic abuse, and will consider the findings once the research concludes.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory, specialist domestic abuse training for all housing officers in England.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has not undertaken an assessment of mandating specialist domestic abuse training for all housing officers in England.

Local authorities, under their statutory duties in Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, are required to assess the need for and provide support for all victims of domestic abuse and their children while in safe accommodation. To support delivery of this duty, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided local authorities in England £160 million in 2025/26, a £30 million uplift from the previous year, and £499 million funding will be allocated to local authorities over the next three years.

Statutory guidance to local authorities is available (Delivery of support to victims of domestic abuse in domestic abuse safe accommodation services - GOV.UK) providing further details on how the duty should be delivered, including the expectation for local authorities to strengthen their understanding of domestic abuse locally, which may include through training.

Found: the experience of adolescents.54 It said this would include reviewing the age limit in the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: including the age limit in the statutory definition of domestic abuse set out in section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: distribute, and publish.62 She noted that it could be argued that it already is illegal under the Domestic Abuse Act

Ruby's Law and recognising pets in domestic abuse protection orders

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 only recognises abuse between people who are “personally connected,” meaning intimate partners or family members. Abuse can occur in other domestic settings, such as shared housing and victims in these situations will not receive the same protection under the law.

Found: Many victims of abuse are excluded from the protections of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 because the law

Found: Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant 883 E0521 E10000003 Cambridgeshire CC SC SC Within AEF Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Cambridgeshire CC SC SC Within AEF Remands Grant 76 E0521 E10000003 Cambridgeshire CC SC SC Within AEF Domestic Abuse Act

Found: is applied where service and/or criminal conduct offences involve domestic abuse as per the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: is applied where service and/or criminal conduct offences involve domestic abuse as per the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: is applied where service and/or criminal conduct offences involve domestic abuse as per the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: is applied where service and/or criminal conduct offences involve domestic abuse as per the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: “Domestic Abuse”: defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 as abusive behaviour between two people aged

Found: commissioned when the death has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse as defined by the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: evidence to be accepted for legal aid applications; updated terminology to align with the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 • The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 • Domestic Abuse Act

Found: The new Domestic Abuse Act 2021 makes prosecuting domestic abuse more straightforward, and offers more

Found: provisions in more recent legislation, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and Domestic Abuse Act

Found: to reflect that from 21 May 2025, proceedings under s.44(2)(b), s.46(4) and s.46(5) of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Official 28 With effect from April 2026 Domestic Abuse The Domestic Abuse Act created, for the

Found: Other Offences against the State or public order Breach of Domestic Abuse Protection Order Domestic Abuse Act

Found: ...........................96 Annex B - Definition of coercive behaviour as set out in the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: .......................... 54 Annex B - Definition of coercive behaviour as set out in the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: intervention and maximising prevention activities fulfil their statutory duties under Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: must follow the cross-government definition of domestic abuse set out in section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021: post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021: post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021: post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021: post-legislative scrutiny

Found: Domestic Abuse Act 2021: post-legislative scrutiny

Found: DWP has: o Defined safeguarding in line with key legislation, including the Care Act 2014, Domestic Abuse Act

Found: DWP has: • Defined safeguarding in line with key legislation, including the Care Act 2014, Domestic Abuse Act

Found: a relationship breakdown etc • victims and survivors of domestic abuse, as defined in the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: ” “46B Domestic Abuse Act 2021 60.

Found: Government guidance sets out that domestic abuse is not regarded as ASB; the Domestic Abuse Act 2021

Found: Criminal Legal Aid for DAPOs made under section 31(3), (5) or (6) of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on

Found: DAPO) – Billing Guidance DAPOs are a new type of protective injunction legislated for in the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Orders in relation to Part 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 20211 • Domestic Abuse Protection Orders

Found: When applying MR67 to applicants, it should be noted that it is possible, under the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: to reflect that from 21 May 2025, proceedings under s.44(2)(b), s.46(4) and s.46(5) of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 Breach of domestic abuse protection order s39 – Domestic Abuse Act

Found: victim is able to communicate in other ways such as signing languages Domestic abuse The Domestic Abuse Act

Found: He is currently a member of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Committee, an alternate member of the Procedure

Found: ” “46B Domestic Abuse Act 2021 60.

Found: who have witnessed domestic abuse (considered victims in their own right as defined by the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: build to rent homes; ‘Ask and Act’ powers and; on the provisions relating to Part 2 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: The definition of abuse has also been widened by the Bill, bringing it into line with the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Chapter, “abuse” means— (a) domestic abuse within the meaning given by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Chapter, “abuse” means— (a) domestic abuse within the meaning given by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Chapter, “abuse” means— (a) domestic abuse within the meaning given by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Chapter, “abuse” means— (a) domestic abuse within the meaning given by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act

Found: www.gov.wales/cafcass-cymru-domestic-abuse-practice-guidance • Legislation & System Reviews Domestic Abuse Act

Found: www.gov.wales/cafcass-cymru-domestic-abuse-practice-guidance • Legislation & System Reviews Domestic Abuse Act

Found: Subsequent UK legislation, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, further strengthens protections for