Domestic Violence Court Cases: Backlog

11 Mar

Question

The Question session focused on addressing the backlog of domestic violence cases in the UK courts, with an emphasis on its impact on victims, public confidence, and overall crime deterrence. Key points revolved around efforts to expedite the judicial process, the prioritization of cases involving vulnerable victims, and the sufficiency of sentences for abusers.

Merseyside ranked as the second highest region for femicide.

Emphasized urgent attention needed for violence against women.

Record levels of sitting days funded in Crown courts.

Measures to address court backlogs.

Key contributions included highlighting the decision to fund record numbers of Crown court sitting days, extending powers for the Victims’ Commissioner, and ensuring the victims’ services focus on listening and supporting victims of domestic abuse. Paula Barker presented the distressing statistic that Merseyside ranked as the second highest region for femicide, underscoring the need for urgent and robust action.

96 women killed in the past year.

Figures read during International Women's Day.

Outcome

The outcome of the session saw a reaffirmation of the Government’s commitment to addressing the backlog with ongoing strategies to improve judicial efficiency, prioritize vulnerable groups, and strengthen victim support. The Minister promised a strategic plan release focused on reducing violence against women and girls.

Highlighted points included funding and operational updates for courts, commitments to victims’ services, and upcoming policy announcements that target a significant reduction in female violence and femicide. The dialogue also served to amplify the public concern and urgency of the issue in Parliament.

Key Contributions

Paula Barker

Labour

Queried about departmental actions to reduce backlog in domestic violence cases.

Alex Davies-Jones

Stated prioritization of cases involving vulnerable victims in magistrates' courts.

Jim Shannon

DUP

Referred to the reading of 96 names of murdered women on International Women's Day, urging enhanced support measures for women and children impacted by domestic violence.

Alex Davies-Jones

Acknowledged domestic violence as a national emergency with a goal to halve such violence within a decade, underscoring the Government's strategic commitment.

Original Transcript

Paula Barker

Liverpool Wavertree

Lab

Question

UIN: 903115

8. What steps her Department plans to take to reduce the backlog of domestic violence cases.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice

Alex Davies-Jones

11:59

The judiciary prioritises cases involving vulnerable victims and witnesses, which includes those involving domestic abuse. Most domestic abuse cases are heard in magistrates courts, where cases tend to be heard more quickly.

As I have already stated, the Government have taken action to address the outstanding caseload in the Crown court, funding record levels of sitting days in the upcoming financial year.

Paula Barker

11:59

The backlog in the court system harms efforts to instil confidence in women persisting with domestic violence charges against their abusers. Violence against women and girls is a national scandal, and femicide is ongoing, with countless women losing their lives to male violence.

Sadly, my region of Merseyside is now the second highest region in the country for femicide.

Does the Department agree that any moves to fast-track cases via the criminal or civil courts to remove abusers from our streets must involve appropriately severe sentences, irrespective of the prison places crisis?

Jim Shannon

Strangford

DUP

11:59

For last week’s International Women’s Day, the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips) read out the names of the 96 women who were killed in the last year. I am always conscious of the loss of life, as I know the Minister is.

If domestic violence today is the violence against women and murder tomorrow, what can be done to support women and their children?

Alex Davies-Jones

We are doing everything we can to support women and their children. We have declared this a national emergency, and we have that ambition of targeting and halving violence against women and girls over the course of a decade.

My personal ambition is that the names read out at this Dispatch Box next year are far fewer than the ones read out this year.

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