MP calls for specific domestic violence offence in England and Wales
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Exclusive: Josh Babarinde pushing for change in law after some abusers were part of autumn early release from prison. Officials are examining whether to change the way domestic violence crimes are recorded after a campaign by an MP who says the lack of a specific offence allows abusers to be freed early from jail.
Josh Babarinde, the Liberal Democrats’ justice spokesperson, said a change would also help highlight the prevalence of domestic violence, which he said was still too often hidden. Babarinde, the MP for Eastbourne, who was first elected in July, told the Guardian that his mother was subjected to domestic violence by a man when he was growing up, something that teachers and friends were ignorant about.
“I think it’s critical that the experience and trauma of survivors is honoured in the law and reflected in the criminal offence that their abuser is convicted of,” said Babarinde, who was also sometimes targeted by the man. “There’s a real stigma around it. And, you know, as a society we need to work on that. One of the reasons that domestic violence, and domestic abuse more generally, thrives is because so much of it happens in the shadows.”.
While domestic abuse can be an aggravating factor for sentencing, it does not exist as a specific offence. This was highlighted in September when during the emergency early release of 1,700 prisoners in England and Wales some abusers were set free, sometimes without their victims being told in advance.
Babarinde argues that specific offences would mean domestic abusers could be held back from any future releases – although the Ministry of Justice insisted September’s releases were a one-off due to the last government’s failure to deal with prison overcrowding.
