Domestic abuse bears no political stripes. One in five people will have experienced domestic abuse in their lifetime – that’s millions of voters, in every constituency, rural or urban, rich or poor.
As the country prepares for the general election, voters will be looking for bold, ambitious manifesto commitments from all parties to tackle the scourge of domestic abuse.
I have served as the first Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales since 2019, and before that I spent twenty years on the frontline in domestic abuse services. In that time, I have watched multiple governments make domestic abuse a priority in name – but too often, in name alone.
From strategy documents, to parliamentary speeches – domestic abuse has even been declared as a national threat, putting it on a par with terrorism.
But still nineteen out of twenty perpetrators do not see justice. Still, domestic abuse services are having to turn people away. Tragically, two hundred and forty two people lost their lives due to domestic abuse in the last year alone. Disabled victims, Black and minority ethnic victims, Deaf victims and LGBT+ victims, still all face overwhelming barriers to accessing support and justice.
The challenge for whoever takes office on 5th July, will be to make domestic abuse a priority not just in theory, but in practice.
I came into office as Commissioner on the eve of the pandemic, and for those of us working with survivors, it was clear that we were facing a uniquely difficult and dangerous time. Many victims were locked down with perpetrators, terrified. Services struggled to get to their clients. Court backlogs ballooned.
There was some hope too. Communities came together to help in ways they had never done before. Services made tireless efforts to protect victims in sometimes impossible circumstances. And emergency funding was released from national government at record speed.
We know from the pandemic what our elected officials can deliver when the pressure is on. We need the same urgency for domestic abuse victims – day in, day out.
Domestic abuse should be the government’s core business. This is a problem that affects as many as 2.1 million people every year. This is one in three violent crimes recorded by the police. And this is not just a problem for a future Home Secretary or Justice Secretary.
When domestic abuse costs society £74 billion in one year – it is a Treasury issue.
When more children than those starting school each year are affected by domestic abuse – it is a Department for Education issue.
When health services are the first port of call for most victims, and hundreds of victims have died by suicide following domestic abuse – it is a Department for Health issue.
When a lack of housing or money is the greatest barrier to safety – it is a Department for Work and Pensions issue and a Department for Levelling Up issue.
And when dealing with the impact of domestic abuse holds back the productivity of several million victims – it is an issue of economic recovery too.
The next government will have time ahead of them to make serious transformative change. What we need is a bold vision for transforming the response to domestic abuse that runs through every part of our government and public services.
Domestic abuse affects every corner of our society – and we need to make it everyone’s business. That means the Prime Minister holding every Secretary of State accountable for their role in tackling domestic abuse. A truly cross-departmental mission.
For too long, domestic abuse has been described as a “hidden crime”. No more. It is time for politicians to shine a light on this issue, stand with victims and survivors, and transform the lives of millions across our country.
