Family Solicitors

The Home Secretary has told the annual conference of the College of Policing that, while police forces have been very effective at decreasing the rates of so-called traditional volume crime – now at an all-time low – more needs to be done to protect the vulnerable, including victims of sexual abuse, modern slavery and domestic violence.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said that she was pleased to see that the subject of the conference this year was vulnerability – which she said was one of the most pressing issues facing policing and one of her priorities as Home Secretary.

“For too long, crimes against vulnerable people have simply not been taken seriously enough and their voices have not necessarily been heard,” Ms Rudd told the conference.

“They’ve been treated as second class crimes and not always been given the attention that they deserve – the role of the college in the fight to protect the vulnerable is key and the government is here to help the college to reach those goals.

“Like many of you, I can clearly remember Professor Alexis Jay’s report into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham. It made my blood run cold.

“The inquiry team found examples of children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally violent rapes – and told that they would be next if they confided in anyone.

“The report highlighted systemic failings by both the police and children’s services. The report shocked us all and we took action – in March 2015, we published our national response to chronic failures seen in Rotherham and elsewhere, including making child sexual exploitation a national threat in the strategic policing requirement, ensuring its priority status across all forces.

“Since then we’ve extended a child abuse image database across forces to help investigate online child sexual exploitation offenders, and identify and protect the victims.

“We’ve introduced joint inspections to local areas to understand how local services are working together to protect children and young people from sexual exploitation – and we’ve made £14 million available for the direct support of victims.”

Ms Rudd said that cultural attitudes were shifting and the government was closer to its goal of ensuring that no victim was ever blamed for their own abuse.

“As a result, more survivors of abuse are coming forward to the police than ever before, and this is to be welcomed. In other areas too, we’ve seen progress.”

She added, since 2012, new offences for stalking and forced marriage had been introduced – and coercive control had been made an offence, “recognising that patterns of sustained emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical violence.”

The Home Secretary said that the College of Policing had been central to recognising the need to do more to help victims of domestic abuse, including new college guidance on domestic abuse.

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis domestic violence solicitors can advise victims of domestic abuse on how to tackle the issues within the law, including advising on controlling or coercive behaviour, domestic abuse between partners or spouses or same sex partners, child-parent domestic abuse, elder abuse, domestic abuse between friends or flatmates, and financial abuse.

Duncan Lewis is also able to advise on FGM, forced marriage, honour crimes and dowry disputes – and advises on family law under the laws of England and Wales and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on tackling domestic abuse, call Duncan Lewis domestic violence solicitors in confidence on 0333 772 0409.

For urgent legal help with a domestic violence matter, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607, where a family lawyer is available 24/7.