Cooper to explain how the government doesn’t take violence against women seriously

Today, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper will give a speech outlining the crimes that have been hidden during the coalition’s five-year term in government – in particular focussing on the government’s decision to downgrade action on violence against women.

Cooper will release figures, which Labour have obtained through a Freedom of Information request, that show the police are allowing people who commit domestic abuse to avoid getting a criminal record through what are known as ‘community resolutions’. These alternative forms of punishment can be a mere apology issue to the victim by the perpetrator or some form of community service, but they often allow the perpetrator to escape without a criminal record.

The information gained by Labour show that of 15 police force areas examined, the number of community resolutions issued nearly doubled between 2009 and 2013; going from 1337 to 3305 .

Labour also found that despite the Association of Chief Police Officers’ guidance for using community resolutions – which advises they only be used in ‘less serious offences’, such as low level criminal damage, minor assaults that don’t inflict injury and anti-social behaviour –  over 3,300 domestic abusers were given ‘a slap on the wrist’ via community resolutions.

The Labour leadership have said that the government have ignored warnings from a report that details how community resolutions are being abused.

In response to these findings, Cooper will explain where the government has gone wrong and what Labour would do to address the grievous shortcomings of the current system:

“These figures are deeply worrying. Domestic violence is an incredibly serious crime. Two women a week are killed by their partner or an ex and 750,000 children will grow up witnessing domestic violence.  For the police to simply take a violent abuser home to apologise risks making domestic violence worse, and makes it even harder for victims to escape a cycle of abuse. 

“Labour has called on the Government previously to prevent the use of Community Resolutions for serious crimes, including domestic violence. Today’s figures reveal that nothing has been done. This is just another sign that this Tory-led Government just doesn’t take violence against women seriously. 

“Community resolutions can be very effective for things like anti-social behaviour. But they shouldn’t be used for violent offences, and especially not for domestic violence. That is why Labour is committed to banning their use for domestic and sexual violence. A Labour Government will introduce a Violence Against Women and Girls Bill to place women’s safety at the heart of our legislative programme.”