Dear all,

Thanks again for signing this petition, please help us further by taking part in the online Consultation about the proposed IoM Bill. This process looks quite daunting/confusing, but we need to ensure that its confusing presentation does not deter people from taking part and having their say. The Bill as drafted is not satisfactory, and if we want an effective Domestic Abuse Law that treats these offences as seriously as they deserve, we need to comment on it and obtain change.

It has been added on to another Bill, which is part of the confusion, but you do not need to answer all the questions about all the Bill - you can literally fill in the introduction and then skip to the 6 questions on domestic abuse. 

We feel that domestic abuse should be in a separate Bill, and that the Bill it is attached to - which is aimed at keeping offenders out of prison and using more fines - is particularly inappropriate. This sends the message that domestic abuse is not important and that it is similar to minor offences that only warrant fines. Worryingly the impact statement document (also online at the consultation hub) states that there will be no cost to the Bill because offenders will be being fined rather than sent to prison - this is not at all what we want in domestic violence cases and is not appropriate.

We also feel that the definition of Coercive Control as given in the Bill is totally unhelpful and needs clarifying; that the max sentence of 5 years is not enough; that several phrases in the Bill are very vague and need defining; and perhaps most importantly that the Bill is still incident-focused, when we need a law that looks at the ongoing pattern of abuse and its cumulative effects, not at 1 or 2 "incidents".

The law also needs to include a commitment to training for Courts and Police as no law can be effective if abuse and coercive control are not understood by those administering the law. Also important, the Law needs to commit the government to having an action plan on domestic abuse, to providing support services for victims and education, training and awareness raising, and to review targets annually to see whether the law is effective and whether victim experience is improving.

It is worrying that the Impact statement document attached to the Bill says that this Bill will have zero cost. If we are prosecuting more cases there will be a cost, if we are training police and judiciary there will be a cost, if we are providing services there will be a cost. Putting no money behind this Bill and placing no legal obligation on the government to do anything about domestic abuse suggests the IoM government and the drafters of this Bill are  still not taking this issue seriously. And it is serious.

Safe Strong Secure have produced guidance notes to help anyone who is finding the consultation confusing. Please email contactsafestrongsecure@gmail.com if you would like these, or contact us at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SafeStrongSecure3s