In the UK, Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015 (SCA 2015) created the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship (CCB). Whilst paramount in the movement, it holds a secret.

 

If the perpetrator was to be arrested under Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015, any evidence prior to the 29th December 2015 is not admissible in court. Whether the evidence is an admission of guilt on email from 2007 or a threat to life via text message in 2011, it cannot be used and will not stand up in a court of law.

 

According to a report from the National Domestic Homicide Project, 242 people died from domestic abuse-related violence in the UK between April 2022 and March 2023.

 

People are extensively encouraged to come forward when they have been/are being abused. People are told justice will be served. People are told their abusers will be held accountable and responsible for their actions. 

 

Where is the justice for the people who had to suffer prior to 2015?

 

Imagine coming forward after 24 years of abuse. Having your entire adult life ripped away from you for someone else’s selfish gain. Coming forward with heaps of hard evidence; admissions of guilt... Sitting in an interview room for hours telling your story, reliving it all over again. Spending another year of your life fighting your case. Finally getting a court date, finally thinking you’re about to get justice. Then the day before judgement day, its thrown out of court.

 

“Whilst your evidence is incredibly strong and would have likely brought a guilty verdict, we can no longer proceed with this case due to the best evidence dating back to before 2015. Whilst disappointing I hope you can understand the reason for our decision”

 

I ask that we review Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015 (SCA 2015) and allow evidence to date back to 1976. This is when the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act came into power.

 

More people will die at the hands of their abuser. More people will come forward. More people will not be allowed their day in court. More people will not feel safe enough to come forward. More people will…

 

There will be no end to Domestic Abuse whilst the people who come forward are silenced by the law in place to protect them and bring them justice. Whilst we are making progress and steps in the right direction, the steps and progress mean nothing if the people who hold extensive evidence prior to the law being made, cannot come forward and tell their story in a court of law.

 

Their abusers will not be held accountable, and their stories will go untold. It cannot continue...