In England and Wales, there are no specific offences of domestic abuse. As a result, some abusers are getting out of prison early on the government's early release scheme. This has to change.

We need a law that ensures that domestic abusers’ convictions reflect the nature and context of their crimes. They should not be able to hide behind general convictions anymore.

Many domestic abusers are currently convicted of general offences such as ‘common assault’ or for ‘actual bodily harm’ (ABH). This means that many abusers are eligible for the government’s early release scheme 

The current legal loophole lets down survivors

Elizabeth Hudson’s ex-husband was jailed in 2023 after he assaulted her and held a knife to her throat. He was convicted of ABH, which *does not* disqualify him from early release.

On Good Morning Britain in October 2024, Elizabeth explained, Elizabeth explained that the Ministry of Justice had written to her to say that her abuser could be released early – possibly as soon as Christmas 2024. 

Survivors like Elizabeth deserve better.

Our solution: creating a new set of domestic abuse offences 

Instead of being convicted of ABH (or any other offence that doesn’t reference the specific nature of the crime), the Domestic Abuse (Aggravated Offences) Bill will propose that a domestic abuser should be convicted of domestically aggravated ABH. This is much the same as how we treat racially and religiously aggravated offences in England and Wales.

With this new clarity, domestic abusers could be properly excluded from early release schemes and the safety of survivors of domestic abuse could be better protected.

The path to legislation

The UK needs legislation that ensures that convictions set out the specific nature of the crime. We are fighting to get this into law.

The government is putting domestic abuse survivors’ safety at risk. Passing this legislation will protect survivors of domestic abuse. 

Who's behind this campaign

I am the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne. Many of my constituents have survived domestic abuse.

This is also an issue that's close to my heart – and my family's. I know personally how important this recognition is to survivors.

I'm building a group of supporters, including Women's Aid and Refuge, to help get this into law. Join us.

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Read more at DomesticAbuseBill.co.uk

For questions about the campaign, email josh.babarinde.mp@parliament.uk

Drop me a DM on social media to get involved in the campaign. @joshbabarinde on all channels.

#NameDA

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