Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Rezumat

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 strengthened protection for victims of domestic violence, created a new homicide-related offence to deal with deaths within the household, and reformed the position of victims in the criminal justice system. It made breach of a non-molestation order a criminal offence (s.1), created the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult (s.5) — which addressed the evidential difficulty of identifying which household member was responsible — and extended the availability of restraining orders, including on acquittal (s.12). It also placed a statutory Code of Practice for Victims of Crime on a statutory footing and established the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses.

Puncte cheie

• Made breach of a non-molestation order a criminal offence (s.1)
• Causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult (s.5) — members of the same household may be liable
• Restraining orders available even on acquittal (s.12)
• Common assault made an arrestable (later, an either-way) offence
• Statutory Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (s.32)
• Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses established (s.48)

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