WIREDGOV

Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has announced the publication of a study evaluating some of the measures in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Bridget Prentice):

Today I am pleased to publish the study on 'Early Evaluation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004'.

Government figures show the number of domestic violence cases being reported has increased. The success rate on prosecuting domestic violence continues to improve.

In 2007 both family and criminal jurisdictions of court helped 22,975 more victims than we did in 2004.

This is a significant improvement against the background of an increasing volume of prosecutions.

This is a testament to the growing confidence victims have that they will be listened to and their reports effectively investigated coupled with the specialist and practical support victims receive.

As well as specialist domestic violence courts we have also introduced a range of other measures such as Independent Domestic Violence Advisers, the Forced Marriage Act and trained criminal justice personnel.