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Vol 46 | Issue 17
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DOMESTIC ABUSE
Rupanjana Dutta
Local leaders are joining the calls for a register of domestic abusers. This follows a report into domestic abuse in the capital launched earlier this month by Len Duvall, Leader of the London Assembly Labour Group. The report said tougher checks on perpetrators were needed in order to protect survivors and prevent reoffending. In the year to June 2017, there were nearly 150,000 incidents of domestic abuse in the capital, and 5564 incidents in Brent alone. Yet just over 400 serial cross border offenders are kept on a list for monitoring and tracking by the Metropolitan Police.
According to the 2011 census, Brent has a BAME (Black Asian and Ethnic Minority) population of 59% (double of anywhere else in London) out of which 48% are born outside the UK. 33% of the BAME community in Brent are Indian, 8% Pakistani and 1% of Bangladeshi origin. A study has also revealed that many times the victims in Britain’s south Asian communities do not get justice as their cries for help goes unreported, especially by women and children who are trapped in a pervasive culture of shame. The research project, carried out across several counties in England and Wales, has found that a lack of awareness about what amounts to criminal behaviour is endemic, especially among first generation immigrant families from Pakistan, Bangladesh and
26th August to 1st September 2017
Let noble thoughts come to us from every side
In the year to June 2017, there were nearly 150,000 incidents of domestic abuse in London, and 5564 incidents in Brent alone.
SEE INSIDE
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India. Local London Assembly Member, Navin Shah AM, has joined cause and said a register could provide a “vital step change” in the way repeat offences are prevented in London. In Brent Council’s 2015 – 2019 Borough Plan, a significant reduction in domestic violence by 2019 was outlined as one of the council’s priorities. The number of domestic abuse victims in London has risen from 62,546 in 2014 to 71,926 in 2016, equating to a 15% increase. A
recent case of death in Leicester, involving a young woman Meera Dalal has raised many questions (see page 5). Domestic abuse now accounts for almost 1 in 10 offences in the capital. Since 2014 the government have brought in Domestic Violence Protection Orders, which ban domestic abusers from returning to a residence and having contact with the victim for 28 days. Criminal Behaviour Orders were brought in at the same time, and, in addition to restraining orders, can also be used to prevent perpe-
trators from contacting or approaching their victims. 2014 also saw the introduction of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme – commonly known as Clare’s Law after Clare Wood, a woman murdered by an exboyfriend in 2009. The disclosure scheme gives individuals the ‘Right to Ask’ about whether a new or existing partner has a violent history; whilst the ‘Right to Know’ element means police can chose to proactively disclose such information without a request. Continued on page 5
See Page 16-17
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