A scheme intended to help protect women from violent partners has been scrapped by the Home Office in its effort to cut spending, the Independent has learned.
The scheme would have given police the power to ban a violent partner from a family home for up to two weeks, buying women and other family members time to seek further advice to help remedy their situation. The Domestic Violence Protection Orders were due to be rolled out nationally next year.
A few weeks ago, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, told the Women’s Aid conference that the coalition planned to “end violence against women and girls”, and pledged more money for initiatives. But in a suggestion that perhaps foreshadowed the cost-cutting priority of today’s announcement, she also proposed looking into using criminals’ fines to pay for more rape crisis centres.
As for why the orders have been scrapped, May reportedly told charities that
. . . she had taken the decision to save money and because of worries about the legislation setting up the orders.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office revealed slightly more. Though reiterating the department’s commitment to ending domestic violence, she said that “in tough economic times, we are now considering our options for delivering improved protection and value for money”.
The Home Office needs to find £2.5bn of savings from its annual budget of £10bn.
The legislation creating the so-called “go orders” was originally promoted by Alan Johnson, but received cross-party support before being passed in April. Doubts were expressed in the Lords about how the banned party would be accommodated and cared for, but the bill was passed nonetheless.
With the autumn spending review just around the corner, this will most definitely not be the first time we see a minister reverse their position in order to make spending cuts.
More funding for services working to curb domestic violence was an issue on which politicians of all persuasions were able to agree. For it to be among the first to be cut is a dire sign of what is yet to come.
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