December 21, 2006: Increase in Specialist Domestic Violence Courts

The government is increasing the number of specialist domestic violence courts to speed up the prosecution and sentencing of offenders: by April 2007, the number of such courts in England and Wales will rise from 49 to 64.

Because domestic courts specialise in the problems related to crimes that occur at home, they are very successful in prosecuting domestic criminals. The courts work by bringing the police, Crown prosecutors and probation services together to investigate and prosecute domestic violence attacks. Since 2003, the percentage of prosecutions that resulted in guilty verdicts has risen from 46% to 59% in 2005. Specialist courts have even greater success rate - 71% of cases prosecuted in those courts result in guilty verdicts.

Baroness Scotland, the Home Office minister for domestic violence issues, has stated that 1 in 4 women will be affected by acts of domestic violence in their lifetimes. She has noted that domestic violence:

“cuts across all sections of society, behind closed doors, with victims left powerless to stop the physical and emotional pain and abuse.”

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