Spokesperson for the London Assembly Domestic Abusers Register campaign, Len Duvall AM said:
“The London Assembly welcomes the Home Affairs Select Committee recommendation to introduce a national register of serial domestic violence perpetrators.
“The Assembly has been in discussions with the Government and relevant agencies in relation to the Assembly campaign for a Domestic Abusers Register.
“The number of cases of domestic violence in London and around the country which have ended in murder is staggering. A Register would help to minimise violence and loss of life in the future.
“With the support of the Mayor, we want a Register to manage serial abusers. This would also put the emphasis back on the criminal rather than the survivors of these crimes.
“There are some good proposals in this report, including a new Commissioner to cover both Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls, as well as the introduction of paid domestic violence leave for victims of abuse.
“The fact that the Home Affairs Select Committee and all parties on the London Assembly support the call for a Domestic Abusers Register is evidence of the urgency for legislation. We will continue to put pressure on government to include a Domestic Abusers Register
in their new Domestic Abuse Bill.”
Notes to editors
- In 2016, there were almost 150,000 incidents of domestic abuse in London alone. Four in ten survivors of domestic abuse are repeat victims.
- In September 2017, Assembly Members supported a unanimous motion to seek legislative change to allow for the establishment of a register of domestic abuse offenders. The Assembly recommends that the system could work in the same way as the sex offenders’ register, allowing police to hold information on perpetrators in order to better protect survivors.
- All 73 London MPs received a cross party letter from the London Assembly to enlist their support for a Domestic Abusers Register.
- Assembly Members are available for interview – see contact details below.
- Read the report from Len Duvall AM - Domestic abuse in London: Addressing the problem
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.