02/07/2014

Record Conviction Rate Rises 10% In Home Violence Cases

Three out of four prosecutions for domestic violence resulted in conviction last year in England and Wales, according figures of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Defendants admitted offences or were found guilty and conviction rates rose in 74.6% of cases brought against attacks and abuse in the home in 2013/14. This indicates a 0.3% rise last year compared with 2012/13 or around a 15% rise from 59.7% to 74.6% from 2005.

In total, 58,276 defendants were found guilty of domestic violence, which includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse between partners, spouses and family members - a rise of almost 6,000 compared with the number of convictions secured in the previous year.

Police also found an increase of cases for possible prosecution of more than 15,000 than a year before, while charges of forced marriage and "honour-based" violence also increased.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "Three-quarters of people who are prosecuted for domestic violence offences are now convicted. What's more, nine in 10 of the domestic violence convictions arise from guilty pleas, meaning that the vast majority of victims are spared having to give evidence in court."

He added: "I hope victims of these terrible offences will take some confidence from this and that perpetrators will take note."

(CVS/IT)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 October 2008
Domestic Violence Victims To Receive Extra Support
Victims of domestic violence will receive extra help and support from six new Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVCs), announced today. The new courts will be in Wales, the East Midlands, North East, North West and South East.
14 February 2006
Campaign calls on friends to report domestic violence
A new advertising campaign aimed at encouraging friends of victims of domestic violence to report offences was launched today.
23 September 2015
New LGBT Domestic Violence Service Launched
A new domestic violence service for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community has been launched by Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP). The new service, the first of its kind in the Midlands, hopes to encourage members of the LGBT community to seek help, BCSP said.
27 October 2004
Reform of domestic violence law promises 'tough powers' for police
The domestic violence law will be overhauled to give tough powers to the police and the courts to protect victims and prosecute abusers, the government has pledged.