This article from the government’s website highlights recent additions to the DA Bill currently completing its lengthy journey through parliament.
These include a newly defined type of assault, “Non Fatal Strangulation”, which recognises this common abuse within domestic abuse. Controlling & Coercive Behaviour will be expanded to include post separation abuses.
Revenge porn as an offence will also be expanded to include the threats to publish/expose these images. There are a number of other changes included and many changes will come. We welcome this advance in knowledge and support for those suffering domestic abuse.
Read the press release here.
- New offence of non-fatal strangulation to be introduced as part of ground-breaking legislation
- Controlling or coercive behaviour offence extended to include abuse where perpetrators and victims no longer live together
- ‘Revenge porn’ offence widened to cover threats to share intimate images
A raft of new amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill will be presented this week, providing greater protections for victims and further clamping down on perpetrators.
The proposals include making non-fatal strangulation a specific criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in prison. The act typically involves an abuser strangling or intentionally affecting their victim’s breathing in an attempt to control or intimidate them. Today’s announcement follows concerns that perpetrators were avoiding punishment as the practice can often leave no visible injury, making it harder to prosecute under existing offences such as Actual Bodily Harm (ABH)
