Better facilities and support for victims of domestic violence has led to five courts being newly accredited as Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVCs).
The courts serving Herefordshire, Hounslow, Kirklees, St Albans, and North and East Hertfordshire all met the requirements of the 12 criteria of the National Resource Manual for SDVCs in order to receive their accreditation today from government ministers.
The criteria include having:
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separate entrances and waiting facilities for victims and witnesses
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specially trained independent advisers on hand to offer wider support to victims on how to rebuild their lives
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trained and dedicated criminal justice staff, such as the police and prosecutors, with enhanced expertise in dealing with domestic violence, and magistrates specially trained in dealing with domestic violence cases.
These cases are often listed together in specific court hearings so that all the specialist resources are in the same place on the same day.
The new courts bring the number of accredited SDVCs in England and Wales to 127 – just one away from the government’s target of 128 courts by 2011.
Justice Minister, Bridget Prentice said:
‘Specialist Domestic Violence Courts allow trained staff from across the justice system and support organisations to use the facts of each case not just to deal firmly with offenders, but also to help families to find long-term solutions to violence and to rebuild their lives.
‘I fully support the determination of the staff at Specialist Courts, along with the criminal justice and domestic violence support agencies working closely with them, to provide the best service possible to victims and families. Their determination has led to us being only one court away from our target of 128 SDVCs, a year ahead of schedule, which is a magnificent achievement.’
Home Office Minister, Alan Campbell said:
‘Domestic violence is unacceptable. Specialist Domestic Violence Courts provide invaluable support to victims and have been shown to help ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice so I am pleased that the number of SDVCs receiving accreditation continues to increase.
‘We are committed to finding ways to support victims. Last month criminal courts were given greater freedom to grant new restraining orders, providing immediate protection to victims and sparing them the need for separate civil action. We also announced plans for ‘Go orders’ to evict perpetrators of violence from their homes to allow their victims breathing space supported by local case workers.
‘However, we recognise the need to do more to prevent these crimes from happening in the first place and by the end of the year will publish our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy setting out how we can challenge the attitudes which condone them.’
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said:
‘The Crown Prosecution Service continues to improve its performance on prosecutions in domestic violence cases.
‘This combined approach to tackling domestic violence by the police, Crown Prosecutors, magistrates, courts and probation, together with specialist support services for victims, situates the court and the Criminal Justice System as part of a community-wide response to domestic violence.’
Today’s accreditation of five new SDVCs coincides with Inside Justice Week (17-24 October 2009), in which the criminal justice system of England and Wales opens its doors for a look behind the scenes, including open days and mock trials at selected police stations and courts.
Notes to editors
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The government’s Domestic Violence website, which includes links to support services for anyone concerned about domestic violence, is at
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Home Office announcement on ‘Go Orders’
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For more information and/or local information, please contact Ministry of Justice press office on 020 3334 3536.
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For interview bids with any of the ministers quoted in this press release, in the first instance please contact Ministry of Justice press office on the number above and we will pass your bid to the relevant department.
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