Domestic abuse victims to be given more time to report to police
Home Secretary Priti Patel is understood to have backed calls to change the law to give victims of domestic abuse more time to report a crime.
The time limit on common assault cases is currently six months, meaning a prosecution has to be brought to court within that time-frame from the date of the alleged offence.
However, following calls for legal reforms from campaigners, the BBC understands that Ms Patel is looking to extend the time limit to up to two years, which Yvette Cooper MP says is “something that is badly needed right now”.
The changes are expected to be put to Parliament in an amendment to the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.
It comes after the BBC revealed 13,000 cases in England and Wales had been dropped in five years because the six-month limit had been breached.
The change is expected to come as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.
Campaigners have said the move would be very welcome, but they are waiting to see an official announcement.
Responding to reports that the Government will support a law change to extend the six-month time limit on prosecuting common assault in cases of domestic abuse, Ms Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: “If the Government is now adopting our proposal to lift the time limit on prosecuting domestic abuse cases, that would be excellent news.
“Thousands of domestic abuse victims are timed out by a law they never knew existed and that means thousands of perpetrators getting away with it so they can abuse again.
“Making this simple and practical change would give domestic abuse victims more time to report assault and means stronger action to tackle violence against women and girls – something that is badly needed right now.”
Ms Cooper added: “I started campaigning on this because of a brave woman in my constituency who went to the police about repeated domestic abuse but was told she had run out of time and nothing would be done.
“If the Government has listened, then this is a real chance of getting more justice and protection for people in future from domestic abuse.
“I hope the Government will make a formal announcement or publish their own amendment soon.”