Survivors of domestic abuse to be ‘better protected’ from jailed offenders

The MoJ said the new service will see police forces, prison governors and victims’ services work “hand-in-glove to automatically block offenders from calling or sending threatening letters to their victims”.

The Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service – trialled at Kent and Thames Valley earlier this year – will act immediately on any intelligence to contact jails and block offenders from sending further communications.

In practice, this will mean offenders will be physically unable to dial their victim’s number from the prison landings or send out letters to the victim’s address as these contact detail will automatically be barred, said the MoJ.

“Crucially, the new scheme means survivors will not have to ask for help themselves, with other agencies and support services able to contact the service on their behalf – protecting them from further trauma,” it added.

By creating a single hub for police victims and support agencies, the MoJ says the new service will ensure a “speedier response” with dedicated case handlers quickly locating offenders and blocking contact.

It will also prevent abusers from using other offenders to torment their victims by barring victims’ contact details from all prison phones.

Minister for Prisons and Probation, Damian Hinds, said: “We will never tolerate domestic abusers who seek to continue their campaign of abuse from behind bars and will always take tough action against the prisoners responsible.

“This new service delivers on our commitments in the national Domestic Abuse Plan and will better protect victims once their cowardly abusers are jailed.”

The MoJ said during successful pilots, hundreds of victims came forward to request contact was blocked – showing the new model is more accessible and effective in identifying and protecting victims.

Diana Fawcett, chief executive of Victim Support, said: “Unwanted contact from offenders is frightening and stressful. It can stop victims from moving on with their lives and, particularly in cases of domestic abuse, is often used to intimidate victims and continue campaigns of abuse.

“We welcome steps to make it easier and quicker to take action and hope that this will make a real difference for victims.”

Mr Hinds said the move delivers on the cross-government Domestic Abuse Plan, which sets out investment of £140 million to support victims and £81 million to tackle perpetrators.

The Government is also continuing to implement the Domestic Abuse Act, which recognises all forms of abuse beyond physical violence, introduces new offences for non-fatal strangulation and so-called revenge porn, as well as preventing abusers from being able to directly cross-examine their victims in family and civil courts.

It said the vast majority of measures were now in force.