United Kingdom: Members of Parliament Support Stronger Domestic Violence Laws
Thursday, May 24, 2018 11:50 AM

More than one hundred Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom have called for stronger laws on domestic violence. In particular, many MPs would like to toughen “the offense of coercive control” to capture the full range of psychological abuse used by perpetrators to intimidate and control their victims. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has floated a draft bill that would incorporate many proposed changes, as well as expanding the definition of domestic violence and increasing the availability of protective orders. According to the Guardian, May has stated that it is a “key personal priority to transform” how the UK approaches domestic violence.

 

A recent survey found that seventy-five percent of MPs had confronted a domestic violence issue in their district during the previous three months, with some MPs saying they “were dealing with constituents affected by domestic abuse on an alarmingly regular basis.” 

 

Compiled from: Elgot, Jessica, MPs back campaign to strengthen domestic abuse bill, The Guardian (May 23, 2018).