Chloe Smith welcomes the Domestic Abuse Bill draft following campaign after constituent’s death.

Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, has welcomed the draft of the Domestic Abuse Bill draft launched today, following the death of her constituent, Kerri McAuley.

The draft Bill is being accompanied by a package of 120 non-legislative measures to support victims and survivors of abuse and to stop the cycle of violence.

The draft Bill is setting out in law the first cross-government definition of domestic abuse, including non-violent behaviour, such as economic abuse. The draft Bill also sees new, streamlined protection orders for victims and their children, including the powers to impose positive and negative requirements to stop the perpetrator, news which Chloe welcomes.

Additional measures include the appointing of a Domestic Abuse Commissioner, whose sole focus will be tackling domestic abuse and ensuring good standards of services across country. There will also be more and better training for police, health professionals, Job Centre staff, housing officers and other frontline workers to help identify and support victims.

 

Chloe has campaigned for better protection for domestic abuse victims, following the death of her constituent, Kerri McAuley, who was brutally murdered by her ex-partner, Joe Storey. Chloe has met with Kerri’s family, Leeway Domestic Abuse Charity and local police to ensure that valuable lessons have been learned from Kerri’s death. Chloe has highlighted Kerri’s case to Victoria Atkins, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, ahead of this draft Bill to ensure that others can be protected following Kerri’s death.

 

Chloe comments: “I welcome this draft Bill following my work in Kerri’s memory and for other constituents. It’s a very important next step in campaigning against domestic abuse. With 2 million victims of domestic abuse last year, this Bill is much-needed. I look forward to continuing my work in Parliament on this issue, and in the local community. I hope the measures brought about by this Bill, and the non-legislative measures, will help police and others, giving them the tools they need to effectively tackle, and where possible, prevent domestic abuse.”