Domestic Abuse Act statutory guidance

On 29 April the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent. This consultation seeks views on draft domestic abuse statutory guidance which will support the implementation of the definition of domestic abuse at sections 1 to 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act.

The key objectives of the guidance are to:

• provide clear information on what domestic abuse is in order to assist with its identification
• provide guidance and support to frontline professionals, who have responsibilities for safeguarding and supporting victims of domestic abuse, for example through outlining relevant strategic and operational frameworks
• improve the institutional response to domestic abuse by conveying best practice and standards for commissioning responses

The guidance extends to England and to Wales insofar as it relates to reserved or non-devolved matters in Wales. The consultation is aimed at:

• English local authorities
• criminal justice services, including courts, prisons, police forces, police and crime commissioners and the Crown Prosecution Service
• services for forms of violence against women and girls including any specialist domestic abuse services (this will include services serving men and boys)
• local housing and homelessness teams, registered social landlords
• early years, childcare, schools, colleges and higher education settings
• healthcare sector
• adult social care and children’s social care providers
• employers and jobcentres
• financial services (banks, building societies and so on)
• community and faith groups
• any other interested stakeholders, including victims and users of support and prevention services

The guidance will be issued under section 84 of the Domestic Abuse Act and persons exercising public functions, to whom the guidance relates, must have regard to it in the exercise of those functions. Under section 84 of the act, the Secretary of State is required to consult on the guidance before it is issued.

You can view or download the consultation in British Sign Language. If you want to enquire about submitting a British Sign Language video consultation response, email domesticabuseconsultation@homeoffice.gov.uk.