MP calls for domestic abuse law after own ordeal

An MP is calling for a change in the law to include domestic abuse as an aggravating factor in assault cases.

Josh Babarinde, who represents Eastbourne, says abuse suffered at the hands of his mother's ex-partner had a profound impact on him and his family.

There is currently no specific offence of domestic abuse, instead abusers are usually convicted of crimes like assault, which Mr Babarinde argues "does not capture the full context or gravity of the offence."

The Ministry of Justice said crimes of violence against women and girls will be included in its independent sentencing review.

Mr Babarinde says his mother and he were subject to abuse from her ex-partner when he was a child.

"It was really scary," he said.

"I'd be upstairs in my room and I'd hear shouting and fighting and things smashed and not knowing whether things were ok downstairs but knowing that something pretty dark was unfolding."

The Liberal Democrat MP has introduced a Private Members' Bill to Parliament, calling for domestic abuse to be legally recognised as an aggravating factor in certain offences.

He said: "There isn't a specific offence of domestic abuse in the first place. Instead the law uses workarounds to convict abusers for things like ABH [actual bodily harm], GBH [grievous bodily harm] and assault."

He says his proposals would be similar to the offences of racially and religiously aggravated assault, but would create a new "domestic abuse aggravated class" of ABH, GBH and assault.

Campaigners argue defining domestic abuse as a specific offence means such offenders could be held back from prisoner early release schemes.

Last year, around 2,800 prisoners were released early, as part of an emergency plan to ease overcrowding in jails.

The government said high risk prisoners would not be let out, but some domestic abuse offenders were released.

The charity Women's Aid said it supported Mr Babarinde's Private Members' Bill as there were "gaps in protection" being created which left "adult and child survivors vulnerable".

A spokesperson said: "Preventing the early release of violent and abusive offenders reduces the likelihood of potentially devastating re-offences, and the most serious outcome of homicide."

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Private Members' Bills rarely become law, but Mr Babarinde is hoping the government will either support his bill or incorporate it into the new Victims' Bill or Crime and Policing Bill.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Domestic abuse comes in many forms, not just physical.

"Under the current system, domestic abusers already face longer sentences as it is considered an aggravating factor in sentencing for a wide range of offences.

"However, the independent review of sentencing, led by David Gauke, has been tasked with looking at how the sentencing framework can best address crimes of violence against women and girls in future."