Domestic violence victims still waiting for legal aid reform, says Labour

[Alison J Stevens]

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/oct/18/domestic-violence-victi...

Many Domestic Violence victims are being seriously let down by the Police.

In a lot of cases it is the abuser that is left in the marital home, Police seem to be forcing the victim out of their home, especially if there is Children present,.instead of removing the perpetrator .

Victims can go to Court early am, fill the Court forms in for a Non Molestation Order and an occupation order of the Family home.

I urge our Service users to submit as much evidence as they can on the day, and are advised to put a SAR request into the Police to get all the documentation and ABE transcriptions highlighting the evidence of Domestic violence.

The victim can get a hearing and see a Judge on the same day as submitting the Court forms and evidence.

This is EX Parti, meaning that the abuser knows nothing about the hearing and will not be there.

Such a shame that domestic violence victims are forced into refuges when they can in fact remain in their home, and the abuser is forced out by an occupation order is granted by the Judge ,and the abuser is forced to leave, and a non molestation restraining order with the power of arrest can also be enforced, preventing the abuser going anywhere near the victim , that also includes no phone calls or SMS texts

If you have evidence of DV, there is no cost by the Court to put the forms in and see a Judge within the same day.

There is no real Legal aid available with regards to these with regards to divorce, and sorting their property and finances out.

THE ONLY THING IS FOR THE VICTIM TO GET THEIR CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES OUT AND BE PLACED IN A REFUGE, waiting for the Council to rehouse them.

WOMANSAID are excellent and may offer the Services of a Mackenzie Friend in the first instance to go to the Court with the victim,and see the Judge on the same say and be granted the non molestation order.

With regards to the Occupation order of the marital home requires another Court hearing for both parties to be present in Court.

In Leicestershire the Police are failing domestic violence violence, and they are not being granted their domestic violence special Officer.

When these orders are granted it is always best to take a copy of the order to the Police to make sure that they are aware of the order being granted.

NOT FORGETTING THERE ARE MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS WELL.