Domestic abuse legislation dropped as Parliament dissolves for election

Desperately needed new domestic abuse legislation is to be dropped for the second time when Parliament is dissolved this week.

The calling of a general election to take place on 12 December means that any bills yet to receive royal assent in the current parliamentary session will be dropped from the agenda, as Parliament dissolves for the duration of the election campaign.

The Domestic Abuse Bill, which would have introduced important reforms, including ending the practice of allowing victims of domestic violence to be cross-examined by their abusers in court, is among the bills that will now come to nothing.

This is the second time in two months that the bill has been dropped over Brexit and election-related political manoeuvres. The legislation fell when Boris Johnson unlawfully prorogued Parliament in September, but was then re-introduced under pressure from campaigners when Parliament resumed sitting.

Simon Davis, president of the Law Society commented: “Whoever the next government may be, we hope they will bring forward measures to prevent cross-examination by alleged abusers in the family courts. Not only does this form of cross-examination repeat the trauma for the victims, but it also allows the perpetrator to use the court process to perpetuate the abuse.”

Meanwhile, the Law Gazette reports that new no-fault divorce legislation is also to be dropped as a result of the impending general election.