‘Rose-Marie Drury, Principle Associate at Mills & Reeve LLP considers the most important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during May 2022.’
Family Law Week, 13th June 2022
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘A new law specifically targeting non-fatal strangulation comes into effect this week in England and Wales. Yvonne Roberts explains why it is necessary.’
The Guardian, 8th June 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Parents who live under the shadow of constant threats by ex-partners of being taken back to court, with repeated applications about their children, will now get more protection from this happening.“Barring orders” is the name commonly given to orders the Family Court can make to stop future unnecessary applications being made, where it appears it’s likely a party is going to try to keep returning to court in a way that will harass and disturb the other party.’
Transparency Project, 7th June 2022
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
‘The family of a woman murdered by her estranged husband aim to curb perpetrators’ parental rights by lobbying MPs in Westminster later.’
BBC News, 8th June 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A new offence of non-fatal strangulation has come into force, meaning abusers will now face up to five years behind bars.’
The Independent, 6th June 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), often referred to as “Clare’s Law”, was implemented across all police forces in England and Wales in March 2014. It means members of the public can ask the police for information on their partner’s criminal history and therefore know if their partner poses a risk to them.’
Family Law, 27th May 2022
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘Analysis: Specialist lawyers, a jury trial, social media and targeting Heard all helped Depp win in Virginia.’
The Guardian, 2nd June 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Next month, on 7 June, as part of the Domestic Abuse Act (2021), non-fatal strangulation (NFS) and suffocation becomes a free-standing offence, punishable by up to five years in prison in England and Wales. Campaigners including the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) and We Can’t Consent To This – who challenged the defence where the perpetrator claims it happened as part of “rough sex gone wrong” – have long argued that NFS, if prosecuted at all, was frequently charged as common assault, receiving a sentence of a few months.’
The Guardian, 29th May 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A woman who was terrorised and abused by an MI5 agent is taking legal action against the security service.’
BBC News, 21st May 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘In the summer of 2021, Jade Ward was killed by her estranged husband Russell Marsh at their family home. He is now serving a life sentence for her murder. She leaves behind four little boys who are now being raised by her mother and other family members. This is not an isolated tragedy. Each year, many women are killed by their partners or former partners, and it is likely that many of those will have children.’
Transparency Project, 18th May 2022
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
‘In 2021, the UK Parliament passed amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Serious Crime Act which stipulated that withholding a Get can constitute a violation of those laws. The draft statutory guidance under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognised that withholding a religious divorce both by Muslim and Jewish husbands may constitute controlling or coercive behaviour and a form of spiritual abuse which could lead the husband to be imprisoned. This development was in reaction to various calls for action to tackle the issue of ‘chained wives’ in religious communities.’
Law & Religion UK, 17th May 2022
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Five notorious killers including Sarah Everard’s murderer and a father who smothered his own baby daughter are having their sentences reviewed by senior judges.’
The Independent, 5th May 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Sex offenders and domestic abusers are being freed from the UK’s military jail “without any safeguards or probation supervision”, inspectors have warned.’
The Independent, 5th May 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A pizza shop owner has been convicted of murdering his wife and burying her body in an unmarked grave that police did not discover for more than six months, despite extensive searches.’
The Guardian, 3rd May 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Almost a decade ago, on 16 July 2012, Mr C was killed by his boyfriend, Mr Y. Pursuant to the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004, local authorities conducted a review into the circumstances of C’s death. According to the Review, Mr C had been assaulted over a period of months and probably years. He had seen multiple health professionals in the last years of his life, none of whom had picked up on the signs of abuse or asked about it.’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 27th April 2022
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
‘A man has been jailed for life for the murder of a mother-of-four whose body was found in undergrowth by a roadside.’
BBC News, 26th April 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Domestic abuse allegations were “troublingly” downplayed by a judge in a case that exposes systemic issues with the family court, a leading barrister has warned.’
The Independent, 20th April 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The Home Office has published a document setting out the government’s position on and work to support male victims of crimes considered violence against women and girls. The document says: “The term ‘violence against women and girls’ refers to acts of violence or abuse that we know disproportionately affect women and girls. These crimes include – and are not limited to – rape, sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking, ‘honour’-based abuse including forced marriage, ‘revenge porn’, and the harms associated with sex work and prostitution. These crimes have profound and long-lasting physical and mental health impacts and have absolutely no place in our society. The use of this term cannot and should not negate the experiences of, or provisions for, male victims of these crimes.” ‘
Family Law, 11th April 2022
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘The BBC has been banned from identifying a “dangerous extremist and misogynist” who is allegedly an MI5 informant, after a high court judge granted an injunction.’
The Guardian, 7th April 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
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