Domestic violence prosecutions may not tell the full story

A recent article in the Halifax Courier reports a decline in convictions for domestic violence. The latest figures (obtained from 31 police forces through a Freedom of Information request) show a fall in domestic violence convictions. Here in West Yorkshire, police recorded 267 fewer prosecutions.

At face value these latest statistics suggest a decline in domestic violence cases. Sadly, this is not reflected in the number of local people who come to Wilkinson Woodward’s family team with cases of domestic violence.

Indeed the figures are more likely to reflect an increasingly cash-strapped support system, in which cuts in legal aid have impacted on the number of people who have access to legal advice.

Moreover, there are many more victims of domestic violence who report their case to the Police and a decision is taken that there is little prospect of a successful prosecution and therefore no further action is taken.

In our view, to get a more accurate picture of whether there has been a reduction in domestic abuse incidents, these latest figures should be viewed alongside the number of cases reported to the Police.

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